Iowans are turning the other cheek to California

Wow! We Iowans are going to California for a bowl game. Tons of Iowans will be going there to spend money. Included in this bunch are hundreds of people, including the team, the band and lots of staff - all being paid for by the state of Iowa. We are doing this despite the fact that just a few months ago we were scolded by the state of California because we had the temerity to not compel publicly funded insurance plans in our state to cover sex reassignment surgeries. Because Iowa took that action, California also stated they would not pay for state paid employees to attend any functions in Iowa.

Instead of reciprocating, however, we Iowans have instead decided to sort of turn the other cheek. We are exhibiting our tolerance - despite the intolerance shown by California. We are tolerant of insurance plans that pay for sex reassignment operations, we are tolerant of those who don't. We are tolerant of peoples various sexual preferences. We are also tolerant of those who have moral or ethical objections to sex changes. We Iowans prefer freedom of thought and freedom of businesses to make choices. We are one of the first states to allow same-sex marriages.

Thankfully, Iowa will be playing the University of Southern California, a private university not managed or funded by the state of California.

Dick Roggensack

Waukon