Proud to be an Iowan!

[CPTAUSRET]

Got this in an email. It pretty much reflects how I feel!

As a Mod I am supposed to know where to post various threads, however I wasn't sure on this one. So if a smarter Mod, or an Admin comes along; feel free to move it as deemed appropriate.



A reader from the Wolverine State [Michigan] wonders:

Where are all of the Hollywood celebrities holding telethons asking for
help
in restoring Iowa and helping the folks affected by the floods?

Where is all the media asking the tough questions about why the federal
government hasn't solved the problem? Asking where the FEMA trucks (and
trailers)
are?

Why isn't the Federal Government relocating Iowa people to free hotels
in Chicago?

When will Spike Lee say that the Federal Government blew up the levees
that failed in Des Moines?

Where are Sean Penn and the Dixie Chicks?

Where are all the looters stealing high-end tennis shoes and big screen
television sets?

When will we hear Governor Chet Culver say that he wants to rebuild a
"vanilla" Iowa, because that's the way God wants it?

Where is the hysterical 24/7 media coverage complete with reports of
cannibalism?

Where are the people declaring that George Bush hates white, rural
people?

How come in 2 weeks, you will never hear about the Iowa flooding ever
again?


Response--

Why? Because Iowans are resilient. Because Iowans will not wallow in
self-pity nor embrace victimhood. Because Iowans will roll up their
sleeves and
get to the heart-wrenching and back-breaking work of digging
out and moving forward. Because Iowans are not looking for someone
else to solve their problems.


Because although Iowans may be amused, bemused,
and irritated by the goings-on in Hollywood and Washington, they recognize
that
neither is a real place inhabited by real people doing real work--Iowa
is all three.

Because Iowa is bordered by the east coast and by the west
coast--the
east coast of the Missouri River and on the west coast of the
Mississippi--making it an entertainment and political backwater to
those in Hollywood and Washington.

Oh, Iowans will gratefully accept some dollars from here
and some
dollars from there, but they will not wait for those token donations to
move on with their lives.
Because although Iowans may argue passionately among
themselves about the Hawkeyes and Cyclones and Panthers and Bulldogs--in
times
of tragedy, trouble, devastation, and destruction every Iowan readily
stretches
forth his hands to assist and support his neighbors.

'Is this Heaven? No this is Iowa.' Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) in
"Field of Dreams."

[echoes]

Originally Posted by CPTAUSRET

Response--Why? Because Iowans are resilient. Because Iowans will not wallow in self-pity nor embrace victimhood. Because Iowans will roll up their sleeves and get to the heart-wrenching and back-breaking work of digging out and moving forward. Because Iowans are not looking for someone else to solve their problems.

Concur CPTAUSRET!

Interesting that the "media" is not out there barking like wild dogs...and why? Because these folks are owning it, and taking care of business, IMHO.

(and Winterset, Iowa...Home of John Wayne!)

Holly

[JJ_BPK]

I like it,,

Do you have a source??

[enterfirst]

Nicely put Sir. I was activated for a few weeks to help with the floods in South East Iowa and the amount of tenacity, generosity, and goodwill from the townspeople was astounding. We were never short of food, water, cookies, brownies, gatorade, you name it. They bent over backwards to say thanks. Many of the citizens stayed VERY late into the night and morning filling sandbags for us to place. Wendy's gave us free food, every door was opened for the whole school system and the superintendent was constantly asking us if there was anything more we needed.

I'm proud to tell people I am from Iowa. I am keenly aware whenever I tell others where I am from that I have a lot to live up to (certainly as I know who from ps.com grew up here).

[JustinW20]

My wife (a Kalifornia native) and I were discussing this just last week. Both of my parents were born and raised in rural Iowa and most of my relations on my Dad’s side are still there. I told her you’d never see the chaos that was New Orleans there because folks from “the Middle” learn very early to take care of themselves and their neighbors. Seeing the good people of Cedar Rapids and other communities banding together helping their neighbors made me proud to be a “farm boy.”

The folks in Iowa and Missouri will do what they have done for generations. They’ll dig out, rebuild, and get on with their lives… without any help from the likes of Sean Penn or Spike Lee.

[Ret10Echo]

Originally Posted by JJ_BPK

I like it,,

Do you have a source??

