Iowa: "My family doesn't live there. It's not important to me."

[Missy Vixen]

I just spent the evening with my SIL's friends. She's having a birthday. This torture happens once a year, whether I want it to or not. Why am I bringing it here? You'll know in a moment.

The front page of the Wall Street Journal (complete with color photograph of the devastation that is Cedar Rapids, Iowa,) was lying on the restaurant table when we sat down. I grabbed it and pointed out the photo to my husband. "God, look at this, I've been reading about it for days..." The woman next to us -- a hipster if I've ever seen one -- immediately demanded, "Is that anywhere near Detroit?"

"I don't know, but most of the state of Iowa is under water right now," I responded.

"Well, my family is in Detroit. They don't live there. It's not important to me. They are."

Uh-huh. The corn and soybean crops are evidently a complete loss. There are hundreds of thousands of people in danger. The flood waters may not recede for another twelve days. This is their Katrina, for God's sake, and the woman sitting next to me (who must have had a Master's degree in fake eyelash application,) can't converse about it because her "family doesn't live there". It was all I could do not to turn to her and inquire, "So, you'll care about it when Detroit's underwater, too?"

To say that I am worried about the upcoming election as a result of this conversation is an understatement.

Julie

[Skittles]

1. that sounds like a typical repuke to me n/t

[Cerridwen]

4. Not a repuke, Skittles...

an "American" who can't be bothered by that which is on their front door-step unless it comes through the door.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, kick my ass later.

I'll thumb-wrestle ya later if'n ya want. :D

[roguevalley]

45. people like her don't vote. I would bet she doesn't vote. one less

ass head to worry about, honey. I am sorry you have to do this. Your SIL needs newer and better friends.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. There is no sense of nationhood any longer

I've argued this for a while and this is purely about ME

When bread and corn goes through the roof she may get it

[Missy Vixen]

3. Nawww. She'll just put on another layer of makeup.

I ranted the whole way home. My husband was telling me, "Oh, just ignore it."

I said, "Do you want this woman choosing the next president of the United States? She will be."

Julie

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. That's why I wrote she MAY... people do have a point

when the light goes up... problem is that for some it is too late

[GTurck]

15. You don't...

divide people into "tribes" and then expect them to act as a nation. Ever since demographics and target markets became the norm we have been inching closer and closer to these attitudes and a minimized nation. It is a shame the woman cannot see how connected she is to the flooding in Iowa, Indiana (which effects and affects cousins, in-laws and friends of mine) or the wildfires in the West and in Texas (which effects and affects sons, grandchildren, in-laws, etc. of mine). Did I mention Florida and Illinois and how ---well you get the idea?
I have recently become aware that by dividing us into cadres, markets, etc. politicians no longer have to tailor a message to the whole of America but only to their debased base. Bebased because they only represent a tiny fraction of us all.;(

[Turbineguy]

19. Ironically

we are more connected than ever through the interdependencies of consolidation.

[GTurck]

23. Exactly!

The problem is that the reality of our interconnectedness is not manifested in our media and politics. Each of these institutions find the separation and conflict they generate better for their bottom line.
I think Liberals need to start educating (a poorly chosen word) the rest of the nation on this subject. Individualism has a place but it is not the only place to be human and free. We desperately need to connect not only with those we think are like us but also with those that seem so unlike us. You can't paint a picture with only one color or one size brush but bring in an eye that can bring colors and brush strokes together well and you have a masterpiece that lasts through time.

[blondeatlast]

42. Well put! I think skyrocketing food and gas prices and the crappy real estate

market MIGHT reverse thie trend somewhat.

I"m ever an optimist, though. :shrug:

Welcome to DU! :toast:

[Raksha]

48. "E pluribus unum," my ass. Maybe we should change

the national motto to something more realistic?

Re You don't divide people into "tribes" and then expect them to act as a nation. Ever since demographics and target markets became the norm we have been inching closer and closer to these attitudes and a minimized nation.

[nadinbrzezinski]

55. Thank you, sharp as a tack

[acmavm]

36. That is one of the most accurate and to the point remarks I've read on this

place for days.

THANK YOU!

