There are some everywhere

Being the elderly in the group, BKM and I slipped out this morning for coffee before everyone else got out of bed.   We journeyed into downtown Iowa City where BKM spotted “Java City,” a great coffee-house truly worthy of the name.  She assured me that we’d visited it last year when we were in town; I’d forgotten about it.  The coffee was great and I settled in to read the morning paper.

 

 As I skimmed through the paper it was again apparent that the human condition doesn’t change significantly from one region to another.  The hot topics may change, but there are still a lot of people around that I’d just as soon duck.  Even in civilized eastern Iowa there are infants beaten to death, counselors sued for sexual relationships with minors, and bar fights requiring police intervention. 

 

I was struck by the short story from Florida about the fellow that opened fire on his family after the traditional Thanksgiving dinner, killing 4 of his relatives.  Police reported there was an “ongoing resentment” in the family.  But this type conduct is exceptional no matter where you find it; I don’t claim it as representative of anything in Iowa.  It’s just so ironic that I can’t resist not mentioning it.

 

But the best gem in the Iowa City Gazette was Dick Graham’s letter to the editor beseeching the Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources to get serious about the deer problem. Mr. Graham said that from 2001 to 2008 there have been 56 fatalities resulting from vehicles hitting deer.  He says that studies show that among the states Iowans are the fourth most likely to hit a deer, but that Iowans are among the most safe drivers since they enjoy some of the lowest insurance rates in the country.  It’s just that there’s too many deer. 

 

Mr. Graham concludes his letter:  “The only conclusion is that we continue to have a deer population that is too high. Cities are forced to hire marksmen to hunt deer because of the dangers caused by overpopulation. This problem didn’t exist 60 years ago. 

“I understand the economic implications of deer hunting. However, I see safety of residents as a higher function of government, rather than providing leisure time activities that jeopardize the safety of all Iowans. The Department of Natural Resources must get serious about this problem instead of patronizing me, telling me to slow down and watch out for deer.”  

 

I really enjoy seeing a person that’s so in tune with the natural environment.

 

—  Margadant