Choose reps who will return us to ‘Iowa Nice’

What has happened to "Iowa Nice" in the last decade? Iowans just keep voting for representatives that are not nice at all. Can someone help me understand why we keep doing this?

I mean, it isn't nice to ban books whose subject matter makes you uncomfortable. Books are there for everyone and each person should decide what, and what not to read. This is not a job for our legislators.

It isn't nice to eliminate DEI programs. This stands for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion — and the last time I checked, those were all good things. It feels like we could use a little DEI here in Iowa — even more than most places.

It isn't nice to scrub our history books of facts that make the GOP majority uncomfortable. If you'll remember, "those who ignore the past are doomed to repeat it." So, is slavery or Jim Crow something our representatives want us to repeat?

And, what is it with the attacks on trans people? What have trans folks ever done to you? I'd like to ask some of these legislators, "Have you ever even met a trans person?" Maybe try to learn a little bit about them instead of being so scared you are able to outright vilify them.

In the future, let's all promise to vote only for representatives who are able to show a little empathy — those who will help us start moving back toward being "Iowa Nice" again.

Michael Wyrick

Cedar Rapids