Reporter paints odd image of Monticello

Babbling Brooks Column
By: 
Kim Brooks
Express Editor

     Last week, Monticello residents and those who live elsewhere but grew up in this great town shared an article that was written by a reporter for The New York Times. The article spread like wild fire all over Facebook. The Express received a few calls and e-mails regarding the article as well.

     The reporter was in town for a story on how voters are still supporting President-elect Donald Trump despite the weekly (almost daily) controversies he seems to find himself caught up in. (Maybe he should stay off Twitter for a while…)

     It’s great publicity for a small-town establishment like Darrell’s A Family Tradition to be featured by a nationally recognized news outlet. And in this case, Darrell’s is the place to go for those itching to learn a thing or two from the “Table of Knowledge.”

     This isn’t the first time the coffee crowd at Darrell’s has been the subject of national news. It’s happened before.

     While it’s great to see big-city reporters spotlighting small, Midwest towns, I take offense with some points within this particular article.

     First, we have several coffee groups who meet in restaurants throughout Monticello: Darrell’s, Java Jones, Fancy Fritter. Some of these groups are made up of women. Why not pick their brains? Why a group of men?

     You can walk into any of these restaurants in the morning and no doubt find people discussing politics in some form or another, the good and the bad.

     This reporter also mentioned that another reason for his venture to Monticello was because this town was Hillary Clinton’s first campaign stop after announcing her run for the Democrat ticket in 2015. He referenced the group of photographers and camera people who stood outside of Kirkwood that day as her caravan arrived. (Our own Pete Temple was on site that day as well.)

     While Clinton came to Iowa following her nomination announcement, the reporter said she rarely returned during the general election cycle. Well that’s not entirely true. According to the National Journal’s tracking of presidential candidates during the General Election season in 2016, Clinton made Iowa her top state with 26 visits. Trump visited Iowa 35 times, but his top state was New Hampshire.

     Painting a serene picture of Jones County, a county that Trump easily won, the Times reporter offered that this is the birthplace of Grant Wood. Fact. A “stunningly beautiful place…” Fact. “Where older men still wear the style of pinstriped overalls” as seen in Wood’s famed “American Gothic” painting. False.

     So now Monticello is nothing but a small town of farmers in overalls? I’ve gone out to interview many farmers in my eight years here at the Express and have never seen them clad in overalls. Jeans; yes. I think that image is a bit weak.

     Rural Iowa has just as much to offer as the bigger cities in Iowa, or even throughout the country. In fact, it was rural towns all over this nation that helped bring Trump to victory. I’d say their voices were heard, and even made a difference.

     I would have liked to see this Times reporter interview a group of women to offset the “Table of Knowledge.” I have no doubt they would have something different to add to the conversation about Trump’s shortcomings. Different perspectives are necessary, not just differing opinions from the Republican and Democrat tables at Darrell’s.

     And I have to hand it to the “Table of Knowledge” for trying to solve the world’s problems. Let me know when you break through the cracks… 

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