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Last Updated: Dec 12, 2008 - 4:54:39 PM |
Only a small part of the East
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Hello America. I am writing to you from a small town in the middle of the country. I know you’ve heard of Iowa because you saw the movie “Field of Dreams.” Yes, that is what Iowa looks like.
I know you are worried about the future – the future meaning tomorrow, I guess. I know you are worried about your job and the bills you have to pay. I’m worried, too. But I think I’m less worried than many of you.
If you really are afraid – if you really fear for your future and that of your children’s future, I have a few suggestions:
To make life better for your children, drop everything you are doing and call Superintendent Bill Lynch at HLV School in Victor, Iowa. Ask him about enrolling your child in the school. Why? Because this school will not only provide your child with a quality education, it will happen without a single gun or crack dealer in sight. Mr. Lynch has worked some form of magic to create an environment in which the school is growing and renewing itself – yes, in a small town in the middle of the country. This school is personable and human. The teachers and staff – all of them – will know your child’s name. Mr. Lynch will know your child’s name. I guess it’s not really magic, after all – Mr. Lynch and the entire school has found success simply by doing the right things – without concern for what may benefit themselves personally. He has taken the old-fashioned hard road but the results are amazing. Virtually every child in this school will graduate and most will go on to college. After that, a good number of them, now highly educated, will return home.
For you the bonus in making that telephone call is that 20 years from now your child will thank you from the bottom of his or her heart.
After that, you just have to call a local realtor – it could be Tom Sandersfeld, Bob Dentel or Mel Happel or others – any of them will treat you with honesty and respect. There is no hard sell here because any one of them could be your neighbor. They will want to do what is right.
What you won’t need:
You won’t need a gun here for your personal protection. There is almost no crime whatsoever.
You won’t need a GPS tracking device for your child. Your child will be free to play outdoors like you were able to when you were young. There is no real fear of abduction and besides, not only will the teachers know your child’s name, the neighbors will, too. They’ll help to keep an eye on your child – just like you’ll help to keep an eye on theirs.
You won’t need to find a company willing to give you a jumbo mortgage for a home. When you find a house you like, just go down to the local bank. If you are an honest person with a job, chances are you’ll be fine. There really isn’t much of a financial crisis here. Besides, your house will cost less than your neighbor’s leased BMW.
And speaking of a job, they are here – although sometimes they may not be what you might expect. If you are willing to work hard and are a little innovative, you will find a job here. The best part is your future neighbors will probably be willing to help you out with that.
Finally, you won’t need the cynicism and the internal armor you’ve developed while living in the city. No one you meet will try to scam you or get the better of you – rather, people will open themselves to you, assuming you do the same to them. Your life in the city is not how life should be lived – it’s not how your grandparents lived, it’s not how anyone lived until recently. Real American life is here – in these 100-year-old homes and warm, honest people.
Are there other towns like this out there? I certainly hope so – but I’ve spent years traveling the country and this is the only one I’ve found.
I just thought I’d share that with you. Take care of yourself, America.
© Copyright 2008 by The East Iowa Herald
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