One opinion

http://www.snopes.com/katrina/soapbox/dakota.asp

[JJ_BPK]

Originally Posted by Ret10Echo

One opinion

http://www.snopes.com/katrina/soapbox/dakota.asp

I read it,, not the same but close,,

I'm guessing someone has written this as a back-handed slap at the Kalifornicate crowd, X-Gov Blanco, Mayor Ray O & NO..

And frankly it is stating a position that a lot of people hold,,

So I say it TRUE,, with the exception of the Gov calling for a "vanilla" Iowa..

Mayor Ray O wanted 50 billion to rebuild NO and none of it is edible..

There has been reported loses of 80 Billion in crops from the spring flooding..

I'd rather rebuild the farms..

[Ret10Echo]

Originally Posted by JJ_BPK

I read it,, not the same but close,,

I'm guessing someone has written this as a back-handed slap at the Kalifornicate crowd, X-Gov Blanco, Mayor Ray O & NO..

And frankly it is stating a position that a lot of people hold,,

So I say it TRUE,, with the exception of the Gov calling for a "vanilla" Iowa..

Mayor Ray O wanted 50 billion to rebuild NO and none of it is edible..

There has been reported loses of 80 Billion in crops from the spring flooding..

I'd rather rebuild the farms..

I was coordinating some things with the folks working with the State and Cedar Rapids. They knew what they wanted and got the job done. Can C.R. be a "vanilla" city?


They sacrificed a lot of farmland in the intentional levee breaches, but I am sure the people down river are very thankful for that.

Now if they could get a good, long, dry-spell.

[CPTAUSRET]

Originally Posted by Ret10Echo

I was coordinating some things with the folks working with the State and Cedar Rapids. They knew what they wanted and got the job done. Can C.R. be a "vanilla" city?


They sacrificed a lot of farmland in the intentional levee breaches, but I am sure the people down river are very thankful for that.

Now if they could get a good, long, dry-spell.

We are still getting our stuff out of the two townhouses, we initially put a bunch of stuff in storage, and a bunch of stuff in the upper unit, plus a bunch at the farm. Now most of the upper unit stuff needs to be evacuated so the place can be remediated for mold. Two townhouses 2500 sq ft per ea, same footprint, and the mold grows upward.

I think I am in #37, maybe another one or two.

http://www.dilibraryarchive.com/slid...fri/index.html

[CPTAUSRET]

Originally Posted by enterfirst

Nicely put Sir. I was activated for a few weeks to help with the floods in South East Iowa and the amount of tenacity, generosity, and goodwill from the townspeople was astounding. We were never short of food, water, cookies, brownies, gatorade, you name it. They bent over backwards to say thanks. Many of the citizens stayed VERY late into the night and morning filling sandbags for us to place. Wendy's gave us free food, every door was opened for the whole school system and the superintendent was constantly asking us if there was anything more we needed.

I'm proud to tell people I am from Iowa. I am keenly aware whenever I tell others where I am from that I have a lot to live up to (certainly as I know who from ps.com grew up here).

enterfirst:

Where in Iowa are you from?

[BryanK]

Thank you for posting those pictures Sir. It's amazing how even in those conditions, people remain with smiles on there faces. Someone even added a bit of humor in picture #34 with the "waterfront view" sign. I never saw any pictures or footage such as this during Katrina, or the current situation in the midwest. I guess the public cannot be made aware that there are people out there that are self sufficient. Thanks again Sir.

[enterfirst]

enterfirst:

Where in Iowa are you from?

I'm from Des Moines, Sir.

[CPTAUSRET]

Originally Posted by enterfirst

I'm from Des Moines, Sir.

Roger that, I know it well. Some of the best Pizza I ever had was at "The Tavern." There are a couple of us Iowa guys onboard!

[CPTAUSRET]

"The Tavern", is in West Des Moines, (I think).

[Cold Steel]

I think I'm still a little sore from the bagging. It made those days in Afghan seem pretty easy but at least it wasn't 100+ heat here in Iowa. "The Tavern" is great but my money says that "Jesse's Embers" downtown has the best London Broil this side of the Mississippi. The building looks run down but sitting inside make you feel like you are in an old mobster movie which ALWAYS makes the food and scotch taste better.