[Romulox]

38. Agree. "Free trade" when times are good, but "help me!" when times are bad ain't going to work.

[LeftyMom]

6. The good news is, people like that won't vote

until your "I Voted!" sticker is good for 20% off at the MAC counter.

[Missy Vixen]

7. LeftyMom, LOL!

>until your "I Voted!" sticker is good for 20% off at the MAC counter.<

Maybe MAC will bring out some kind of special that day or something and keep her out of the voting line, huh?

:rofl:
Julie

[madeline_con]

10. Yeh, their chicken McSomething with all white meat. n/t

[ColbertWatcher]

13. More like 10 cents off on any purchase at Wal-Mart. n/t

[mahina]

8. Poster child for the Republican party. It's all about me.

Sad and typical. I don't know if she's a republican or not, but she thinks like one. Sorry you have to deal with people like that.

[opihimoimoi]

12. Yup...MEism in your face....Raw, Ugly MEism....so selfish, so revealing...and they don't even care,

know it....

[MrModerate]

9. As others have said, the likelihood of this woman voting . . .

Seems quite small. No, I wouldn't want her to express her opinion about who should be president (one way or the other), but I wouldn't think it's going to happen.

[Athens30603]

11. This goes beyond party lines

She could have been anything (Democrat, Republican, etc.) This is beyond party lines. It's such an inhuman way to think. Especially at a social gathering where, for better or worse, people are generally on their best behavior.

Seriously, a decent, social person would have at least empathized with your worry over Iowa. But to vocally rebuke your concern by relating it to her personal concerns is pretty damn rude.

[Missy Vixen]

44. This is indicative of my SIL's friends

>But to vocally rebuke your concern by relating it to her personal concerns is pretty damn rude.<

We live in a rural area thirty miles east of Seattle. Every contact we have with the SIL (mid-thirties,) and her friends is miserable, because it's the same thing every year. We're in our forties now. We don't live in urban Seattle, so we can't possibly understand the Meaning of Their Existence. We don't dress in bleeding-edge fashion. We've never been to Burning Man. We introduce ourselves at social gatherings and attempt to make cordial small talk -- "How did you meet ______ (SIL's name), bla bla bla." They can't be bothered.

I might also mention that SIL is a neocon in a family of liberal Democrats. I've told DH before that it's my belief her stance is solely because she believes it makes her stand out.

I have to believe that this is solely her friends, because we know multiple other people younger than we are that are socially aware, thoughtful, and compassionate. They can be polite and friendly in a social gathering. I agree with you -- we're all on our best behavior at a social gathering, but for some reason, this group doesn't seem to think those rules apply to them. I wonder how their workplaces deal with them, too.

Julie

[Skidmore]

14. Remind her of your conversation some day soon when she is complaining

about the cost of feeding her family.

[Bluzmann57]

16. If this individual likes to eat

and have heat in her house, she'd damn well better care. You see,over 200 miles of the Mississippi River is closed and so there is no barge traffic. A section of railroad track is closed, so there will be no rail delivery for a while. A section of Interstate 80 is closed, meaning truckers are detouring at least 110 miles out of their way to deliver products, using more fuel in the process. So when she starts complaining about her water bill going up in price or her food or energy bills, just show this mini rant to her. We are Iowans and we will persevere, but we do not need the bullshit that a person like that exudes.
Btw, that was a pretty funny line about "Must have had a masters degree in fake eyelash application". Sounds like a shallow person to me. I bet she doesn't even really care all that much about her family in Detroit either.

[rurallib]

17. Well - she and her family on Detroit are going to be damned mad

this fall when food prices skyrocket because of the floods and the consequent wild price hikes on the commodities exchanges. But she will no doubt blame somebody, probably Democrats for the problem. But then it will affect her directly and she will find a scapegoat.

[panzerfaust]

18. On the other hand

Even Insurance Companies recognize that Floods are an Act of God.

This being so, since God has deemed it necessary (reluctantly I am sure - can God be reluctant?) to smite Cedar Rapids with a flood, how can anyone stand opposed to His Judgment? How can anyone not Celebrate His Wisdom?

Should not we, His Creatures, take a lesson from Islam - which simply means 'submission to the Will of God' - and accept that the floods, however terrible they may seem to us, reflect on the Wisdom and Glory of our Heavenly Creator, Caretaker, and Judge?

