House Journal: Page 46: Tuesday, January 11, 2000
safety locks. We have no hesitation requiring safety caps on aspirin bottles - why not
safety locks on handguns?
Will safe communities and a focus on worthwhile programs for children lead to
more Iowans, younger Iowans, and better paid Iowans?
Let me tell you the story of Deirdre Cleary and her husband Marcos, who moved to
Des Moines six months ago from New York City. Deirdre’s Iowa connection was from
middle school. She attended middle school in Nevada, and then moved to California.
She’s lived in New York City the past 13 years, although her grandparents still live
near Iowa Falls. Last summer, she came to the reception for former Iowans which the
Human Resource Consortium, the Department of Economic Development and our office
held in New York City. This was the event that we thought would draw perhaps 200
former Iowans. More than 800 showed up. When Dierdre attended the reception and
talked with state officials, she decided to come home. She and her husband Marcos
had been wanting to own a house in a good neighborhood where they could have one
thing: a safe back yard. They wanted that back yard for their two sons, Kristofer, age 7
and Jacob, age 15 months. They moved in August. Dierdre found a job in her field,
social work, at Mainstream Living, as a Supported Living Coordinator for persons with
mental disabilities. Marcos, who was born and raised in Brooklyn, also found a job
quickly. They are renting a home, and hope to purchase their own home - with a back
yard - soon.
Quality of safe homes, schools and communities is Iowa’s promise to Deirdre and
her family. Welcome back to Iowa, Deirdre. And welcome home to Iowa, Kristofer.
During this past year, I have been energized by meeting with young Iowans and
seeing their hope and enthusiasm for the future. More than we realize, they do listen to
us and watch what we do. As I visited schools across our state, I said the Pledge of
Allegiance more than once.
Now you know that when you say the pledge, you do a few things. You stand a little
straighter and a little taller. You place your hand over your heart -- a symbol that you
are repeating those words in all honesty. And you look at the American flag.
The words of the pledge stay with you a lifetime, particularly the last phrase, which
is perhaps its most powerful and visionary. When our forefathers wrote "with liberty
and justice for all," it was our collective guarantee of safety. They did not write:
"With liberty and justice for all those who share my religious beliefs."
They did not write: "with liberty and justice for all those who share
my skin color."
They did not write: "with liberty and justice for all those who speak
the same language I do."
They did not write: "with liberty and justice for all those who live as I
do."
They wrote: "with liberty and justice for all."
© 2000 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
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