Prairie Progressive • Spring 2015
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THE PRAIRIE PROGRESSIVE Spring 2015 A NEWSLETTER FOR IOWA’S DEMOCRATIC LEFT Cousins, Clerics, and the Constitution hen the current Constitution of the Equal Protection clauses of the familial status of such person.” This the State of Iowa was debated United States and Iowa Constitutions is directly quoted from Iowa’s Civil Wand adopted in 1857, the first days as it pertains to zoning. Rights Statute. of the convention were rife with arguments of moving the convention Two bills are moving in the Iowa Leg- It has been difficult to get legislators from Iowa City because of the lack islature this year. House File 161 is a to listen to the argument that the of housing. Out-of-towners thought bill in the House of Representatives Ames Rental lawsuit is not the final the price of accommodations in Iowa that prohibits the regulation of rental word on this matter. The lawsuit City were not fair. Besides, as one property by a city based upon famil- was brought by landlords and they delegate stated, “Half of the members ial relationships. It has a partner in sued the city in the only way they of the Convention have to sleep three the Iowa Senate – Senate Study Bill could. Landlords could not use the in a bed, and two on a bunk.” 1218 (which will have a new name Civil Rights Statute to bring a law- and number after Prairie Dog sends suit because they would not have The cost of accommodations in Iowa this out to readers). The bills were standing (standing, or locus standi, City may still be steep, especially on identical at their inception, but SSB is the requirement that a plaintiff has weekends during the fall months, 1218 has been amended in Committee sustained or will sustain direct injury but otherwise, things have changed. to allow municipalities to restrict oc- and has the ability to have that harm Today, city governments in Iowa City cupancy based on familial status, but redressed). and Ames, and a few other college an exception may be granted by the towns would never allow more than board of adjustment. Four unrelated college students who three delegates to sleep three in a bed, have been denied the opportunity much less three in a house. Those Neither bill should be necessary. to rent a house, or who have been cities have ordinances that prohibit Iowa law already prohibits discrimi- evicted from a house, would have the a certain number of unrelated nation in housing based upon famil- standing to challenge the ordinance individuals from living under the ial and non-familial status of renters. of a city under Iowa’s Civil Rights same roof. Iowa Code section 216.8 clearly states Statute. But first the students would that it “shall be an unfair or dis- have to make a complaint to the Iowa A 2007 Iowa Supreme Court deci- criminatory practice for any person, Civil Rights Commission. After ma- sion, ARPA v. Ames (Ames Rental), owner, . to refuse to sell, rent, lease, neuvering through the bureaucracy of supposedly settles the matter in favor assign, sublease, refuse to negotiate, the state agency, the students would of the City of Ames and other munici- or to otherwise make unavailable, receive what is called a “right to sue” palities. An Ames ordinance limited or deny any real property or hous- letter. That allows them to proceed occupancy to certain homes in certain ing accommodation or part, portion, into district court. Going to district neighborhoods to “no more than or interest therein, to any person court is the first step in eventually three unrelated persons”. However, because of the race, color, creed, sex, getting the Iowa Supreme Court the legal question in this case was sexual orientation, gender identity, to side with renters and landlords. whether the Ames ordinance violated religion, national origin, disability, or Continued on Page 6 The Prairie Progressive • sPring 2015 • Page 1 qwertyuiop[]\ asdfghjkl;' zxcbnm zcvb QWERTYUIOP{}| ASDFGHJKL:"ZXCVBNM<>? Conquest and diplomacy on Netflix appily Netflix has renewed and anti-war factions make their territory, his armies fighting John Fusco’s gorgeous and case. We are uneasy allies of Marco. galloping battles on their small thoughtful epic Marco His life depends on his staying in ponies into Central Asia, parts of HPolo for a second season. The the good graces of captor/mentor the Middle East, and East as far critics were harsh for good reason Kublai who is driven to conquest as Korea. Genghis’s heir, Ogedai, but viewers liked this medieval by his grandfather Genghis’s expanded further into territory Asian game of thrones created by ambition. We are thus always we know as the former Soviet screenwriter-novelist Fusco, and on the road to conquest, which Union. The geographic holdout filmed in Kazakhstan, Malaysia, and is executed as feudally as ISIS (so was the Song Dynasty in Southern Venice with nearly all