rodsullivan.org
SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
December 26, 2014
Sullivan’s
Salvos 12/30/14
In this edition:
*Happy New Year!
*RIP Don Saxton
*No Room At The Inn?
*Salvos Salutes!
*Did You Know?
*Happy New Year!
Happy
New Year to all Salvos readers! I hope you and your loved ones enjoy a
wonderful 2015!
*RIP Don Saxton
Former
Oxford Mayor Don Saxton recently passed away after a sudden illness.
Don
was honored with a Salvos Salute in 2013, at which time I wrote the following:
Four generations of Oxford residents know Don as
Mr. Mayor. He did it all – from stray dogs to natural disasters and everything
in between. No Mayor volunteered more time on Boards and Commissions. Don
decided to hang it up after 44 years, and he leaves a small city as well
managed as any in the County.
Don
Saxton was truly a wonderful man. My condolences to his family and friends.
*No Room At The Inn?
This
past Tuesday Johnson County voted 5-0 to approve $16,000 toward the new Shelter
House-led effort to create a temporary "wet shelter" in Iowa City.
I
am very proud of this long-overdue effort. We have needed such a space for
decades. Now we need to ensure the long-term existence of such a shelter into
the future.
While
I certainly recognize that not all who read this are Christians, I cannot help
but find a parallel between those objecting to this shelter and the folks who
told Joseph and Mary there was no room at the inn.
"That
which you do to the least among us, you do to me. " - Matthew 25.
*Salvos Salutes!
2014 is coming to a close, and it is time for honoring a few
select Johnson County residents with that most treasured of honors, the Salvos
Salute. A few observations:
* This is the ninth annual set of awards, and there are always
more people who deserve awards than there are awards to give. We live in a
great County!
* The focus is on Johnson County. It is certainly worth noting the
heroism of someone like Malala Yousafzai, or Ebola healthcare providers. But we have everyday heroes right
here in Johnson County that deserve a shout out.
* There are some people out there that could win every year. I am
trying to honor different folks, but repeat winners are not out of the
question.
* Salvos Salutes do not have specific criteria, but you can bet
that in general, most of the winners are courageous, advocate for peace and
justice, have good ideas, speak truth to power, avoid hypocrisy, and look out
for the less fortunate.
Without
further adieu, your 2014 Salvos Salutes go to:
Karla Miller: The retired Director of the Rape Victim Advocacy Program (RVAP),
Karla has spent a lifetime serving victims. Her calm demeanor can fool you;
Karla is a fierce advocate! Public understanding of rape has come a long way
since the 1980s, and while we have a long way to go, pioneers like Karla have
led the change.
Robin Hepker: Look at the brochures, logos, and other materials for any local
nonprofit. Odds are good the work was done at no or low cost by Robyn Hepker.
As the principal in an award-winning local design firm, Robyn could earn a lot
more for her valuable time. But she chooses to donate this huge amount of work
because she cares deeply about our community.
Joyce Berg: Johnson County has a magnificent partnership with the UI Tippe
College of Business that enlists students as volunteers to do taxes for
low-income residents. The program brings over $1.5 million to our poorest
residents each year, but it would not happen without the commitment of Joyce
Berg. Each year obstacles crop up, and each year Joyce sees to it that those
obstacles are overcome.
Bob Downer: Iowa City attorney Bob Downer achieves the rarest of honors, earning
his second Salvos Salute. This award is specifically for Bob’s work on the Iowa
Board of Regents. In an environment that has become very reactive, Bob
continues to advocate for calm, well-reasoned, data driven decisions. The next
couple decades of the UI are at stake, and we need leaders to get us through
the storm! We are very fortunate to have Bob on the Board at this time!
Royceann Porter: A black kid got in trouble at West High? Call Royceann. A black woman
had a problem with a store in Coralville? Call Royceann. No matter the issue,
Royceann Porter has become the “go-to” person for the local African American
community. The community is too large and diverse to have a single
spokesperson, but Royceann is widely respected as a problem solver. Understand
– this is a tremendous weight to place on one woman’s shoulders! But Royceann
has proven herself to be up to the task.
Tracy Mulcahey: North Liberty is bursting at the seams with children, many of whom
are poor and lack transportation. As people fretted over how these kids would
spend the summer, Assistant City Manager Tracy Mulcahey simply took the bull by
the horns and created a free summer lunch program. At virtually zero cost to
local taxpayers, hundreds of meals got served. And Tracy did it all, from
securing donations to cooking chicken to washing dishes.
