Wait what? I've lived here 8 years and never heard that term once. Maybe it is just who I hang out with, meet on the street and deal with in our county (Monroe) but maybe it just isn't a thing.
"The woman below defends Wanders. She says the word “n******-rigged isn’t a racist slur, maybe 80% of Iowans use the word, and that Wanders doesn’t have a racist bone in his body.
Remarkably, she also said, “If you look at that word, and see race, you are the racist.”
as a former resident of iowa i will state that i am appalled and embarrassed for the people of the state of iowa. what in the name of common curtesy has happened to iowa nice? i will end with a quote from a frank zappa song made back in the late 1960's, "hey people, i'm not black, but there were many times i was embarrassed to say i was white"....
1). I grew up in rural nebraska. I never heard that phrase which i take as a credit to my community.
2). My substack is loaded with info to help novices run for office. Given that i am a former research director for the national association of counties & i set up a training program for newly elected officials, this is in my wheelhouse Be the change you want.
It floors me how in 2026, people can be so casual about the words they use. It also floors me how so many people refuse to apologize when called out for their harmful actions.
I can’t even find the words to explain the ignorance and lack of empathy or understanding. The man who tried to defend his slurs as a “good old boy” who’s used those slurs for years, plus the woman and man who also tried to justify and normalize his words just showed their own biased ignorance. My hope is that someone or rather many from that wonderful community, step up and try to help them understand how absolutely awful those words were. Please.
Best read all day! Ugly (constant) topic. So tired and I'm white, rural Iowan. Can only imagine the continual harm being perpetuated on our sisters and brothers from another mother.
The white racist dude needs to resign. He is a disgrace. The "n" word was used in my own family by my father until he understood racism and he was man enough to realize exactly what it meant and he stopped. This guy is so full of white privilege I am surprise he has not blown up. Keep holding feet to the fire.
Have lived in Iowa all of my 80 years and have not heard the n word for several decades. By my standards, any-one who uses that word is advertising the fact that he or she enjoys the arrogance of ignorance.
Interesting. Living in next door county and had not heard about this sad happening. My father said n.....rigging (he died 58 yrs ago) my mother had a fit and got him to stop. I've heard it occasionally since, I wonder how it got it's start, but very little as replaced by jury rigging. BUT... racism against whites by blacks is quite common more and more. I've been called 'honky, white boy, cracker, white privileged'. Racism in any form is not good. I just shrug my shoulders and have ignored it not making a big deal about it. I find it sad and laughable amount of people in their comments say 'I'm not going back to that town or county'.
White privilege isn't racism. It is an accurate label of the current societal hierarchy, and has been for over 400 years. Being able to shrug your shoulders and ignore a slur against your skin color is the epitome of white privilege. As a white male, you live in a world that has been built to help you succeed. 90+% of institutions that are currently functioning were created to cater to your demographic specifically. You only recognize that when you encounter one that does not. That is privilege. Not having privilege is stumbling upon an institution which seems to have been made specifically for who you are (black, brown, asian, native, Spanish speaking, female, young, disabled, older) and being surprised. Because that is how the rest of us feel, especially those who are not male, white or heterosexual daily.
Being called 'white privileged' by a certain person(s) in a particular tone of voice and facial expressions can be racist, I believe. Shrugging off and ignoring a racial slur just means just that and any skin color can do it. A human can't change the color they were born but can always improve their character and themselves. No 'privilege' there.
Did you even read what I wrote? Because your response implies you didn't. Your answer without reading and pondering my reaction shows the utmost of male white privilege. That you choose not to see it is a you problem. One can't help the color of the skin they are born with, but the societal barriers they face because of the color of their skin vary drastically. If you don't agree with this, you are willfully ignorant, and I have no further time to spend on you.
I stand by my saying when I've been called racist name by anyone else I just ignore it. there are barriers for different reasons in different parts of our country. I've met and done business with people with different colored skin than mine, I respect them and no problem. And I've had a lot of people white and different color skin not be very nice. I ignore them.
Wow, with ur attitude in the last sentence, maybe don't be surprised outcome of the supervisor race!
Let's start using “Wanders-Rigged” that's where ignorant people in a position of power have abused that power and need to be removed from office. Just spitballing. Open to ideas.
Wait what? I've lived here 8 years and never heard that term once. Maybe it is just who I hang out with, meet on the street and deal with in our county (Monroe) but maybe it just isn't a thing.
"The woman below defends Wanders. She says the word “n******-rigged isn’t a racist slur, maybe 80% of Iowans use the word, and that Wanders doesn’t have a racist bone in his body.
