Last week U.S. Congressman Steve King, representing Iowa’s Fifth District, made some disturbing remarks on the House floor. The conservative congressman thinks that it’s time “somebody stands up and says we’re going to be opposed to this idea of diversity.”

He believes that this country needs “cultural continuity” instead.

When he was in the state Senate, Mr. King proposed legislation that would stop teaching our children in public schools about cultural diversity and instead teach them that America is the greatest nation in the world.

This kind of thinking breeds ignorance and prejudice.

It has also been known to spawn hate crimes based on race, nationality and also sexual orientation.

How boring would this country be if we were all alike? We need to learn to appreciate our different cultures.

We need to teach our children about the contributions minorities have made to our great way of life and that just because someone looks, talks or dances different, that doesn’t make them wrong and you right.

Earlier this year, the honorable Mr. King wrote, “words like diversity and multiculturalism are being used by those that want to erase the world’s borders, create one currency and water down American values and democracy.”

This is nothing more than hate-filled idiocy.

Maybe this is the real reason that conservatives want to keep their semi-automatic assault riffles, so they can defend themselves against the dangerous, Spanish-speaking population that wants to destroy their American values.

Or maybe they are afraid of the treacherous gays and lesbians who are secretly planning to take over the country.

Tony Lewis

History