Ginny Naso: After retiring from United Action for Youth (UAY) after many years,
Scoop should have some time on her hands. My guess is that she spends much of
it the same way she always has - advocating for children in need. Thanks for
all your good work, Ginny!
Chris Buresh: UIHC Physician and Coralville resident Chris Buresh cofounded
Community Health Initiatives (CHI) Haiti, and has led dozens of trips to the
country. Dr. Buresh combines public health best practices with dogged
determination to accomplish amazing things. Even more importantly, he leads CHI
with deep respect and compassion for the Haitian people. This is NOT “charity”
as you know it; this is an organization actually empowering the poorest people
in the Western Hemisphere. Chris – there are no words. You, sir, are a true
hero!
Warren McKenna: Where would you find THE leader in solar energy in the Midwest? Look
no farther than Farmers Rural Electric Coop in Frytown, Iowa! General Manager
Warren McKenna has added Iowa’s largest solar array to go with all kinds of
wind and conservation efforts. We have seen the future of energy, and it is in
Frytown!
Amy Nielsen: The former Mayor of North Liberty insulted Amy by telling her she was
“completely unqualified” to serve on the City Council. So she ran for Mayor and
beat him. North Liberty is full of young families, who now have a voice on the
city council. And make no mistake – Amy is not only qualified; she is good!
Chris Taylor: Another new Mayor, the young Mr. Taylor took the reigns in Swisher
after both the Mayor and Clerk resigned. Chris stepped in and righted the ship,
and never looked back. He has demonstrated a sharp mind and a caring heart, and
it appears Swisher is in good hands for years to come.
Sally Scott: There is greater momentum for affordable housing than at any time in
my memory, and much of the credit for this is due to Sally Scott. She led the
charge in creating the Affordable Homes Coalition, which is appropriately
asking elected officials to step up in our most critical area of need. A calm
and thoughtful leader, I expect big things in the future from Ms. Scott!
John Etheredge: See last week’s Salvos for a longer write up on my friend and
colleague John.
Tom Larkin: While Senator Harkin has rightfully received many accolades for his
years of service, kudos are also due to his loyal staff person Tom Larkin. Coralville
resident Larkin has been the local face of the Senator for years, assisting
Johnson County residents with federal issues. Tom is a great guy, and he will
be missed!
BJ Sullivan: This one is my favorite ever! Like every high school senior, his
relationship with his Dad can be strained at times. No time for family dinners,
lots of eye rolling – you know the drill. But BJ has had to overcome a lot in a
short life – more than most of us can even dream about. He is a survivor and a
champion. And when I see my son in the community - working multiple jobs,
standing up for the rights of others, volunteering at local nonprofits,
organizing fundraisers, taking mission trips, working with elementary students,
caring for senior citizens…damn, I’m proud! I love you, BJ! Now clean your
room!
Congratulations
to all our winners! I look forward to all the great things you’ll accomplish in
2015!
*DID YOU KNOW?
117 individuals/groups have received a Salvos Salute since they were
started in 2006.
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
"Sullivan’s
Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a
brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
These messages
come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the
whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise
mentioned.
If you do NOT
want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type
"unsubscribe" in the subject line.
If you know
anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail
me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.
As always,
feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to
serving you!
---Rod
December 19, 2014
Sullivan’s
Salvos 12/23/14
In this edition:
*Merry Christmas!
*Holiday Office Schedule
*Salvos Salutes Next Week!
*Iowa City Charter
*John Etheredge
*Did You Know?
*Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to those of you who
celebrate it. I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday!
*Holiday Office Schedule
A
quick note on the Johnson County schedule for the holidays – administrative
offices will be open on Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve), but then closed
on Thursday the 25th (Christmas) and Friday the 26th.
Offices
will be open on Wednesday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve), closed Thursday,
January 1st (New Year’s Day), and open again on Friday, January 2nd.
As
always, the Sheriff’s Office, 911 dispatch, Medical Examiner’s Office, and
Ambulance service will be running 24/7/365.
*Salvos Salutes Next Week!
We live in a GREAT county! Why? Because of the great people that
live here! Unfortunately, we rarely do enough to acknowledge these wonderful
people and the wonderful things they do.
That
is why I really look forward to Salvos Salutes. It provides an opportunity to
mention just a few of these cool people and the good things they do. I hope you
look forward to it as well!
