Letters: LGBTQ discrimination and self-evident truths

LGBTQ discrimination and self-evident truths

Those attacking LGBTQ youth are assaulting a fundamental tenant of American democracy: the equality of all human beings. Our Declaration of Independence is unequivocal on this point of equality. The equality of all humans is a "self-evident" truth.

Carving out a segment of the population to be shamed is anti-American. Although we have done that throughout our history, Americans have eventually returned to our core founding principles. Through a long, laborious process, we broadened our definition of people from "men" to include "women." We broadened the working definition of citizenship from its restrictive "whites only" to include people of color sharing our dream of freedom and equality for all. "We hold these truths to be self-evident. All people are created equal."

The GOP in Iowa and other states would take us back to harsher ages when it was acceptable to discriminate against various classification schemes devised by human deviousness to exalt some and degrade others: by race or ethnicity or national origin, by wealth and poverty, by gender, and now by sexual identity.

So much for Lincoln's reference to Jefferson's words in his Gettysburg Address. According to Lincoln, the founders of the American vision "brought forth upon this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all people are created equal."

But not now, not in Iowa, not for those who identify as LGBTQ. Hopefully enough folks will come to their senses and correct the current anti-American laws recently enacted that discriminate against LGBTQ folks.

— Dick Janson, Decorah

Let the leaves be

Hey — it's maybe the last snow of winter and maybe you didn't get the leaves collected last fall, but it can wait until the March melt. Or maybe April.

Or … maybe forever. The birds and the bees and the lawn and the trees would all benefit from the nourishing compost provided by the decomposing leaves. Why not leave them be?

Raking the leaves is less damaging than leaf blowing, but the blowers are bad news for the birds, bugs and environment. Gas-powered models belch climate-poisoning gases, as well as destroying the habitats of insects and thus depriving the spring birds of their insect meals. But why even rake? Left to mold, leaves protect and improve your soil and feed the trees that produced them.

If you let them lie, you're on the side of Nature, doing the spring of '23 a favor.

— Bill Leonard, Des Moines, retired Register editorial writer

Don’t be coy in condemning Trump

It is truly past time for all in the Trump Deniers Club to step up, stop with the trepidation talk, gather up a bit of courage and admit this has always been about racism, white supremacy and hate.

The facts are indisputable. They can be proven.

Donald Trump is a liar, a scurrilous human being and beyond the pale. He is full of bluster and because he has never been held accountable, he believes he is above the law.

Although it appears that the wheels of justice are interminably slow, justice must be served. He must face the consequences for his unlawful actions, and though this may be uncharted territory, charging a former president with criminal behavior is an absolute must for our country and for democracy.

In order to move on and begin to heal from his despicable actions, the truth must prevail.

— Deb McMahon, Des Moines

Thank Biden for Iowa projects

Gov. Kim Reynolds is to be commended for the latest allocations of funds for her Destination Iowa program. Many worthy projects in all parts of the state will greatly benefit from this support. It should be remembered, however, that all those funds came from President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan Act, a bill that the governor routinely lambasted. She is more than willing to take the money and brag about how much she's doing for Iowa and Iowans, but her hypocrisy prevents her from giving credit where credit is due in more than a whisper.

— Don C. Yager, Fenton

Infrastructure funds can help bridge digital divide in Iowa

High-speed internet is essential, but estimates show that 106,000 Iowans lack access to essential broadband connectivity. However, the hope of bridging this digital divide can soon be a reality.

Enhancements in home internet using 5G technology can now provide affordable, high-speed connectivity. Wireless companies can deploy this technology quickly and efficiently using cell towers, as opposed to wired solutions that require the costly and time-consuming process of deploying cables to each home or business. One tower can provide connectivity to hundreds of homes and businesses.

I was recently in Alleman and witnessed a practical use of this technology when our network teams used an existing 5G tower to connect a seamless, 20-person video call.

The challenge is economics when doing this on a larger scale. Building and maintaining a new tower in a rural area can cost twice as much as building one in an urban area. Fortunately, government programs are available to subsidize infrastructure investments that improve both access and affordability to connectivity. And estimates show that using cell towers to connect homes can cost nearly 40% less than a wired solution and can be implemented in less time.

Importantly, the digital divide isn’t just in the home. Wireless connectivity ensures that people are connected no matter where they are. Investing government funds in wireless technology will help retire both “digital divides” in Iowa for good. We urge state officials to consider wireless as they determine how best to use their funds to connect their residents.

— Mike Adams, Urbandale, area vice president for UScellular in Iowa and Nebraska.

None of your business

Iowa Republicans, it is none of your business to interfere with medical decisions by adults. You advocate taking away the right of women to decide to have or not have birth. You recently took away the right of parents to decide with their doctor about what is best for their children, medical treatment regarding sexuality. Iowa Republicans are set on creating a society of men and women idealized as perfect, according to your outlook.

I am of male body who doesn’t produce a level of testosterone within the spectrum of being male. I’ve been on hormone treatment for decades. According to your culture war, in the future, you’re going to come after my medical hormone treatment.

I don’t want to change how you think of men and women. You should have that right to shape your life with that image you idealize. However, you have no right to impose your will on me. You have no right to impose your will on how parents make medical decisions for their children. You have no right to impose your will on women. How adults make their medical decisions is none of your business.

