It must be tough to attempt a conversation with your neighbor. Back in 2000, my husband's life was saved when an Indian doctor (whom your neighbor would consider "Black") performed emergency surgery in the ER in a small town in Iowa. These days we're reminded of White privilege as we remember the awful way George Floyd died 5 years ago, begging for mercy, and after 9 and a half minutes, expiring under the knee of Derek Chauvin. We also know that Chauvin would not have dared to do the same thing in front of a crowd to another White man. This anti-DEI movement is what one might expect of a second Trump term: he's flailing about, wrecking the economy, attacking the universities, the courts, freedom of speech, while inwardly raging at his predecessor, Barack Obama, who despite"blackness" was and is infinitely superior.
Exactly..."What is it that our troops are defending?" The Democracy that never was...an experiment that failed...an idea that never came to fruition. Blame someone, the "Others" did it. Forget the roads that almost tear the tires off your car; forget the books being burned that you read in high school; forget the pipeline that will take you land; forget hungry children and lost jobs. We have priorities...right? A perfect depiction of an attempted conversation about reality, Art!!! What are we defending??? Thanks for always summing up my week! Good, bad, or ugly.
Art is challenging Iowa to reaffirm Iowa's historical commitment to welcoming all and reject policies that foster division. Thank you Art.
Iowa is showing a troubling contradiction: some Afrikaners, descendants of former colonizers, received expedited resettlement and welcome, while immigrants and transgender individuals face rising legislative hostility. But Iowa has a history of leadership in the area of civil rights.
Did Iowans exhibit such selective acceptance when Governor Bob Ray welcomed Southeast Asian refugees? Are we now succumbing to a "generalized meanness" promoted by some leaders?
Most Iowans understand that full participation from diverse backgrounds drives creative problem-solving and better decisions. Equity ensures fair access to talent by addressing systemic barriers. Inclusion fosters environments where all feel valued, maximizing engagement and innovation. It's time to reaffirm Iowa's welcoming spirit and reject divisive policies.
DEI debate is Driving Everyone from Iowa. Being mean spirited public officials is an example of this wrong kind of DEI.
DEI is what I was taught in Sunday school many moons ago, tho it had a different name. It was called the Golden Rule. It was called Love your neighbor as yourself and we were asked to name who are neighbors were. It was called Be nice to your sister. It was called Make friends with the new kid in class. It was exemplified by tearing a stick of Juicy Fruit in half so that we shared what we had. I think some people need to retake Sunday school because it apparently didn’t take the first time.
AAAARRRRGGGGGG Art! I'm white, 66 years and 8 months and have had all and more than I deserve of the privileges afforded to a level of sheer embarrassment. I heard something in an interview recently with the author Michael Lewis explaining Trump; in that Trump believes in order for you to win something he has to lose. This applies to all fields of thought, certainly his insane Tariff policy but I think to the greater extent Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. If "they" are getting something it means I'm losing. And I gotta say, I've never lost anything I didn't blatantly blow up, misplace or break of my own accord.
And what happened to Iowa; "A place to grow"? Bob Ray used that as a block to build the foundation not only for economic growth in Iowa but for education, immigration and diversity? He had to have diversity in mind, Dear God he worked with Gerald Ford and then Jimmy Carter to rescue 1,000s of Southeast Asians.
Iowa was the cornerstone of education in the United States, and now the school districts have to compete with the State for funding with Private Enterprise?
I come offering questions; I'm really hoping there are answers and very soon. Not for me, I'll be fine. Thanks Art
What comes out of a person's mouth began in that person's heart. Where did the hate come from we ask? Where does prejudice and fear begin? All of us have to answer those questions in candid retrospect.
I think the problem is "DEI", an acronym, has been poisoned by the MAGA people. It's almost "DIE", which made it an easy target. So to get around that, use diversity, equity and inclusion. Equity or fairness, is a quality revered by both liberals and conservatives. And while diversity may carry some baggage, most of us know how if feels to be left out, so inclusion is still a good word.
My Mom was born in Fonda and her recollection of seeing Black person there was all the kids crouched down in the car and hid. It's funny because whites were most of the perpetrators, not Black--whose lives were dismissed as having no value (using black babies as alligator bait).
Excellent article young Art, keep up the insightful writing. Folks that i have been a part of for so many years are now either not talking to me anymore or we've come to the edge of non-confrontational co-existance. I'm 74 and a gd half years old and i've never seen nor experienced anything even close to this (richard nixon) maybe. Is this whole scenario nothing more than 'my money' and nobody can have it??? The cheap shots and the disrespect and all this backed up 100% by faux news entertainment...
If the word "DEI" becomes the target perhaps we goto just one simple word: Welcomer. We can all welcome. Wear it as a badge. And remember the values of America, freedom and opportunity are for all. Thanks for welcoming it back, Art :)
Please look at the benefits of camelina--non carbon fuel grain. Delta flew from MSP to New York emitting no carbon with camelina fuel. It's better for our ground, water, and climate than corn or soybeans.
This is fantastic! Sharing like crazy. Nationally. One thing… in NYC a schmear is a thin, as opposed to a block a quarter inch thick, spread on cream cheese. A spiel, a schtick? But maybe you do mean that — a lightly thought out bit of cheese!
Such a very good column. You really put it ALL together.
