It's Day 475...it's also August 24th 2020...and we are in Fort Dodge Iowa

It's Day 475...it's also August 24th 2020...and we are in Fort Dodge Iowa.

We did head south outta Thornton this morning.....sorta....more like southwest.....

And even though we got an early start....hadn't made it much more than 70 miles or so when we were looking for a spot to park....or more accurately...plug in.

We were being reminded that the dog days of summer...up here in the midwest....can mean a 92 degree day....but when the humidity index is just as high....well lets face it...a shady spot with all the windows open just isn't gonna cut it....when your in a big metal box.

We pulled off to the side of the road just outside of town for a quick search....and found just what we needed....The Kennedy Memorial Park. The park is a 400 acre multi use recreation area anchored by Badger Lake and an 18 hole golf course. ...but for us...it would be the full hook up...shaded RV park that drew us in. We'd end up spending a week here...enjoying the shade...and the a/c....and the occasional Thunderstorm...seems that North Dakota and Minnesota aren't the only ones that know how to break up a hot summer with super wet light show...complete with surround sound effects.....

And Then just as quickly as the thunderstorms and heat had arrived…they disappeared. September 1st was welcomed by a 49 degree morning and a high for the day of just 78 degrees. Another one of those.... not so subtle reminders.... that fall in... these parts.... is just around the corner. Also pretty cool that the place didn't feel so "pandemicy"....just morning...afternoon...and evening walks around the park...wavin at folks...and enjoying the views of the lake...and walks along the streams wandering the park as well. The rest of our time...for the most part...spent indoors....enjoying the a/c And watching our neighbors come and go....a lot of over night traffic it seems....but just as many...we could tell...were here for the long haul.

So what about this place called Fort Dodge Iowa....just a ways up the road...and on the other side of that lake....

Well...not surprisingly.....just like everywhere else we'd been around here....Long before Fort Dodge was even a dot on a map...before settlers, before industry—it was that last ice age...and the massive glaciers shifting that left the rich soils...rolling hills....and river valleys we see today. But here...in Fort Dodge...there were a few other things left behind....rich mineral deposits. One of those minerals—gypsum— a mineral that would later define the town’s economic identity. But that would come....thousands of years later. Once European explorers and traders arrived....the area would become a popular trading hub thanks to it's location at the confluence of the Des Moines River and Lizard Creek.

But in1850...thats when things would change for the Native Americans...explorers....trappers....and fur traders in a place that would become known as ... Fort Dodge.

Because thats when the U.S. Army established a military post here...They called it.... Fort Clarke...but later changed the name to Fort Dodge... to avoid confusion with a similarly named fort in Texas. The name Dodge...was in honor of the Wisconson Territory governor...the territory Iowa had been a part of prior to gaining statehood. The fort was built to protect settlers moving west and to secure land once occupied by the Native American tribes. But the Army’s presence was short-lived. For whatever reason....didn't really dig around on that much....But by 1853...the military had abandoned the post.

Rather than let the fort fall into decay, a group of businessmen saw an opportunity. They purchased the site and began establishing a town. But what would sustain it? What would bring people to Fort Dodge when the Army had left?

The answer...was just under their feet.....those minerals....specifically.... Gypsum, a mineral used in everything from paper to drywall...and it was abundant in the region. By the late 19th century, Fort Dodge had become one of the largest producers of gypsum in the country—a title it still holds today. The industry provided jobs, stability, and a reason for the town to grow. At its peak, the town had become the hub of commerical activity in the area.....and industry....is what kept this town alive during some of the worst economic times in American history.

But....kinda sorta like I had learned....back there in Pecos Texas..... every town has its truths—some are celebrated...and some are whispered.

Locals, when speaking candidly, will tell you about Fort Dodge’s other nickname: Dirty Dodge.

Over the years, the town has struggled with high crime rates, political corruption, and economic hardship. While the gypsum industry remains a pillar, many of the jobs that once made Fort Dodge thrive have disappeared. Factories closed, businesses shuttered, and in the void, drugs—particularly methamphetamine—found their way in.

In 2018, a local publication painted a pretty bleak picture of the town’s future, citing mismanagement, welfare dependency, and financial instability. Yet, despite these struggles, Fort Dodge remains home to thousands who take pride in their community, working to change its reputation and rebuild its economy.