non-American is peace, including slavery). Devout China. A gap of years occurred English-speaking cast. Muslim Vice-Regent Yusuf (Amr after Ogedai died until Kublai was Waked, major Egyptian film star), elected Khan and resumed Genghis’s A provocative side note to Fusco’s arguing for diplomacy, says egos quest to conquer the Song. Kublai project is a short Smithsonian destroy empires not armies. succeeded in 1276 aided in our documentary: Mystery Files:Marco fictional story by Marco’s knowledge Polo (on Netflix) that sheds doubt on Love gets short shrift in this tale, of Western war machinery. At that our assumptions about Polo. First, consisting of gauzily filmed writhing point, Kublai became the ruler of the adventures are not written by concubines and a few perfunctory the world’s largest contiguous land him but by one Rustichello of Pisa, love scenes -- the emotionally- empire reaching from Europe all a popular adventure novelist of the neutered titillation we have come the way East to the ocean; it was to time who claimed Marco described to expect of most cable series. An break apart in less than 150 years. his tales to him. A Venetian Marco exception is the genuine affection Polo did exist, but the records of his and respect between Kublai and That the weaknesses in this tale of life do not match up with events Empress Chabi -- you believe their Marco Polo mar its enjoyment only documented in China, scholars relationship. a little is a tribute to the success of say. Rustichello, who popularized the whole -- an unusually lovely and the Arthurian tales, is thought to The epic starts in Venice and engrossing portrayal of medieval have combined accounts of different follows the perilous 3-year caravan Chinese and Mongol politics and travelers and attributed them to of Polo’s (father, son, uncle) to culture. The weakness in chief is Marco, combining fact with fiction. Mongol capital city Cambulac (now Lorenzo Richelmy as Marco, a rising Beijing), a harrowing trek that young Italian star with vacuous The 90-million dollar first 10 wraps in half an episode. Arriving screen presence. There’s nothing episodes (looking worth every bit) in disfavor, Niccolo Polo barters in his eyes and his hollow affect of Fusco’s version of Rustichello’s the service of his son to Kublai in leaves a hole in the tapestry. But Travels of Marco Polo depict Polo’s exchange for continuing to trade in never mind Marco, Kublai himself conscription into the service of Kublai’s domain. Thus abandoned, (British actor Benedict Wong) rises Mongol ruler Kublai Khan as the Marco’s in-and-out of favor role as like a lion to occupy the center of Khan pursues his ambition to rule all servant/advisor begins. The Khan this story. Kublai’s interactions China. had a craven father (Tolui, 4th son with his family and subordinates of Genghis, who drank himself offer a striking portrait of A thoughtful if occasionally stilted to death). Kublai acknowledges curiosity, leadership, management, script is textured with believable Marco’s misery: “I was about your ruthlessness, and love. rivalries, relationships, and age when I knew I had to become the provocative discussion among man I wished my father were.” Joan Chen (American immigrant from fathers, sons, and ministers on the Shanghai) is formidable Empress merits of diplomacy versus war. If Kublai’s grandfather/role-model Chabi who manages her mate and you watch, do listen. The argument Genghis (d.1227) was the first feels particularly modern as the pro nomad chieftain to expand Mongol Continued on Page 5 The Prairie Progressive • sPring 2015 • Page 2 Stompers, Mugwumps, and a Spoonful he good timey sounds of jug novelty element. Vaudeville-blues recorded in 1940, is driven by the band music – infectious and singer Sara Martin and “The Father syncopated rhythms of Washboard influential – have enjoyed of Country Music,” Jimmie Rodgers, Sam. Tpopularity since its beginnings in the both employed jug band ensembles. “spasm” and “novelty” bands that Some of the biggest names in jazz, There was a revival in the late 1950s developed in New Orleans in the late blues, and swing worked in these and early 1960s in the United States. 19th and early 20th Century. “novelty” bands: Louis Armstrong, Gus Cannon’s “Walk Right In” was Johnny Dodds, Clarence Williams, a #1 hit for The Rooftop Singers in The spasm bands not only featured King Oliver, Willie “The Lion” Smith, 1963; the only time a jug band song improvisation on a wide variety of Lonnie Johnson, Eddie Condon, topped the charts. This sparked the standard musical instruments, but the Jimmy Dorsey, Gene Krupa, Eddie formation of a number of jug bands instruments themselves were often Lang, Red McKenzie, Jack Teagarden, that reached national prominence: the homemade and improvised – like Frankie Trumbauer, Muggsy Spanier, Orange Blossom Jug Five featuring the jug in place of a tuba or upright and Glenn Miller.