It must be tough to attempt a conversation with your neighbor. Back in 2000, my husband's life was saved when an Indian doctor (whom your neighbor would consider "Black") performed emergency surgery in the ER in a small town in Iowa. These days we're reminded of White privilege as we remember the awful way George Floyd died 5 years ago, begging for mercy, and after 9 and a half minutes, expiring under the knee of Derek Chauvin. We also know that Chauvin would not have dared to do the same thing in front of a crowd to another White man. This anti-DEI movement is what one might expect of a second Trump term: he's flailing about, wrecking the economy, attacking the universities, the courts, freedom of speech, while inwardly raging at his predecessor, Barack Obama, who despite"blackness" was and is infinitely superior.
Exactly..."What is it that our troops are defending?" The Democracy that never was...an experiment that failed...an idea that never came to fruition. Blame someone, the "Others" did it. Forget the roads that almost tear the tires off your car; forget the books being burned that you read in high school; forget the pipeline that will take you land; forget hungry children and lost jobs. We have priorities...right? A perfect depiction of an attempted conversation about reality, Art!!! What are we defending??? Thanks for always summing up my week! Good, bad, or ugly.
Art is challenging Iowa to reaffirm Iowa's historical commitment to welcoming all and reject policies that foster division. Thank you Art.
Iowa is showing a troubling contradiction: some Afrikaners, descendants of former colonizers, received expedited resettlement and welcome, while immigrants and transgender individuals face rising legislative hostility. But Iowa has a history of leadership in the area of civil rights.
Did Iowans exhibit such selective acceptance when Governor Bob Ray welcomed Southeast Asian refugees? Are we now succumbing to a "generalized meanness" promoted by some leaders?
Most Iowans understand that full participation from diverse backgrounds drives creative problem-solving and better decisions. Equity ensures fair access to talent by addressing systemic barriers. Inclusion fosters environments where all feel valued, maximizing engagement and innovation. It's time to reaffirm Iowa's welcoming spirit and reject divisive policies.
DEI debate is Driving Everyone from Iowa. Being mean spirited public officials is an example of this wrong kind of DEI.
Driving Everyone from Iowa. I like it!Brieh, but saying it all. Thats how Iowans spoke when I was young,
DEI is what I was taught in Sunday school many moons ago, tho it had a different name. It was called the Golden Rule. It was called Love your neighbor as yourself and we were asked to name who are neighbors were. It was called Be nice to your sister. It was called Make friends with the new kid in class. It was exemplified by tearing a stick of Juicy Fruit in half so that we shared what we had. I think some people need to retake Sunday school because it apparently didn’t take the first time.
AAAARRRRGGGGGG Art! I'm white, 66 years and 8 months and have had all and more than I deserve of the privileges afforded to a level of sheer embarrassment. I heard something in an interview recently with the author Michael Lewis explaining Trump; in that Trump believes in order for you to win something he has to lose. This applies to all fields of thought, certainly his insane Tariff policy but I think to the greater extent Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. If "they" are getting something it means I'm losing. And I gotta say, I've never lost anything I didn't blatantly blow up, misplace or break of my own accord.
And what happened to Iowa; "A place to grow"? Bob Ray used that as a block to build the foundation not only for economic growth in Iowa but for education, immigration and diversity? He had to have diversity in mind, Dear God he worked with Gerald Ford and then Jimmy Carter to rescue 1,000s of Southeast Asians.
Iowa was the cornerstone of education in the United States, and now the school districts have to compete with the State for funding with Private Enterprise?
I come offering questions; I'm really hoping there are answers and very soon. Not for me, I'll be fine. Thanks Art
What comes out of a person's mouth began in that person's heart. Where did the hate come from we ask? Where does prejudice and fear begin? All of us have to answer those questions in candid retrospect.
My mom would have sent these meanies to their room and told them they could come out when they decided to “act like people.”
Another great one, Art! 👏🏻
I think the problem is "DEI", an acronym, has been poisoned by the MAGA people. It's almost "DIE", which made it an easy target. So to get around that, use diversity, equity and inclusion. Equity or fairness, is a quality revered by both liberals and conservatives. And while diversity may carry some baggage, most of us know how if feels to be left out, so inclusion is still a good word.
My Mom was born in Fonda and her recollection of seeing Black person there was all the kids crouched down in the car and hid. It's funny because whites were most of the perpetrators, not Black--whose lives were dismissed as having no value (using black babies as alligator bait).
Excellent article young Art, keep up the insightful writing. Folks that i have been a part of for so many years are now either not talking to me anymore or we've come to the edge of non-confrontational co-existance. I'm 74 and a gd half years old and i've never seen nor experienced anything even close to this (richard nixon) maybe. Is this whole scenario nothing more than 'my money' and nobody can have it??? The cheap shots and the disrespect and all this backed up 100% by faux news entertainment...
Thanks Art. Dead on, and skillfully written with humor and grace that makes it a fun read.
If the word "DEI" becomes the target perhaps we goto just one simple word: Welcomer. We can all welcome. Wear it as a badge. And remember the values of America, freedom and opportunity are for all. Thanks for welcoming it back, Art :)
Please look at the benefits of camelina--non carbon fuel grain. Delta flew from MSP to New York emitting no carbon with camelina fuel. It's better for our ground, water, and climate than corn or soybeans.
Great column! On the mark for what we are experiencing. So hard to experience this at age 76. Pray there are better days ahead.
It's hard to tolerate and harder to forgive inbred bigotry.
This is fantastic! Sharing like crazy. Nationally. One thing… in NYC a schmear is a thin, as opposed to a block a quarter inch thick, spread on cream cheese. A spiel, a schtick? But maybe you do mean that — a lightly thought out bit of cheese!
Such a very good column. You really put it ALL together.