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The Gazette Opinion StaffOpinion Page Editor, The Gazette |
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Updated: 26 December 2011 | 12:58 am in Letters to the Editor
Bloom is out of touch with real world
10 Comment now
thegazette.com Copyright 2011 SourceMedia Group. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 
Stephen Bloom, OK, so you’ve exercised your right to free rant, oops, speech. Now, it’s my turn. Something tells me I won’t be alone on this one.
How dare you. Who pays your salary? The taxpayers of Iowa. Don’t you know you never bite the hand that feeds you. You obviously are a man out of touch with the real world and lost behind the walls of academia.
Do you even teach any of your classes when you are here at the University of Iowa? Or do you have TA’s teach and you just sit in your office and think about how smart and fabulous you are. Do us all a favor. Stay in Michigan. If they’ll have you.
Debra J. Cummings
Solon
Rules of Engagement
10 Comment Now
Bloom is out of touch with real world
In another comment I have said that the reaction to Stephen Bloom’s controversial article is evidence that Iowa is the state of thin skins. This letter is Exhibit A.
I agree Rich..
I certainly don’t agree with all the opinions Bloom expressed in his article about Iowa, but some did hit home for me..
Obviously some of the truths he expressed hit a sensitive spot with many Iowans…
Bloom seems to be turning into the Salman Rushdie of 21st century Iowa. I wonder when Ayatollah Bob is going to get around to declaring a fatwa on the man.
I see calls for his termination to be less severe form of fatwa.
I get the distinct feeling that Ms Cummings is distrustful and resentful of anyone in state funded academia, and it wouldn’t matter who the person was, or what they did or didn’t do.
Thin skinned? Seems like Iowans they not only enjoy people making fun of their state, but they even enjoy doing it themselves.
There’s a difference, however, between good-natured ribbing, and mean-spirited and condescending mocking.
Here’s the “Roast of Iowa City” which took place as a part of the Iowa City Book Festival last summer.
Unlike Stephen Bloom, these Iowans made fun of life in Iowa while actually being funny.
http://patv.tv/blog/2011/08/05/roast-of-iowa-city-2/
A roast in Iowa City does not tell us much, if anything, about how Iowa, in general feels.
My comments about thin skin are based on all the visceral comments directed at Bloom on this pages over the last week.
Our rules require that you use your name when commenting.
“OK, so you’ve exercised your right to free rant, oops, speech. Now, it’s my turn.”
It’s my turn, too, Debra…
Bloom can live wherever he wants and can express HIS opinion, regardless of YOUR opinion.
Thank-you, Stephen Bloom, for bringing out the very worst in Iowans…