Should we not just say "It is the Will of God, it is no concern of mine that that place has, justly (by definition), suffered His Fury. Praise be to The Lord - for All Is Known to Him, All is Possible for Him, Tremble before the Vengeance of The Lord and Learn."

Or should we blaspheme and say - "We, as caring human beings, will try to succor and save the victims of this catastrophe, even if they not be kith or kin."

Either Praise The Lord, and learn from His Action, or Give Help to these Suffering People as you can.

In neither case, can you simply ignore them. Neither can one have it both ways: Either God IS God and nothing happens that is not His Will, or god is not.

Personally, I think more is accomplished by a single pair of hands wrapped around a shovel, than by ten-thousand pairs of hands clasped in prayer.

It looks as though drinking water is going to be one of the first shortages. Given FEMA's recent performance (where they just got through giving away to the military and other government organizations millions of dollars of donated supplies (such as kitchen utensils, furnishings, clothes) - that were still needed in the areas affected by Katrina) one can only hope that there are many in the flooded areas who have followed the Latter Day Saint's in having emergency supplies of food and water safe areas. Not clear what areas may have been safe in Cedar Rapids though.

What a disaster!

[Blue Diadem]

20. How sad that she can't feel for someone other than her family.

Some people just don't seem capable of feeling empathy or sympathy for anyone outside their own tiny little world.

[glowing]

21. I was saying this yesterday... it was story about older women.. and there

me, me, me attitude. I'm tired of many Americans... many of them act like Bush, and we wonder why he has gotten away with what he has.

[barbtries]

34. you would put all of us older women

in one category, of "me, me, me"?
c'mon now.

the OP described the woman as a "hipster" with no indication of her age.

[glowing]

47. no, but that's who was talking at the time.. and it was very selfish..

And I hate to demographic anyone, but there are a lot of American's who believe they are entitled to everything.. that they are the best and that they have a right to everything and access to every resource to make their lives oh sooo good... Face it, whithout Bush fucking up really bad and the core Repig base really feeling the pinch on their pocket, they would be voting for McCain.... Now, I'm younger.. most label our group irresponsible brats...Guess trained by the selfish me, me, me pigs.

[barbtries]

49. if you think mid-30's is older, ok

i'm 52 - must be ancient. lol

[glowing]

52. no, I'm 29 tomorrow... the women were older compared to me.. and were

busy telling me I "just have to work harder"... "there are jobs out there, sure they don't pay as much, but tough work never hurt anyone"... This coming from women retired and seemingly set up nicely for the remainder of their years.. I personally don't know if I'll ever see retirement or to enjoy life without servitude to the coprate masters... I'm hoping for change.

[barbtries]

56. happy birthday!

hang in there

[Missy Vixen]

54. You must be joking.

>Face it, whithout Bush fucking up really bad and the core Repig base really feeling the pinch on their pocket, they would be voting for McCain....<

Really? I've been voting as a registered Democrat since before you were born. I registered to vote in 1978. The only Republican I've ever voted for was the late King County Prosecutor, and I won't be doing that again.

I might also mention that I grew up in a blue-collar union home. So did my husband. We still have those values. We don't believe we're "entitled" to anything.

Julie

[DemoTex]

22. Barbara Bu$h or Marie Antoinette?

Could have been either.

[Debi]

24. I was certain that everyone had a family member living in Iowa

:shrug: Everywhere I've gone when folks have asked where I'm from have said 'I have a ______ (cousin/aunt/grandparent/in-law) who lives in _____ (name one of the 1600 someodd towns in Iowa), do you know them?'

Today, in Iowa, we are all family.

[Skidmore]

25. For sure, Debi!

I hear you. All roads lead to Iowa, only some of them have barricades on them now.

[Debi]

27. My folks are going crazy - they live out in Montana now with their parents

in Mason City and siblings (and me) here in Cedar Falls.

Dad keeps emailing news around at work b/c so many there have been to Iowa (Montana State and U of M playing football/basketball games out here). They're actually pinpointing hotels they stayed in and restaurants they ate in that went under water.

