I was appalled when I heard the judgmental comment made by Minnesota State Rep. Matt Dean about North Dakota’s Capitol building being compared to a State Farm Insurance building, having never visited it or taken the time to learn the history of its architecture and funding. As a native North Dakotan, I felt it was cruel and misplaced — by anyone, let alone an elected official. His comment was that he meant it as a jab at Minnesota House Speaker Kurt Zellers, who is a North Dakota native. He said he meant no disrespect and considered the remark as “good-natured rivalry from one state to the next.”

That kind of behavior is a form of verbal bullying! That’s not funny or respectful and certainly does nothing to exemplify respect for others. As a person who has heard the derogatory judgments and comments about my home state, I personally can say it’s biased and painful to be on the receiving end of such blatant, biased comments. I also recognize that North Dakota isn’t the only state that gets targeted.

Dean himself admits to his naiveté when he goes on to say, “I’m sure it’s a very nice building. I have never been inside it, and I shouldn’t make a judgment without having had a tour of it,” Dean said. “I would love the opportunity to tour it and admit that I am wrong.”

Therein lays the danger of making judgment without knowing. That happens in so many ways in our culture — whether it’s judging somebody based on their skin color, their accent, their native home, their line of work or whatever it is that’s different than oneself.

I hope this inappropriate display by an elected official and his apology serves as a learning opportunity for others who are quick to pass judgment and try to justify it as humor.

 

Mary Laeger-Hagemeister

Albert Lea Human Rights Commission

Albert Lea