Iowa City Charter
The
Iowa City Charter Review Commission has been appointed by the City Council to
review the Iowa City Charter. Pursuant to the existing Charter, amendments
recommended by the Commission must either be adopted by the City Council or
placed on a ballot for consideration by Iowa City voters. A community
discussion on potential Charter amendments will be held Wednesday, Jan. 7,
2015, at 6 p.m., in Room A of the Iowa City Public Library (123 S. Linn St.).
In the
first part of the meeting the specific issues to be discussed include:
(1)
Election of Mayor - The Mayor is currently selected for a two-year term by a
majority vote of the City Council members. Assuming the Mayor's powers and
responsibilities remain largely the same, should the Mayor instead be directly
elected for a four-year term by a majority vote of the citizens? This would
require one of the at-large council positions to be designated as the Mayor's
slot.
(2)
District Representation - Currently there are three district Council Members
and four at-large Council Members. In a primary election, only voters from
within that district participate. In the general election for those district
seats all Iowa City voters may participate. Should the district Council Members
be elected only by the voters within the applicable district?
(3)
Initiative/Referendum - requirement for qualified versus eligible. The City
Charter allows individuals to submit initiative and referendum petitions to the
City Council. When presented to Council those petitions must either be adopted
by Council or submitted to the voters for consideration. Currently individuals
are required to be "qualified electors" (registered to voter) to sign
such petitions. Should the Charter be amended to allow "eligible
electors" (persons eligible to register to vote) to sign such petitions?
(4)
Council Compensation - Currently the Charter requires that Council set its
compensation by ordinance, and the present annual salary for the Mayor is
$8,070 and Council Members $7,072. Some have argued that this salary
discourages some people from running for City Council. Should the Charter
require a higher level of compensation for Council Members and the Mayor to
better reflect the time required to serve in those positions?
In the
second part of the meeting the public may raise any other issues relevant to
the Charter. The Charter Review Commission invites everyone to be a part of
this public discussion. Additional information can be found on the City website
at www.icgov.org/citycharter.
*John Etheredge
December
31st marks the last day in office for Supervisor John Etheredge, and I wanted
to take a few moments to share my thoughts on my colleague.
As
you probably know, John was the first Republican elected to the Board since
1958. He had run for the Board as an independent in 2012, but the campaign was
pretty amateurish. I overheard media folks wondering if John was even a real
person, because they couldn’t reach him! I never even met him during the course
of the campaign, which was a first for me.
John decided to run again, this time as a Republican, for the opening
created by Sally Stutsman’s election to the Iowa House. Most observers noted
that his March 5, 2013 election was literally and figuratively a “perfect
storm” – voters were worn out from the 2012 Presidential election; local
Democrats were complacent, while the local GOP worked very hard; and 6 inches
of snow the night before the election closed every school in the county,
dramatically driving down turnout (to about 6%). Add all those factors
together, and John squeaked past Democrat Terry Dahms by just 193 votes.
No
one knew quite what to expect when John took office – particularly John! I
think he would agree that he was quite naïve at first. For people who had been
accustomed to Supervisor Stutsman’s mastery of all things county, this was a
BIG change!
Then
there were some early votes. John had campaigned on property rights, but voted
against Sharon Dooley’s property rights. He voted against resolutions
supporting Earth Day and LGBTQ Pride Month. Followers of county government were
expecting 18 months of fireworks.
But
that never materialized. I think there are several reasons for this. First,
John was never well connected to the local Republican Party. (Remember, he had
run as an independent in ’12.) I was shocked to learn that after a full year in
office, he had never even met some of the real stalwarts of the local GOP. Letters
to the editor often quickly demonstrated that the writer did not know John. John
was never really engaged in the party, so he never really engaged in party politics.
He had plenty of opportunities, but he never did so.
Here
is an example: if one were a calloused political player, they would have
advised John to vote against the budget no matter what. Just sit back and claim
the other Supervisors are “tax and spend liberals.” But John never did that. In
fact, he supported GREATER spending in some areas than I did! More importantly,
he recognized that the whole budget process had been a series of compromises,
and to vote “no” after securing those compromises would have been dirty pool.
John refused to play that game.
Secondly,
John worked incredibly hard to get up to speed. He is bright, and picks things
up quickly. He asked a lot of questions, and did a lot of studying. I am
impressed by the strides he made in just a few months.
John
was also much more open-minded than I had anticipated him being. (That was
clearly my error!) He would listen to both sides, and he often came around to
what would be considered the “progressive” view of a given issue. When he
didn’t, he usually had his reasons.