Remarkably, she also said, “If you look at that word, and see race, you are the racist.”
Disgusting and intentional. They’re trying to make overt racism culturally acceptable again.
There is no Iowa Nice. There is only Mahaska County.
as a former resident of iowa i will state that i am appalled and embarrassed for the people of the state of iowa. what in the name of common curtesy has happened to iowa nice? i will end with a quote from a frank zappa song made back in the late 1960's, "hey people, i'm not black, but there were many times i was embarrassed to say i was white"....
1). I grew up in rural nebraska. I never heard that phrase which i take as a credit to my community.
2). My substack is loaded with info to help novices run for office. Given that i am a former research director for the national association of counties & i set up a training program for newly elected officials, this is in my wheelhouse Be the change you want.
looks like the majority of this county needs your info asap...
County supervisors are VERY important. This guy needs to apologize ASAP and perhaps have a little training. So thoughtless.
It floors me how in 2026, people can be so casual about the words they use. It also floors me how so many people refuse to apologize when called out for their harmful actions.
have you listened to our administrative officers from the white house lately?
I can’t even find the words to explain the ignorance and lack of empathy or understanding. The man who tried to defend his slurs as a “good old boy” who’s used those slurs for years, plus the woman and man who also tried to justify and normalize his words just showed their own biased ignorance. My hope is that someone or rather many from that wonderful community, step up and try to help them understand how absolutely awful those words were. Please.
Indeed. We need more Sarahs.
Best read all day! Ugly (constant) topic. So tired and I'm white, rural Iowan. Can only imagine the continual harm being perpetuated on our sisters and brothers from another mother.
My family escaped from Iowa well over a century ago. Thank you family.
The white racist dude needs to resign. He is a disgrace. The "n" word was used in my own family by my father until he understood racism and he was man enough to realize exactly what it meant and he stopped. This guy is so full of white privilege I am surprise he has not blown up. Keep holding feet to the fire.
Have lived in Iowa all of my 80 years and have not heard the n word for several decades. By my standards, any-one who uses that word is advertising the fact that he or she enjoys the arrogance of ignorance.
Interesting. Living in next door county and had not heard about this sad happening. My father said n.....rigging (he died 58 yrs ago) my mother had a fit and got him to stop. I've heard it occasionally since, I wonder how it got it's start, but very little as replaced by jury rigging. BUT... racism against whites by blacks is quite common more and more. I've been called 'honky, white boy, cracker, white privileged'. Racism in any form is not good. I just shrug my shoulders and have ignored it not making a big deal about it. I find it sad and laughable amount of people in their comments say 'I'm not going back to that town or county'.
White privilege isn't racism. It is an accurate label of the current societal hierarchy, and has been for over 400 years. Being able to shrug your shoulders and ignore a slur against your skin color is the epitome of white privilege. As a white male, you live in a world that has been built to help you succeed. 90+% of institutions that are currently functioning were created to cater to your demographic specifically. You only recognize that when you encounter one that does not. That is privilege. Not having privilege is stumbling upon an institution which seems to have been made specifically for who you are (black, brown, asian, native, Spanish speaking, female, young, disabled, older) and being surprised. Because that is how the rest of us feel, especially those who are not male, white or heterosexual daily.
Being called 'white privileged' by a certain person(s) in a particular tone of voice and facial expressions can be racist, I believe. Shrugging off and ignoring a racial slur just means just that and any skin color can do it. A human can't change the color they were born but can always improve their character and themselves. No 'privilege' there.
Did you even read what I wrote? Because your response implies you didn't. Your answer without reading and pondering my reaction shows the utmost of male white privilege. That you choose not to see it is a you problem. One can't help the color of the skin they are born with, but the societal barriers they face because of the color of their skin vary drastically. If you don't agree with this, you are willfully ignorant, and I have no further time to spend on you.
I stand by my saying when I've been called racist name by anyone else I just ignore it. there are barriers for different reasons in different parts of our country. I've met and done business with people with different colored skin than mine, I respect them and no problem. And I've had a lot of people white and different color skin not be very nice. I ignore them.
Wow, with ur attitude in the last sentence, maybe don't be surprised outcome of the supervisor race!
Words matter. How they are said matter. Racism is not Okay. He should be removed from office.
Pretty sure you are being too generous Robert. After all, a pleasant racist is still a racist.
Let's start using “Wanders-Rigged” that's where ignorant people in a position of power have abused that power and need to be removed from office. Just spitballing. Open to ideas.