Is Iowa still promoting the State to Minorities? (Des Moines, Cedar Rapids: 2009, neighborhood)

[naughtychica]

Originally Posted by El Rhino

You're right, the world isn't a lilly-white, middle class place..... but Iowa still is and I see no reason why those of us who want to live in such a place should have to give in. If it is such a disservice to our children to not live in a diverse society, what about places like Japan or Iceland who do just fine (if not better) with a homogenious population? I don't see any danger in exposing the children to other cultures or anything, I just think it's silly to think that you're doing someone a favor by bringing in some minorities on welfare just to show your children "how the world works". Take them on vacation to Detroit instead.


Governor Vilsack has always been big on bringing people from places such as Bosnia, Sudan, Latin America and SE Asia into Des Moines to supposedly fill all of these job openings we have and boost our population. He also wanted to bring in a substancial amount of Katrina refugees, which didn't happen on any large scale.

I've heard of many people moving from the projects of Chicago to places like Cedar Rapids for better access to welfare. There's also a decent Chicago-Waterloo connection in the African-American community. Gangbangers from Chicago will often come to Waterloo to lay low for a while.

FYI!! Not ALL MINORITIES are on WELFARE! Your statement was very racist.

[naughtychica]

Originally Posted by naughtychica

FYI!! Not ALL MINORITIES are on WELFARE! Your statement was very racist.

P.S. I'm a white girl that grew up in Iowa!

[Steve_W]

he didn't say "All Minorities Are On Welfare"

[El Rhino]

Originally Posted by naughtychica

FYI!! Not ALL MINORITIES are on WELFARE! Your statement was very racist.

Thank you for posting. I found your post very persuasive, intellectually enriching and timely.

[Stevie]

Originally Posted by naughtychica

FYI!! Not ALL MINORITIES are on WELFARE! Your statement was very racist.

How was it racist? I thought it was pretty accurate.

[elfyum]

Originally Posted by El Rhino

You're right, the world isn't a lilly-white, middle class place..... but Iowa still is and I see no reason why those of us who want to live in such a place should have to give in. If it is such a disservice to our children to not live in a diverse society, what about places like Japan or Iceland who do just fine (if not better) with a homogenious population? I don't see any danger in exposing the children to other cultures or anything, I just think it's silly to think that you're doing someone a favor by bringing in some minorities on welfare just to show your children "how the world works".

This is one of the most intelligent comments I've seen in a while!!!

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by El Rhino

You're right, the world isn't a lilly-white, middle class place..... but Iowa still is and I see no reason why those of us who want to live in such a place should have to give in. If it is such a disservice to our children to not live in a diverse society, what about places like Japan or Iceland who do just fine (if not better) with a homogenious population? I don't see any danger in exposing the children to other cultures or anything, I just think it's silly to think that you're doing someone a favor by bringing in some minorities on welfare just to show your children "how the world works". Take them on vacation to Detroit instead.


Governor Vilsack has always been big on bringing people from places such as Bosnia, Sudan, Latin America and SE Asia into Des Moines to supposedly fill all of these job openings we have and boost our population. He also wanted to bring in a substancial amount of Katrina refugees, which didn't happen on any large scale.

I've heard of many people moving from the projects of Chicago to places like Cedar Rapids for better access to welfare. There's also a decent Chicago-Waterloo connection in the African-American community. Gangbangers from Chicago will often come to Waterloo to lay low for a while.

Honestly, as I read this, I try to understand you rationale in seeing that there is no harm in exposing people to different cultures so long as there is no crime. With that said, I often wonder as I read this statement, and I am trying not to sound controversial by saying this, but I do often try to think about if someone is saying this, it brings up the question "what if someone wants to move into your state because they hated their previous residence?"

Other than that, I think the reason some of the "gangbangers" hide out in Waterloo may have to do with a "no snitch" policy. I have been told that if you are in a rough neighborhood and you get called a snitch, run because it could be life or death.

[Not Iowa]

Originally Posted by GeekPrincess

None of the familys I've met have been here for ISU, they're here because our welfare isn't overran and they can take advantage of it. I've had several woman actually say this to me.

As far as people moving from the southside being criminals. I wouldn't be surprised if all of them have a record of some sort. It's damn near impossible to have lived there and not get something. Most of them don't seem to give **** about rising above their current standard of living and a lot of times they have a hard time holding a job. The other big reason they're so poorly received is their children. They do nothing to control them or teach them any mannners and they're some of the most violent this district has seen.

Who are "they"? Is this a blanketed statement toward a particular race, or toward all non-white races? I don't understand that mindset, but if I were not white, and read or felt that reaction from people upon moving to a new area, I would feel horrible.

I would love to see more cultural diversity in Iowa. I don't think that Iowa could become "more like California" at all, but we could strive to bring in a larger population, fuel the economy with more businesses, increase the standard of living for all Iowans, have a more realistic community mirror to that of the national population for our children to see, et al. We could lose less of the "look what the blacks and Hispanics" are doing to our neighborhood mentality. That's really disgusting, to be honest.

[Steve_W]

Originally Posted by Not Iowa

Who are "they"? Is this a blanketed statement toward a particular race, or toward all non-white races? I don't understand that mindset, but if I were not white, and read or felt that reaction from people upon moving to a new area, I would feel horrible.

I would love to see more cultural diversity in Iowa. I don't think that Iowa could become "more like California" at all, but we could strive to bring in a larger population, fuel the economy with more businesses, increase the standard of living for all Iowans, have a more realistic community mirror to that of the national population for our children to see, et al. We could lose less of the "look what the blacks and Hispanics" are doing to our neighborhood mentality. That's really disgusting, to be honest.

No, disgusting is what they do to there neighborhoods. The crime, drugs and gangs are "Disgusting". The 3 shootings or more a day in North Omaha (black neighborhood) is "DISGUSTING"!

That is a mentality that is imbedded into our minds after years and years of the same crap we see on a daily basis.

You're right though, we shouldn't say anything.

Explain the part of how bringing in people of different ethnicities would make any place better or fuel an economy. (Please don't use exploiting Mexicans as an example for fueling an economy)

I think you need to explain most of your post because from what I see it is deeply flawed.

[El Rhino]

Originally Posted by Steve_W

No, disgusting is what they do to there neighborhoods. The crime, drugs and gangs are "Disgusting". The 3 shootings or more a day in North Omaha (black neighborhood) is "DISGUSTING"!

Amen, Steve. These things are more of a problem than people saying things that aren't nice about other people.


Not Iowa, are you sure you don't mean we don't have enough melanin here or do you think we really lack cultural diversity? What about all the great European cultures represented in this state? We've got the Dutch in Pella and Orange City, Germans in Amana, Czechs in Cedar Rapids, Norwegians in Decorah, Italians in South Des Moines, Danes in Elk Horn and I believe there are a few other ethnic towns I'm missing.

So we don't have massive ghettoes or barrios. I'll take windmills over crackhead apartments any day.