Once these floods finish with Iowa where do they go? Who is next?

[Skidmore]

32. We've heard from all of our family.

We had planned to go to Chicago next week to babysit our grandbabies while one of our granddaughters will be hospitalized for tests. We can't get out to go.

Our old neighborhood is under water now, and I keep thinking that if this had happened five years ago, we would have lost everything. Our old neighbors have.

I can't yet imagine what it will be like to get communities going again economically. We can't just start up where we left off because structural damage assessments need to be made for each building affected, and there are thousands of homes and businesses and roads and bridges to be evaluated.

I just feel overwhelmed right now and am worried about relatives who live downstream on the Mississippi.

[TahitiNut]

26. "We all have family there ... cousins we haven't met but cousins just the same."

:shrug:

[Gormy Cuss]

31. That's right, cousin TahitiNut. n/t

[janx]

28. "Is that anywhere near Detriot?"

Oh my God.

The U. of I. is one of my alma maters. To mess with people's heads, I bought a T-shirt that said:

University of Iowa
Idaho City, Ohio

:rofl: I loved wearing it on trips to the east coast.

How many people don't know where the states are, anyway? :shrug:

[cascadiance]

29. Disaster Capitalism at work...

Americans have been inundated so much with so many "disasters" in their lives, whether it be their own personal finances, health, lack of free time, jobs, etc. or other world events that the corporate media spoonfeeds us what they want us to hear, it really colors the way Americans perceive disaster like this. It's kind of like how America doesn't feel involved with the war in Iraq when we don't have a draft (or perhaps some folks don't have family members or close friends that are over there).

In this environment its really hard to engender community welfare feelings amongst everyone where we are concerned for others' welfare, which we should feel as this horrific event happens.

It certainly has my attention though. I keep getting tears in my eyes the more photos and video I see of places I used to live and hang out now under water!

[cascadiance]

30. delete (double submit...)

[barbtries]

33. someone that inured to the state of the union

won't vote. don't worry. she won't go for or against the dems, she'll be staying home. politics certainly don't interest her if an entire state being underwataer doesn''t.

[sunnystarr]

35. I'm waiting for Hagee to tell his flock that it was God's judgement

cause Iowa voted for Obama.

[cascadiance]

41. He'll probably get more mileage from his brethren with this...

http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=939682&displaytype=printable&lastnode_id=0

[Romulox]

37. Detroit has been the poorest city in the nation for years. So what have YOU done about it???

This is a mote/log situation, if you ask me...

[Vickers]

39. "a Master's degree in fake eyelash application,"

:rofl:

[Liberal_in_LA]

40. but you can tell they're fake so she must not be THAT good in applying fake lashes

[donco6]

43. If she had to ask if Iowa was near Detroit. . .

I'm thinking the rest of her opinion wasn't worth much.

[mnhtnbb]

46. Her vote counts the same as yours or mine. It's the flaw in democracy; education

and empathy are required to make it work the way intended.

[JI7]

53. yes, but she seems like the type that doesn't vote

a Republican would probably have said something about how it shows Govt can't do everything and people have to depend on local govt and private charities etc.

or maybe even something like "they didn't pray enough" or other shit.

[Bluerthanblue]

50. I hate to say this, but more than anything this seems to represent America

as it is these days-

Even here at DU.

We all may think we aren't as callous and narcisistic as your post illustrates this woman to be,
but if we could see ourselves through others eyes, we'd all likely feel pretty frickin ashamed.

We bitch about gas prices, about the cost of everything, what Hillary said, what Obama did, what McCain attempted to do-
What new foolishness bush is about,

And while we do this, there are still bodies buried in China, people suffering in Indonesia, in Somalia, in Sudan, Kenya, Iraq, Iran, Japan, Pakistan, Afganistan, Mexico, Haiti.... I can't keep thinking of all the places to name without wanting to screammm

This world has so much suffering, tragedy and sorrow- what can any of us as INDIVIDUALS do to be an instrument of positive change/energy- to build up rather than tear down? To bring us together instead of divide????

jeez.... This place can be so...........

sorry. I should self-delete:nuke:

peace~

[progressoid]

51. "I I Me Me Mine"

I think we're regressing.