SULLIVAN'S SALVOS

March 29, 2023

Sullivan’s Salvos 4/4/23

In this edition:

*RIP Becky Mills

*RIP Pete Kollasch

*Happy Birthday Jordan!

*Happy Easter!

*Democratic Party Hall of Fame

*My Gazette Letter to the Editor

*Born Too Late?

*Did You Know?

*RIP Becky Mills

I was shocked and saddened to hear about the passing of Becky Mills of West Liberty. Becky served as the Business Manager for Johnson County Public Health for 32 years, retiring in 2018.

I’ll be honest… this is really upsetting to me. Becky and I developed a great relationship during our 13 years as coworkers. We weathered some storms – literally, in the case of the ‘08 floods, and figuratively, through the creation of the HHS Building and lots of personnel comings and goings.

She was funny and had a great laugh, and since she retired, I have often walked past Public Health and thought, “I miss Becky.” Now I really miss Becky. RIP, my friend.

*RIP Pete Kollasch

Another person I thoroughly enjoyed also passed recently. When I lived on East Court Street, Pete Kollasch lived on my dog walking route, and we spoke a couple times each week. Pete was a highly intelligent fellow who always had questions for me – often questions no one else asked. I always got the sense that he felt he was doing his civic duty by challenging me a little bit. I think he was, in fact, doing just that!

Pete was an avid environmentalist, and a great advocate for the natural world. He seemed to be at every environmental function, and he put in the time with his head, hands, and heart. RIP, Pete.

*Happy Birthday Jordan!

My daughter Jordan turns 29 on April 8^th. Jordan works at a place very similar to Four Oaks (but much larger) called Youth Villages in Memphis, Tennessee. She has worked there ever since she graduated from college. She continues to get promoted, and is doing very well professionally.

In addition, she coaches area youth in basketball and track. Jordan was always a great athlete, and she is really having fun with the kids!

More importantly, Jordan is a really good person. Man, am I ever proud! Happy Birthday, Jordan! I love you!

*Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate it! Please take care if you are travelling, and have a safe holiday.

*Democratic Party Hall of Fame

Save the date! The Johnson County Democratic Party is holding our Annual Hall of Fame Awards event on Saturday, May 13 at 7pm at Courtyard by Marriott in University Heights.

Please join us for coffee, desserts, and plenty of old war stories! A cash bar will be available. Parking is free.

The Hall of Fame inductees for 2023 are: Sally Murray, Joe Bolkcom, and Mary Mascher. We hope you can join us in recognizing this remarkable group!

Tickets are available for a $25 suggested donation. People who cannot afford that amount should still feel welcome, but please call 354-7199 so we can get a count.

Sponsorships are available at the following levels:

$100 includes two tickets

$250 includes 4 tickets

$500 includes a whole table (8 tickets)

$1000 includes a whole table (8 tickets) and lots of love!

Checks can be mailed to:

Johnson County Democrats

PO Box 1773

Iowa City, IA 52244

If you have any questions, please contact Rod Sullivan at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. We hope you will join us for a fun evening, and lend your voice to those who are honoring these very deserving people. We look forward to seeing you!

*My Gazette Letter to the Editor

The following is a letter to the editor I sent to the Gazette in response to a piece by conservative columnist Althea Cole.

Althea Cole seems to think legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community is no big deal. After all, as she noted, 52% of Iowans agreed with Governor Reynolds in a Register poll.

Fine. If living by Register poll is the way to go, I suggest that we poll Iowans as to what rights Ms. Cole can have. Sorry Althea - I know you wanted to vote, but 52% of Iowans were opposed. Sorry Althea - I know you wanted your doctor to perform that surgery, but 52% of Iowans were opposed. Sorry Althea - I think you deserve to earn more than $7.25, but 52% of Iowans were opposed. Sorry Althea - I know that person is the love of your life and you want to marry, but 52% of Iowans are opposed.

We are always told what wonderful people Iowans are, often by Cole herself. So walk the talk - let the people of Iowa decide what you may and may not do. After all, it is no big deal, right? It doesn’t mean we hate you… we simply disagree. Right?

*Born Too Late?

This article appeared in a previous edition of Salvos.)

Ever heard the old pop hit “Born Too Late”? The Poni-Tails took that song to #7 in 1958. Interestingly, I have often thought that perhaps I was “born too late”. (My wife would counter that I am a prematurely grumpy old man. But she can write her own newsletter!)