Finally,
and most importantly, John is a wonderful human being. We do not agree on all
the political issues of the day; we may not even agree on half. But give me a colleague
who is honest, trustworthy, loyal, sincere, kind, considerate, thoughtful, and
modest ANY DAY! I found working with John to be a real pleasure, and I am going
to miss him!
Our
potlucks will definitely go downhill; John is a GREAT cook, and makes an
amazing cheesecake! It was also fun working with someone so young (John is only
30), and who has such a great sense of humor. And it was touching to watch John
become a new father. I am really glad I got to be around for that.
If
you are reading this and have some kind of a job opening – I honestly don’t
know how you could do better than hiring John Etheredge. He is one of the
finest young men I know. Please give him due consideration – he would be a real
asset to any organization!
Meanwhile,
good luck, John, on your future endeavors. It has been a pleasure and a
privilege to serve with you!
*DID YOU KNOW?
Elected at age 29, John Etherege is believed to have been the youngest
Supervisor in Johnson County history.
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
"Sullivan’s
Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief
update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
These messages
come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the
whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise
mentioned.
If you do NOT
want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type
"unsubscribe" in the subject line.
If you know
anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail
me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.
As always,
feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to
serving you!
---Rod
Sullivan’s
Salvos 12/16/14
In this edition:
*Hard Times
*Diversity Policy
*Free Speech Issues, Part 1
*Free Speech Issues, Part 2
*Income Tax Cuts
*Did You Know?
*Hard Times
Do
you feel it? I do. The world feels as though it is spinning out of control.
Everyone is on edge. No one feels good about things.
The
easy thing to do is blame President Obama. (I happen to believe that is wrong.)
The hard thing to do is for each of us to look at our own behaviors. What do we
do (or fail to do) that might be contributing to the angst that we all feel?
Can each of us be a little better? Can each of us do a little more?
I
am going to try. I hope you will join me.
*Diversity Policy
The
ICCSD Diversity Policy (DP) has been quite the story. Written and passed
through unusual circumstances, undermined at every turn – the DP has shone a
light on the ICCSD. Unfortunately, what we see in that light is quite
unflattering.
Now
the US Department of Agriculture has determined that the ICCSD may not use free
and reduced lunch (FRL) rates as a measure in the DP. This despite the fact
that many other districts do so, State law expressly allows such an action, and
the ICCSD’s own attorney felt the policy complied with all applicable laws.
So
where do we go from here? Proponents of the DP are crying foul. Opponents of
the DP are clicking their wine glasses. Neither reaction helps the poorest kids
in our District.
I
ask every ICCSD Board member and every ICCSD administrator – what action do you
suggest we take? I do not care what you oppose. I want to know what you are
FOR. I do not accept doing nothing. It is time to act! The poorest kids in our
District deserve action!
*Free Speech Issues, Part 1:
A
local artist created a piece of work that used old newspaper reports of racial
wrongdoing, and fashioned it into a life-sized replica of a hooded KKK member.
This piece of art was then displayed on the Pentacrest (without UI permission)
and later removed.
Let
me be clear – this “artist” clearly doesn’t get it. He says he was well
intentioned, and there is no reason to doubt him. But his piece traumatized
many people. This was dumb, dumb, dumb. Then he exacerbated the situation by
claiming HIS “feelings were hurt.” There are no words to describe the lack of
awareness demonstrated by this guy!
My
biggest problem, however, was with the response of the UI. The UI removed the
installation, noting that the artist lacked a permit. That is fine; the UI has the
right to set those terms. But the response gave the impression that the UI
would have otherwise censored the piece based on content. I have trouble with
that.
As
for the head of the Journalism School endorsing laws that prohibit “offensive”
speech? Well, he succeeded in offending me deeply! His comments trouble me
greatly, and cause me to fear for the young people educated at my alma mater.
It
is not that far a stretch to the place where all protests are banned on the UI
campus because they lack permits. Did you realize that is ALREADY the case in
the Iowa City Ped Mall? You heard that correctly! You need a “permit” to peaceably
gather in the Ped Mall! That should give us all pause.
If
you read Salvos, you know that I recently received a piece of hate mail. I
recognize that my own feelings do not even begin to compare to those of an
African American young person confronted by the KKK image. I can only speak for
myself – a white guy who benefits from white privilege. But you know what? I
would hate to see the guy that wrote to me lose his right to speak.
Don’t
get me wrong – I think the anonymous letter writer is an ass. And there is a
part of me that wants to punch him in the nose. But the world would be a worse
place if his speech were muzzled. I would much rather win the battle in the
marketplace of free ideas.
