My friend K.C. was admiring artist Richard Serra’s “Five Plate Pentagon” in the southeast corner of the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park.

As I approached, he mumbled something about the Legislature needing to grow up.

“That’s a curious comment,” I said. “Does it have anything to do with the fact that Republican lawmakers are out of their lane again, wanting to ban books, tell schools how to teach history and make singing the national anthem mandatory?”

“That’s what they do in fascist countries,” he replied.

“I find it ironic,” he continued, “that most lawmakers who want to dictate school curriculums couldn’t pass a simple civics test. They don’t understand the concept of separation of powers. They want to micromanage cities and schools and public libraries, while they ignore real problems, like homelessness, hunger and nursing homes.”

“Don’t forget that our health care system is falling apart,” I added. “You see it particularly in rural Iowa, but it’s becoming more of an urban problem as fewer doctors want to practice in Iowa when they can make more money elsewhere.”

“We have one of the worst cancer rates in the country,” K.C. said, “but state officials don’t want to know if there’s a connection between cancer and all of the agricultural runoff that fouls our water. So, they blame it on binge drinking.”

“This sculpture,” he said, changing the subject, “is called ‘Five Plate Pentagon.’ Its five steel plates, standing on edge at different angles, like playing cards, are welded together in the center.

“I’ve wondered for years what it means, tucked away here, in a corner of the sculpture park.

“Today, it occurred to me: It’s a response to the narrow view of history lawmakers want to teach.”

“I’m not sure I follow,” I said.

“Maybe this will help,” K.C. said. “Think of each plate as a tablet, and on each tablet is a different version of history.

“This one,” he said, touching a steel plate, “is the version written by our founders, you know, Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, those guys. It’s the one Republicans want to teach.

“That one,” he continued, pointing to a different plate, “is the version written by the descendants of slaves brought over from Africa.

He touched a third plate and said, “This was written by survivors of the Holocaust; this one by immigrants from Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, and this one by
Indigenous people.

“In fact,” he continued, “there are as many versions of history as there are nations; maybe more, given that nations come and go depending on who’s in power.

“If you study all of those histories, you will see that no two are the same, but that there is some truth in all of them.

“Exposing children to all of them teaches them to think and make connections.

“You need all the plates to get the full picture. One plate, standing on its own, isn’t much to look at. But five, standing at different angles and welded together, are a piece of art.

“Republicans in the Iowa Legislature want to limit us to one version of history,” he said. “And while that might sound appealing, it will stunt growth. Ultimately, it’s a recipe for disaster.

“Besides,” K.C. said, “these guys [Iowa’s lawmakers] can’t even run their own show. According to their own rules, they were supposed to set Iowa’s school-aid formula by Feb. 9, so that local school districts know how much money they will have and can send their budgets to the state by March 15.

“Last time I checked, they still hadn’t set the school-aid formula,” K.C. said.