Iowa Stubborn

I'm so glad the caucus is over. I would be happier if Ron Paul would've came out on top. But third place is definitely not bad.

Whenever the Iowa Caucus time comes around, it seems like all eyes in the country are on Iowa. Maybe I'm over exaggerating. But it seems like hatred towards Iowa has been on the rise this time around. I could just be paying more attention to it, now that I'm finally old enough to participate in the caucus.

I'd just like to say for the record, that Iowa is not a state of rednecks and corn-fed idiots. I've grown up here and I can honestly say, I think it's one of the best places in America. And though I haven't traveled the world, I've traveled around quite a bit. I've been to New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Texas, Illinois and even to Mexico.

Now on to a smaller scale. Let's focus on my home town - Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Cedar Rapids is the kind of place where people will hold the door open for you. But it's not a town of over-polite sheltered hicks. We have our own attitude. We are our own people.

We have a Wal-Mart, a Target, two different malls, and tons of eating establishments. Cedar Rapids is Iowa's second biggest city. Sure it's not big and glamorous like the places I've seen in California but its home.

I've seen plenty of small towns in Iowa. There's much activity in many of the small towns that I've seen except for farms, family-owned restaurants, some second-hand clothing stores and a few churches. But the people that I've met that are from those small towns are wonderful. They aren't small minded people. They're sweet, bright people that have a love for the smaller things in life that some people in places like California may never possess.

Cedar Rapids is pretty different from the smaller towns is my mind. Not only because we have a bigger population but because we're on the brink of being considered an industrial city. I grew up right by the Quaker Oats factory. I remember waking up in the mornings to walk to Elementary school and getting a whiff of the sweet smells emanating from the factory. I miss those mornings.

In conclusion, I love this state and I love my city. I get tired of hearing people who have never come here and never experienced it in the way I have, complaining about the intellect of the people. We may not be the most culturally diverse state, but you tell me – what is? There’s not a perfect place to hold the first caucus.  I’m glad all of the caucus hubbub is over so I can live here in peace for another four years until the next one comes around. Thank God.