Yes,
inequities in power exist. How are those inequities best addressed? Through
freedom of speech! If oppressed groups do not have free speech, they cannot
fight back. There is NO more important tool for marginalized groups!
I take freedom of speech seriously. We all should. If you expect
it to be there when you need it, you must fight for it every day.
*Free Speech Issues, Part 2:
You
may recall that back in 2007, members of the Westboro Baptist Church trampled,
burned, and spat upon American flags as part of demonstrations at the funerals
of two Iowa soldiers.
A federal judge in Des Moines recently upheld the right of the
church members to do these things, noting the actions were protected free
speech. State Representative Bobby Kauffman has stated that he plans to lead
the charge for a state law to prohibit this act.
Kauffman
notes that, “the magnitude of disgust and anger I feel about this cannot be put
into words.” I am in 100% agreement with Representative Kauffman’s feelings.
And I could not disagree more with his proposal.
The
First Amendment protects flag desecration. Many courts have ruled on this many
times. It does not matter that we find the behavior abhorrent; it is protected.
I
am not an “absolutist”. For one, I have found that being an absolutist on ANY
issue is typically unwise. But more importantly, I recognize that there are
rare instances where words can do very real harm. Protests of this type have
never been viewed as rising to this level of harm. And maintaining that standard
of harm is important…if the government decides one type of protest is illegal, but
not harmful, what about the next type of protest? What about YOUR type of
protest?
Representative
Kauffman noted that “100%” of his constituents who had corresponded with him on
the issue felt a change to the law was in order. To me, that only serves to
reinforce the First Amendment. We do not decide what speech is legal based upon
popularity.
And
I know I am losing the political battle. Using your weekly newsletter to defend
the KKK and flag burners is not a winning political strategy. But this is not
about politics. It is about the Constitution.
Representative
Kauffman and I agree on many things; we disagree on several others. I know I
would not like having anyone deciding what I can say or do. My guess is that he
would not appreciate it, either.
*Income Tax Cuts
Less than a year after selling out local governments by supporting
the biggest property tax cut in Iowa history, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal
has told the Iowa Taxpayers Association that he favors cuts to Iowa’s income
taxes.
This man MUST go! Democrats statewide heard a lot about the
importance of keeping the Senate in Democratic hands. Why? So Gronstal can gut
state government?
K-12 schools need money. The court system needs money. Medicaid
needs money. Human Services needs money. Our universities and community
colleges need money. Public safety needs money. Public health needs money. The
mental health system needs money. State government is in jeopardy of failing
its citizens – particularly its most vulnerable citizens. Iowa cannot afford
greater disinvestment in government!
As commodity prices have slipped, farm incomes are down. The state
is not going to meet its projected income targets. And if you make this cut, it
WILL BE PERMANENT! No future Legislature will ever be able to raise taxes to
make it up.
There is no way to support this cut AND support the UI. There is
no way to support this cut AND support AFSCME. There is no way to support this
cut AND support better mental health care. This proposal HURTS IOWANS!
Mike Gronstal has chosen to put his personal love of “deal making”
ahead of the needs of Iowans. He has forgotten that government is not the
enemy. He has forgotten about the most vulnerable Iowans. It is time for new
leadership! Gronstal must go!
*DID YOU KNOW? The
text of the First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of
grievances.
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
"Sullivan’s
Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a
brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
These messages
come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the
whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise
mentioned.
If you do NOT
want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type
"unsubscribe" in the subject line.
If you know
anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail
me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.
As always,
feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to
serving you!
---Rod
December 5, 2014
Sullivan’s
Salvos 12/9/14
In this edition:
*Reader Feedback
*White Privilege
*City of Literature
*Did You Know?
*Reader Feedback
I
write Salvos every week. There is really no such thing as a “typical” week, but
I probably average 5-10 responses per edition. Sometimes readers agree with me,
and sometimes they disagree. Then there are these…
I
got a handwritten response in the mail on Tuesday, December 2nd, and I felt it
was worth sharing. I have copied it in quotes verbatim below, including any
errors in capitalization, spelling or punctuation.
“Hello-
read you Sullivan’s Salvos a while ago. You obviously have no idea what is
going on in IC. People like you are turning IC into ghetto.
If you think we need a new jail, put a fence around broadway. Move
some of this black trash into your house, or Karen Kubbys.
Do you know the caseys in SE Iowa City was robbed before it was
even open?
Wait
until they break into your house.”
