To the Editor:

I am writing in response to Robert Zeis’ letter from the Sept. 25 Daily. I, too, am a Des Moines native and followed the recent school board election and the defeat of incumbent Jonathan Wilson.

Zeis’ familiarity with the old hometown far surpasses mine. Imagine being a personal confidante to the “majority of Des Moines voters;” so close, in fact, that they would allow him to speak on what their greatest fears are. Fears like “questionable educational ideas” being brought in by “special interest groups from all over the United States”

The last time I checked, most educational ideas were questionable. We can all still ask questions, can’t we? We can still feel free to question what we do not agree with; Mr. Zeis could list himself as an advocate of this practice. He considers the idea of special interest groups objectionable?

If so, the outside forces that aided in the development of the concerned parents group which played a role in Wilson’s defeat should be sent packing. They can take along Ralph Reed’s Christian Coalition and others of their ilk that have been busily peering over the shoulders of citizens voting in local elections, attempting to ensure that the candidates they deemed acceptable were victorious.

Mr. Zeis also seems to designate himself as an authority on “mature behavior;” he has decided that the Des Moines voters acted “maturely” by not “burning crosses in Wilson’s front lawn or throwing bricks through his windows.”

Mr. Zeis is a bit outdated with his assumptions of tactics used by the intolerant. These are no longer widely used to inflict punishment on groups targeted to experience the disfavor of our kind and gentle society. Today’s tactics are much more subtle — being turned down for employment or housing or not being allowed to offer your strengths in the area of public service.

Perhaps Mr. Zeis should remember that discrimination of the 90s is a little harder to recognize, but it’s hanging in there, fueled by the constant feeding of eager fire-stokers. Though I am heterosexual and white, I can vouch for the existence of the demons of prejudice regarding my friends who are non-heterosexual and non-white.

Jonathan Wilson worked as a tireless advocate for the education of children during the 12 years that the spotlight of judgement did not shine full blast in his face. When he supported, along with many others, a curriculum that would grow to recognize all relevant historical figures, not merely white male land-owning variety, it was as if all his years of work had been forgotten.

As a parent, I realize that my child will be exposed to things that I would rather shield her from, such as learning that life can be tough for those who are not favored by those who have taken it upon themselves to judge. I wish for her a world where people are looked upon for what they can do, not what people feel they are able to do, or what people fear they might do.

The Des Moines election and Mr. Zeis’ reaction reminds me of feeding my daughter a dish she thought was delicious until she learned it was made with zucchini (not high on the favored cuisine list). Suddenly, it didn’t taste so good anymore, even though she’d loved it a minute before. Somehow, I can more easily understand logic like that from a 7 year-old.

Rita Conner

Department of Sociology