Iowa

Do eighteen formative years in the “Tall Corn” state qualify one to claim a degree of expertise in the “what makes Iowa tick” department? Since every person’s own life experience governs their opinions and reactions it probably does not. Still, it does not totally invalidate some personal observations.

Social difficulties of epic proportions were present in my formative years on a national and international scale. Born in 1932, I am today still reflecting the lessons learned in the Great Depression. I detest waste, and continue, at my personal peril, to clean up every morsel on my plate. My father, with a very young podiatry practice, waited hours between patients, and became a model airplane builder par excellence. He built from plans, not kits, from raw balsa, tissue paper and long strings of rubber bands. At the age of nine-and-a-half years, I saw the country plunge into war unlike anything which has been seen since. As a Des Moines Register paper boy, I had the very first look of the day at the news before anyone else in town during the struggle. On a scorching Iowa day in August 1945 I shared with the citizens of the rural community I call home, West Liberty, Iowa, the joys of Japan’s surrender and sober reflection upon the cost.

Our high school graduated twenty-four students in 1950. Today, I still number the bulk of them as my closest and dearest friends. Scattered from Virginia to the desert Southwest and into the deep South, we all still keep in touch along with the handful remaining in Iowa. In retrospect, I see our class motto as having been prophetic: “Tis the set of the sail and not the gale, which determines our destiny.” Materially, almost all have done extremely well.

I firmly believe that Iowa in the thirties and forties – and other rural areas nationally for that matter – provided a substantial base for their subsequent success. The opportunity for spiritual enrichment was constant. A sense of the presence of God as the directing factor in our lives was ever present. The creeds varied but God did not. Many of my classmates were active participants in their individual churches and most remain so to this day. This factor underlines the importance of forcing potential presidents to square their views on faith with the general population.

This necessity is not overblown. While serious theologians may find Iowan’s opinions naïve and amateurish for the most part, they will not easily be changed. To ignore a reasoned sincere response to their feelings would be political suicide. To pander and attempt to gain cheap acceptance would also be a disaster. For most of the candidates – regardless of party affiliation – to deny Divine guidance as a necessity for good government would represent the poorest of choices. To project faith as the primary engine of executive ability would be equally foolhardy. Watching them collectively walk this tightrope is immensely entertaining. It is probably satisfying to fans of diversity to see this collection of mainstream Protestants, Evangelicals, Catholics, Mormons, Muslims Agnostics and Space Invaders vie for the top job through faith. Oops, I almost forgot to include the Church of Global Warming.

The inflated importance of the Iowa Caucus is largely situated in its position as the first. In itself it will neither make nor break any candidate – Des Moines Register opinion not withstanding. It all does serve to further elevate the self importance some Iowans have as a result of having heard throughout their youth how accomplished they are. After all, Garrison Keillor assured them on PBS that all of Lake Wobegon’s kids were above average. The fact he broadcast from Minnesota didn’t faze them. Then we are faced with the matter of trusting any state which dedicates an Interstate (I-80) rest area to a former US vice-president who was an avowed communist, with critical decisions which affect the country as a whole. That in itself takes the “warm and fuzzy” out of the equation for me.

Although national security, taxes, health care, etc. claim a large share of interest in the state, one other issue is close to paramount. Perhaps even eclipsing faith is the matter of continued production of excessive amounts of corn with government subsidies, to provide the basis for its questionable use in ethanol enhanced fuels. The fact that it is economically unfeasible, escapes the selfish interests of the growers. That t-bone at $12.95 a pound (and rising) comes to you courtesy of the ethanol lobby. Thus the question for the electorate becomes one of God meets mammon, who wins? Trust me; this will be a major issue in the minds of more than a few Midwestern voters.

Last, but certainly not least, a major concern in Iowa is immigration. Due to a burgeoning poultry processing industry, there has been a major shift in the presence of immigrants, both legal and illegal in Iowa. In a Restorationist view, we are bound scripturally to obey the laws of the land. In a misguided effort to avoid any accusation of racism, many Iowans tolerate the influx of illegals and the incumbent costs of their maintenance – schools, health care, added crime, etc. In a state dominated by faiths with affiliation to the World Council of Churches and their all-embracing attitudes, the public solution is obvious. In the privacy of the voting booth, other solutions may prevail. Since most of the candidates would prefer to waffle their way through the issue it will be harder to detect a clear cut preference.

I am sorry to say that the Iowa I knew as a boy has all but disappeared. I can only pray that the residual remains of the values I learned and came to cherish still remain in the hearts and minds of electorate. We shall soon see.

In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon