Iowa article from The Atlantic (Colo: living in, low cost, assess)

[James420]

Originally Posted by RonnieJonez

The reaction from too many Iowans looks ignorant. Threats? Hate mail? Iowans can have a very frivolous mentality. Having grown up, but not being from here originally, I never understood the entire fascination with all things Iowa. It's like you shouldn't even know the outside world exists.

The entire hyper-sensitivity gives credence to his article.

There's also several pandering articles written this time of year as well. Mainly about how Iowa is no longer completely rural, how there are black people in Iowa now, how there are majority-Hispanic towns in Iowa now, how gay marriage is legal in Iowa and not California, etc.

I don't think state pride is exclusive to Iowa, he'd get the same reaction I bet if he wrote the article about New Hampshire or Pennsylvania or New Jersey and especially Philadelphia. He's the worst kind of tolerant liberal, they're all over the place, and its their intolerance that makes people like him so intolerable so to speak. His piece about giving lectures on "Merry Christmas" and only have one young lady brave enough to challenge him on it, is disgusting. I guess this dude is an intolerant liberal tough guy too.

In retrospect though I can see why he is a little upset with hunters, since he was walking his Yellow Lab and the hunter pulled up in the pickup and asked " if the b!tc$ hunts?". I'm quite positive the hunter was asking the dog, not the owner.

[Chicago60614]

The hate mail and threats are absolutely not specific to iowans or iowa at all - that crap would just as well happen anywhere.

The reason for the shock isn't because Iowans can't take critisism or being mocked. Honestly they can probably take it about as good as anyone since they're so use to it. It normally just rolls off with a chuckle.

This is different because this guy claims to be an Iowan after his 20 years in the state and is giving his learnings. Instead he just frivolously throws the state under the bus with gross exaggerations and a lot of straight up false information.

[Chicago60614]

Originally Posted by RonnieJonez

The reaction from too many Iowans looks ignorant. Threats? Hate mail? Iowans can have a very frivolous mentality. Having grown up, but not being from here originally, I never understood the entire fascination with all things Iowa. It's like you shouldn't even know the outside world exists.

The entire hyper-sensitivity gives credence to his article.

There's also several pandering articles written this time of year as well. Mainly about how Iowa is no longer completely rural, how there are black people in Iowa now, how there are majority-Hispanic towns in Iowa now, how gay marriage is legal in Iowa and not California, etc.

Maybe it is just cause you're not from the state? I'm not sure. That is a misunderstanding of Iowans though if you ask most people who are from the state. Iowans are proud of Iowa, and honestly from skipping all around the country I'd actually call them pretty aware of what's going on in the world compared to many other areas. Especially if you take into account that Iowa isn't a worldly place like NYC or Chicago/LA. Go to other states like Iowa though and people tend to be much more insular and inward looking.

I'm trying to figure out why you're so critical about Iowans. Why do you stay in the state? You seem to be very bothered that Iowans tend to have a lot of pride. Be it over the top or unwarranted in many cases - but it's much better to have too much pride than just not care at all or be all negative about everything all the time.

I say accept it or leave.....it's not changing anytime soon.

[WyoNewk]

As a journalist, I'm ashamed that a journalism professor would write this kind of slanted drivel.
As a former Iowan, I'm ashamed that Iowa's top university employs a professor who writes this kind of tripe.
My brother studied journalism at U of I but switched majors. Good for him!
I studied journalism at Iowa State. Good for me! LOL

It's really a horrible piece. If, when I was a newspaper editor, I'd have had a reporter who wrote something this slanted and full of inaccuracies, I'd have fired him, just as U of I should do. It makes the whole university look bad.

[tollfree]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

Maybe it is just cause you're not from the state? I'm not sure. That is a misunderstanding of Iowans though if you ask most people who are from the state. Iowans are proud of Iowa, and honestly from skipping all around the country I'd actually call them pretty aware of what's going on in the world compared to many other areas. Especially if you take into account that Iowa isn't a worldly place like NYC or Chicago/LA. Go to other states like Iowa though and people tend to be much more insular and inward looking.

I'm trying to figure out why you're so critical about Iowans. Why do you stay in the state? You seem to be very bothered that Iowans tend to have a lot of pride. Be it over the top or unwarranted in many cases - but it's much better to have too much pride than just not care at all or be all negative about everything all the time.

I say accept it or leave.....it's not changing anytime soon.

No reason to play Freud here.

I do think the "Civic fanaticism" gets rather cult-like. You may think that's great, not everyone has to share that opinion.

I actually consider Des Moines to be more like Chicago (minus the ethnic food, shopping, density, etc) in terms of mentality (both are solidly midwestern), than Chicago to be like Los Angeles.

[Dport7674]

Folks from all 50 states would react the same way.

Go to the General U.S. or City vs City and find plenty of evidence.

[ElleTea]

This article has definately struck a nerve with many people. It seems everyone is talking about it; coworkers, friends, etc. It's everywhere, and people are pissed!

[El Rhino]

Bloom is a total cultural narcissist and for as much as he tries to rail Iowa for lacking "diversity", he seems to have difficulty himself accepting the fact that there are people out there that are different from himself (like white Christians in Middle America).

Most of the things he lists as negatives are actually pretty neutral. "People eat casseroles! They go hunting!" Seriously?

[GoneNative]

Originally Posted by El Rhino

Bloom is a total cultural narcissist and for as much as he tries to rail Iowa for lacking "diversity", he seems to have difficulty himself accepting the fact that there are people out there that are different from himself (like white Christians in Middle America).

Most of the things he lists as negatives are actually pretty neutral. "People eat casseroles! They go hunting!" Seriously?

I have not actually been to Iowa, though it's a state I've always thought would be a fine place to live. And when reading the article, I was a little outraged as the open derision towards faith and middle-American culture, but I actually thought that what he took as real negatives, a lot of people, including myself, would find it all very appealing. Small towns, casseroles, and boys named "Bud" may not fill the dish for the sushi-and-Kant crowd, but it doesn't exactly sound like a tortured existence to me.

[zz4guy]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

anyone else read this? Wow. How could this guy live in Iowa for TWENTY years and be so off on his assessment. Iowa certainly has issues, and there were many truths in this, but so many of the facts were just plain wrong.

Such a smug little man focusing on everything negative he can find. He's being paid with Iowa taxpayer money, yet his entire viewpoints on the state are condescending, stereotypical and mocking.

Observations from 20 Years of Iowa Life - Stephen G. Bloom - Politics - The Atlantic

At least he's being honest. This state IS backwards in more ways than one and finally somebody has enough guts to say it publicly. Why should we exect him to sugar coat things just because he's paid with our tax dollars?