Why do I sometimes feel this way? I have a couple theories: Growing up on the farm, in the middle of nowhere, we were always a few years behind. I had a party line phone until high school, and had never even sampled any ethnic food (outside of Italian) until I came to college.

A second factor is that I used to hang out with my father when I was a kid. We had a relationship that was more like being friends than being father/son. He took me places and talked to me about things that kids typically did not experience.

What makes me “born too late”? A few examples:

· I believe in traditions, so long as they are not discriminatory.

· I believe people should respect their elders.

· I think 95% of all good music was recorded between 1955 and 1975.

· I like to wear my hair short.

· I prefer square bales to round.

· I listen strictly to AM radio.

· I hate the designated hitter rule.

· I am not nearly as tech savvy as I should be.

I am not ashamed of being “old school” in some areas. In fact, I wear it with pride. I am concerned, however, that some of the things in which I believe most deeply are becoming old fashioned.

When I was a kid, people believed in unions. Republicans and Democrats both belonged. Bosses made more, but not WAY more, than their employees. People had insurance in case something went wrong, and pensions for retirement. The average union family could own a home, send kids to college, take vacations, and perhaps get by with only one parent working. I hope I was not “born too late” for this to once again be the reality in America!

When I was a kid, there was a strong belief that government was a good thing. Government protected us (cops, fire, military, etc.) and was there when we needed it (ambulances, FEMA, etc.) Government ensured that the air and water were clean, that food and toys were safe, that roads and bridges were in good shape. We were proud of our public schools. People had faith in our elections and institutions; that faith was well deserved because it had been earned. I hope I was not “born too late” for this to once again be the reality in America!

I am most concerned about the idea that we are all in this together. Where I grew up, there was a long, long tradition of opening your home to a stranger needing help. Neighbors helped each other with chores. They cooked for each other when something bad happened. Churches, civic groups, clubs, softball and bowling leagues…we were connected. The idea of caring for your fellow man was never questioned; it was your DUTY. Unfortunately, this seems to be changing. I hope I was not “born too late” for this to once again be the reality in America!

We must not allow important pillars of our society to fade away as though they were fads like 8 track tapes or fondue pots. It is incumbent upon people who understand the importance of these institutions to speak up and speak out. None of us was “born too late” to do this!

As Alice Walker said, “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for!” No “Born Too Late” excuses!

*DID YOU KNOW? A few things that happened at approximately the same time as “Born Too Late” – The first American astronauts were named; Castro overthrew the Cuban government; Alaska became our 49^th state; and Pele led Brazil to the World Cup Championship.

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-

www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov.

"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.

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As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan29@gmail.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

March 22, 2023

March 30 is Opening Day! Even if one is not a baseball fan, there is a wonderful rebirth that happens every year with Opening Day. Like so many things we associate with spring, a new baseball season is a fresh start. Every team is 0-0, with an opportunity to do great things. Once again, there is hope. And we all need that!

I hope your team (however you wish to define it!) has a “dream season” this summer!

As many of you know, I love sports. I try to downplay that when it comes to Salvos, however. You have many better sources for your sports opinions and information.

But following last week’s big upsets in college sports, I thought it was worth writing about a few things. As you may have heard, #1 seed Purdue and #2 seed Arizona lost in the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Closer to home, 3x NCAA champion wrestler Spencer Lee was upset in his quest for a fourth title.

This type of thing happens on occasion. In my mind, it is a big part of why I enjoy sports; the underdog pulling off the upset. But what seems different to me is the vitriol fans are expressing toward those who lost.

I saw and heard many Hawkeye fans who really rubbed it in the face of Purdue fans following their loss. They were really enjoying Purdue’s pain – too much, if you ask me. Ironically, a few hours later, it was a Purdue wrestler who spoiled Lee’s season. Fans from all over the country were not kind to Lee or Iowa.

I get it; I often root for the underdog, and I am often happy when they win. But the desire to really rub it in the faces of the opponent – to really take pleasure in their pain - that seems new. I’m afraid it is just another piece of the evolution of American culture over the past ten years. And not a good piece.

What are we to make of this malevolence? It can’t be good. Pretty much every major theology has prohibitions against such behavior. “Do unto others” and “Love thy enemy” from Christianity comes to mind. The Hindu notion of Karma, obviously, warns against this type of thinking.

Unfortunately, Americans seem to be more malevolent than in our recent past. So where can we look for answers? Interestingly, I think we can turn right back to sports for a good example.