The
letter was unsigned. The return address area of the envelope read, “no return
address for fear of reprisal from heroin crazed negroes”
Yeah.
It is rare, but I have received letters like this before. Sometimes they are
more personal – this writer appears to know nothing about my kids.
So
why do I share this? Because the public needs to know what goes on in our
county. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. What’s more, people need to
understand that silence can be deafening. We must not be afraid to call for
diversity in our schools, neighborhoods, and places of employment. If we don’t,
the type of fear demonstrated in the letter wins out.
At
last Thursday’s Board meeting, I replaced my nameplate with a sign that said,
“Black lives matter!” In the big scheme of things, this action does not amount
to much. But it does clearly state my concern.
If
you share my concerns, I urge you to do something this week that demonstrates
your feelings. If you feel differently than I, say that. And if you are going
to write me with your opinions, please have the guts to sign your name.
*White Privilege
The
verdict in Ferguson, Missouri has resulted in many well-meaning experts
explaining the idea of “white privilege” to the masses. This is not working
particularly well, and I think I know why.
First,
a bit of background: According to Wikipedia, white privilege is a term for societal privileges that benefit white
people beyond what is commonly experienced by non-white people under the same
social, political, or economic circumstances. These privileges are unearned and
are distributed based on values of the dominant group.
So
for starters, we have a wordy definition. In short, it means whites enjoy
certain advantages just for being white. I think examples help.
One major example is that police stop blacks at much higher
percentages than whites. (This is often referred to as “driving while black”.) Black
people get followed around in stores more frequently than do whites. Black
children end up in special ed and “behavioral” classrooms in much higher
percentages than whites. Even little things like the color of “flesh colored”
band-aids serve to illustrate the point. There are many other examples related
to criminal justice, passing wealth through generations, employment, academia,
housing, and virtually every other aspect of our lives.
Yet
many people (mostly white) deny that white privilege even exists. Here is where
my theory comes into play.
I
think many people are hurting in our world. Instead of sharing in the economic
gains of the past 6 years, they rightfully feel they have lost ground. The
American Dream – home ownership, two cars, three weeks vacation, free health
insurance, putting the kids through college, secure retirement at 65, a little
money “just in case” – that life no longer exists for most Americans.
So
try telling these folks they are “privileged”. They certainly do not FEEL
privileged – far from it! They live lives full of stress every day. How can
that possibly be a life of “privilege”?
And
when we feel this way, we look for someone to blame. Unfortunately, instead of
looking toward the 1% that run things, we tend to blame folks who look or speak
differently than us.
Perhaps
this very real phenomenon of white privilege needs a new name. Because
struggling whites resent being told they are “privileged” – even when it is
true.
I
did some searching, and I am not the first person to have these thoughts. Here
are a few excellent reads:
*occupywallstreet.net/story/explaining-white-privilege-broke-white-person
*www.theroot.com/articles/white_privilege_extends_to_the_poor.html
*http://www.thenation.com/blog/179989/what-white-privilege-looks-when-youre-poor
When
resources are scarce, people tend to view others as the competition – “we”
becomes “us and them.” Obviously, that type of divisiveness works wonders for
the 1%. It is a simple, time-honored strategy – divide and conquer. I sincerely
hope that we can build a coalition that understands we must all work together
to seize power from the 1%.
*City of Literature
Iowa
City was bestowed with an honor in 2008 that does not generate the civic pride
it should. In November of that year, Iowa City was designated as a “United
Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) City of
Literature.” Iowa City was only the third city in the world to receive such a
designation.
In response to this prestigious award, a 501C.3 nonprofit
organization was formed to assist in maintaining and building upon these
literary traditions. Known as the City of Literature, this organization has
grown to fill an important niche in the cultural affairs of our area. I have
had the distinct privilege of serving on the City of Literature Board since
its’ inception.
Unfortunately,
I am going off that Board as of January. It has really been cool to be involved
in this endeavor. I simply love living in a place where – as local poet Marvin
Bell said so well – “words have dirt on their shoes.”
I
urge you to visit the City of Literature website at http://cityofliteratureusa.org.
Find something that interests you, and get involved. Thank you, City of
Literature – it has been a blast!
*DID YOU KNOW?
Johnson County is about 6% Asian, 6% Hispanic, and 6% African American.
(Source: US Census Bureau.)
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
"Sullivan’s
Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a
brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
These messages
come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the
whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise
mentioned.
If you do NOT
want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type
"unsubscribe" in the subject line.
If you know
anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail
me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.
As always,
feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to
serving you!
---Rod
|