Today, Some 24,0000 people call Fort Dodge home.

It’s home to Iowa Central Community College, a thriving healthcare sector, and a deep-rooted sense of resilience. And sitting here in the Kennedy Memorial Park...and it's 400 acres.....I'd a had no idea...during those quick runs to the grocery store....of the town’s grittier realities. I also wondered how many of us Visitors....had come for the golf course....the trails....or the fishing....having no idea of the layers of history that lie just below our feet.

No idea....that the town is home to the world’s largest man-made gypsum cavern, stretching underground for miles.

Or....that the infamous gangster Baby Face Nelson once had ties to the area. And Fort Dodge has one of the longest-running community theaters in Iowa— which to me....sounds sorta like a testament to the town’s dedication to arts and culture, even in the face of economic hardship.

What I really picked up on.....is that Fort Dodge is a place...full of contradiction—industrial success and economic struggle,

scenic parks and urban decay,

pride and pain.

But I guess that’s what makes it real. That's what makes it worth learning about...and That’s what makes it worth telling the story.

It was in reading about that "other side" of Fort Dodge....not sure why....but I was reminded of that yard sign back in Thornton that read..."Thornton Militia Meetings held here".....and my curiosity around the word Militia....it's ties to the second amendment...and what that all meant....so I asked....and learned....

That the word "militia" has deep historical roots, originating from the Latin "militia,"(Mileetia) meaning military service or warfare. In early America, militias were a necessity—citizen-soldiers who could be called upon to defend their communities, often in the absence of a standing army. The Founding Fathers, wary of centralized power and standing militaries, saw these local militias as essential to maintaining both security and liberty. It was within this framework that the Second Amendment was crafted, enshrining the right to bear arms in a way that tied it directly to the concept of a "well-regulated militia."

But as I thought back to that yard sign in Thornton—"Thornton Militia meetings held here"—I couldn't help but wonder: how did we get from 18th-century militias to the modern-day, often polarizing, debate over gun rights? When I first read the Second Amendment in full—"A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed"—close quote

I realized that I had only ever focused on one part of that sentence. Like many, I had heard "right to bear arms" quoted time and again, but I had never really stopped to consider the full context. What, exactly, did the Founders mean by a "well-regulated militia"? And how did we get to a place where that phrase is often ignored, while the latter half of the amendment is treated as sacrosanct?

The interpretation of the Second Amendment has evolved over time, shaped by historical events, Supreme Court rulings, and cultural shifts. In early America, gun ownership was largely tied to civic duty—something necessary for defense, not just a personal right.

But as militias faded from relevance and the nation professionalized its military, the question arose: does the amendment still hold the same meaning in a world where military forces are highly organized, and weapons technology has advanced beyond anything the Founders could have possibly imagined?

And the more I read...the more curious I was.

In a country where semi-automatic rifles are available on the global market and wars are fought with unmanned drones and heat seeking missils,

is the Second Amendment still serving its original purpose? Or has it been redefined—sometimes misinterpreted—over the years?

But most importantly I wondered.... if the Founders could see modern America, would they reaffirm the amendment as it stands.... or given the realities of the day....would they have a different interpretation?

Something..... so simple and straightforward...and of course it was....the document was written 234 years ago....things were simpler....A well regulated militia...Flintlock muskets and...and rifles...and pistols... not exactly the same as semi automatic rifles....designed for military use...and capable of delivering 45 to 60 rounds a minute....and what even is...a well regulated militia...today?

In the last 248 years...The United States voted...and written into law...27 amendments to our constitution and Bill of rights.

27 times we've decided that a 238 year old document needed some updating...like...abolishing slavery.....like giving everyone the right to vote...not just white men....or like the womens suffrage act...and then revisiting voting rights again...when we lowered the voting age to 18....seemed logical that if an 18 year old could sign up...and die for the country....maybe that 18 year old should have the right to vote.

27 times...we've applied logic...reason....fairness...and modern circumstances and re-written either mistakes made....or stuff that just got outgrown....27 times

But this one....we're still arguing about.

But then realizing....we're not really....arguing...most of the public agrees...from what I can find.... which means a very small part of the public needs us to continue to argue...

So I guess the real question is....

Why?