— John Clayton, Brooklyn

Grassley should share alternatives

Sen. Chuck Grassley’s most recent emailed update included an attachment in which he feeds constituents the same stale Republican pablum: a long list of criticisms of the administration’s proposed spending priorities without mention of a single Republican spending priority and its purpose. Why should I care what Grassley thinks of Joe Biden’s proposed budget when Republican leadership in the House can’t provide a list of budget priorities with which to compare? To borrow a phrase from Macbeth, Grassley’s ranting is once again “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

— Steven Pokorny, Urbandale

GOP shouldn’t make our medical decisions

It is a sad and shameful day that the Legislature passed Senate File 538 . Now Rep. Steven Holt says they were on the right track because half of Iowans support a ban of gender-affirming care. I still believe in Iowans, but I believe Holt and his GOP colleagues have successfully enhanced the “othering” of LGBTQ+ people . No one was forced to have this care, but the GOP has forbidden medical decision making by parents and doctors. The GOP cited a few studies. But, just like I don't let a doctor do a brake job on my car, I don't trust Holt and the GOP to make medical decisions for my family.

— Leslie Carpenter, Marion

Young farmers need mentors

My family wouldn’t be farming in Mahaska County today if it weren’t for Eugene “Bubsy” Strohman, who gave my father the chance he needed to get started in agriculture.

The average age of a farmer in Iowa hovers around 57, and rural residency in Iowa is on the decline. Young adults are moving away from rural areas to find better paying jobs and more opportunities.

Research shows 62% of the population in Iowa resides in metro areas, and small Iowa cities and rural areas average an annual loss of 2% to 4% of their population per year. If you currently don’t have a succession plan, I urge you to consider taking a young farmer under your wing.

By providing young farmers with access to land, resources, mentorship and an invaluable wealth of knowledge, you can help ensure our community continues to grow and remains a successful and thriving part of the state.

If you don’t know a younger farmer, please reach out to myself or any other Farm Bureau board members.

Be a Bubsy: Take a chance on a younger person and watch as their family grows within the community just like mine did.

— Aaron Hinnah, Oskaloosa

Circumcision’s legitimacy is well-established

A letter writer March 12 compared circumcision (in a negative light) with gender-affirming surgery. I believe there are several expressed thoughts that need clarification.

First: There is ample scientific evidence of the health benefits associated with circumcision. A Mayo Clinic article from May 2022 lists five: better hygiene, decreased infections, decreased STDs, prevention of penile problems, and decreased risk of penile cancer. The letter writer blasts circumcision as a disfiguring surgery with no redeeming medical value, foisted upon children by parents for religious or cosmetic reasons.

Circumcision, as well as mastectomies, and removal of reproductive organs for health benefits primarily due to cancer or accident have been deemed medically appropriate for over a century. I’m not sure anyone saw themselves as gender different after surgery.

Wherever you stand on either surgery, there is no argument that circumcision has a long track record medically and socially and is only done with parental consent after medical consultation. While gender affirming surgery is short on studies, and, in the case of children, advocates are attempting to bypass the parents.

— Steve Lame, Des Moines

Editorial board’s plan could kill people

Thank you to Troy DeJoode for his response to the Register’s editorial from Feb. 26. I too am extremely concerned about the Register’s editorial board advocating for “much greater urgency on abandoning coal — even if doing so also means taking some gambles on brownouts and blackouts.”

With the bitter cold weather we endure here in Iowa, “gambling” could lead to serious problems if the power is lost, perhaps even life-threatening situations for many. I think most of us are in favor of "clean” energy sources, but not before fully functional resources are in place and adequate backups (fossil fuels) are gradually withdrawn. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts, but this kind of “gambling” is never appropriate.

— David Ulstad, Mason City

State leaders think they know better than experts

We have highly educated, capable people in multiple professions in our state, but they are not qualified to lead any and every profession just because they are smart or have had a brief exposure to a profession.

Would you ask a carpenter to pull your tooth? There’s no doubt that the carpenter would have some tools available and a vague idea of the process. Would you ask a doctor to create new standards for all carpenters to follow? Why, then, are we relying on our politicians to make medical decisions for our children? When the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Psychiatric Association all include gender-affirming care for youth in their guidelines, why are we allowing politicians who come from many different strata of expertise (but are mostly NOT medically qualified) to make those decisions and to punish doctors who don’t abide by guidelines that conflict with the medical associations to which they belong?

Further, why is Gov. Kim Reynolds naming “an Iowa native with degrees in economics and law,” but no experience teaching or serving as a school administrator, to head our state education department? Chad Aldis may be an outstanding “native son” in many areas of his life, but how does that qualify him to lead all the schools in Iowa? Quoted in the governor’s office news release, Aldis said, “Like many Iowans, I owe much to the great public education I received.” Does attending public schools in Iowa qualify him for the job?

Medical personnel are qualified to provide medical care, and experienced educators are qualified to conduct the oversight of Iowa's schools.

— Sandra Smith, Underwood

Auditor has crucial role, needs authority

One of the worst bills making its way through the Iowa Legislature is the wording that seeks to limit our state auditor from being able to do his job. An auditor is supposed to oversee spending in the state and hold accountable those who are trying to circumvent the system. These people include the governor, department heads, the company overseeing the new school voucher system as well as small city officials and the like. We should all be worried about what the governor and the Legislature are trying to hide from regular citizens.

— Jean Richey, West Des Moines

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Letters: LGBTQ discrimination and self-evident truths