When I was in college, I had a number of friends who wrestled for Coach Gable. Some were incredibly successful. It was always interesting to me how athletes whose teams had been bitter rivals ended up being friends. Not everyone, obviously, but more often than not. So why was this?

My friends had the opportunity to travel all over the world competing for the USA. Often, the countries they visited were not friendly with the US - Iran, Cuba, and the former USSR, just to name a few. During these trips, the athletes began to change their mindsets. It was no longer Iowa versus Oklahoma State. It was the USA versus the world. Their former opponents were now their teammates and countrymen.

Somehow, we need a similar change in mindset. We are so divided – red versus blue – that we need to somehow see the bigger picture.

There is an interesting story from the 1980s. Ronald Reagan was hosting Mikhail Gorbachev, and the two men were talking about nuclear weapons. Each man had the ability to end life on earth as we know it. There is pretty much nothing on earth with higher stakes. The discussions were not going well. A couple of Reagan’s advisors felt that the two men needed a break; perhaps they could just take a walk and change the subject.

Reagan’s wife Nancy and Gorbachev’s wife Raisa were both very interested in astrology, tarot cards, UFOs, seances, and the like. National Security personnel in both countries were terrified by this; they were afraid that one or both of the wives would convince their husbands to act based upon some type of “sign.”

So, as the two men walked, speaking through interpreters, Reagan said, “Do you believe there is life on other planets?” Gorbachev was caught off guard, but responded that according to the laws of probability, it was likely. Reagan then asked, “If we were attacked by aliens, would you come to our aid?” Gorbachev did not hesitate, and replied, “Of course. We would defend the human race.”

When the two men sat back down, everything seemed different. Suddenly, the two men were less American and Soviet, more members of the human race. The way they defined themselves had become more inclusive. And the results were positive.

Like USA wrestlers and like Reagan and Gorbachev, we need to somehow broaden the view of who is “us.” It is much harder to act malevolently to someone from your tribe. So we need to try to make the tribes larger. Let’s root for the human race!

It takes 47 million barrels of oil to produce the 4 billion pounds of plastic water bottles used each year. 47 million barrels of oil is enough to fuel 1 million cars for a year. (Source: Physicians for Social Responsibility.)

It is easy to default to bottled water. I am sometimes guilty of it, too. But please try to avoid wasting all that plastic. We all need to do our part.

One of the many casualties of Republicans in the Iowa Legislature this year was Iowa’s Bottle Bill.

The law required consumers to pay an extra 5 cents per container, and required businesses to redeem the containers. It had a tremendously positive impact on cleaning up Iowa’s environment.

Interestingly, the original Bottle Bill passed in the mid-70s through a Republican House and Republican Senate, and was signed by a Republican Governor. Though there was not unanimous support, there was bipartisan support. Like much of the Bob Ray era in Iowa, it was a “good government” initiative.

Iowa’s Bottle Bill remained popular to the bitter end. Most Iowans approved of the positive impact it has had on reducing litter, pollution, and landfill waste. So why is it that Republicans killed it?

The answer is really pretty simple. Today’s GOP legislators no longer work for Iowans. They work for a few well-financed, far-right special interests.

I support the reinstatement and expansion of the Bottle Bill. It was good for Iowa in the ‘70s-early ‘20s, and an update would be good for us today!

The Iowa City Athletic Booster Club Pancake Day breakfast fundraiser will be held Saturday, April 1st from 6:30 am – 2:00 pm at the West High School cafeteria at 2901 Melrose Ave in Iowa City, IA.

Most people do not realize this, but the Iowa City Athletic Booster Club’s fundraising efforts provide approximately half of each school’s athletics budget and is the ﬁrst revenue source used to provide each school with the equipment and supplies they need to serve the more than 3,500 students who participate in school sports programs .

On March 31, 1993, the Agape Cafe opened its doors to serve free, made-to order breakfast to our food insecure neighbors and those who are homeless.

Fast forward to Saturday, April 1^st and Agape is celebrating 30 years with a Breakfast Fundraiser at Old Brick, 26 E. Market Street in Iowa City. The meal is available from 7:30-11:30 am, and is available for a free will donation. Please support this important cause!

*DID YOU KNOW? States that have a 5 or 10 cent deposit on beverage containers recycle between 80 and 90% of their bottles and cans. States that do not recycle about 24%.