Letters to the editor (6/26/09)

Has anyone been on DeBarr Road lately? What a mess. From Airport Heights to Muldoon Road, it is a spine-rattler. Lower back and lumbar support is highly recommended, and good shocks and tires too. This past winter was bad -- next one will be an accident waiting to happen. Slowing down is your best bet.

-- Bill Elfstrom

Anchorage

Christ didn't discriminate

I am a diversity educator, and what I tell people is that people different from themselves live among them and, like it or not, they are not leaving. This was true on the East Coast and it is true here.

Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are real. They are consumers, parents, co-workers and friends; they are not demons to be exorcised. They are in our world and we better become accustomed, because they have been with us and will be.

Get a grip and try to behave like Christ ... I don't recall anything about him discriminating against anyone. In fact, memory of Bible studies says that he loved everyone ... can't you?

-- Doni M. Williams

Anchorage

Buzzwords aren't solutions

Sen. Lisa Murkowski acknowledges there are problems with our health delivery system. Her commentary in the Daily News includes many of the usual buzzwords: "patient choice," "federal tax penalties," "limited access to care," "government bureaucrats," "price tag." The article is a list of negatives. In the entire article there is no mention of the large number of individuals who are underinsured or have no insurance. I had hoped Sen. Murkowski would share with us her plans for the health crisis, other than to wait. Is postponement a solution? I was disappointed in her lack of answers. The public wants to know definite plans, not just a list of negatives.

-- Jacquelyn Sparrow

Anchorage

A fond adieu to Medred

I had a habit of reading Craig Medred's column first, then the remainder of the newspaper. His article about human poop in the wooded areas of Campbell Creek Park off Lake Otis appeared in the ADN the weekend that my Labrador retriever rolled himself in it. His recent article about his beloved Labrador retriever, Bailey, brought tears to my eyes as I read about Craig's fond memories of her and her failing health.

I am sad to hear that Craig is retiring his Outdoor column.

--Rose Marteeny

Anchorage

'Christians' show prejudice

Thank you for publishing the work of Julia O'Malley. Her June 20 article on the "sexual orientation" ordinance testimony was excellent.

However, she is much too generous in calling the anti-ordinance crowd "Christian." As a follower of Jesus and a servant of Christ's church, I, for one, am convinced that the anti-ordinance crowd's argument is pure prejudice, with absolutely no biblical insight. It certainly does not represent the good news of Jesus, which does not build barriers but breaks them down.

-- Rev. Glenn C. Petersen

Anchorage

Print all marathoners' times

Hey, Anchorage Daily News, the Mayor's Marathon has runners come from all around the country to participate in our hometown race. How about printing everyone's race time instead of just the top 30? I, like many other runners, like to get up the next morning to find my running time in the local paper and keep it for my records, and that is especially true for first-time marathoners, as it is fun to see your name and time in the paper.

-- Preston Rudderow

Anchorage

O'Malley a local treasure

Thank you, Julia O'Malley, for your articles about homelessness and your most recent article about the "absurdity" of the ordinance testimony. Julia is a treasure to our community and to the ADN. Her clear thinking and compassion should be the conscience of Anchorage, where we should strive for the rights and dignity of all.

-- Marilyn Lee

Anchorage

Look to today to see future

Elliott Barske made a good observation on how, over 100 years ago, our nation decided that free public education was a necessity of a great nation and that a great nation should also provide public health care. Today, though, we are disenchanted with the public education system and the education that our children actually receive and the inflexibility in that system to address parents' concerns with education.

This is a preview to a public health care program. See the current bill on the books -- it requires all Americans to sign up and pay for health insurance. Can we use the past to see the future? Can we see the inflexibility and quality concerns already formulating?

-- William Lidster

Anchorage

Our transportation eggs shouldn't be in single basket

The anti-Knik bridge folks fail to understand we need more than one way in and out of Anchorage during a disaster. When bridges fail (in the next '64 quake), we have to be able to move goods, people and equipment. There are lots of overpasses and bridges between here and the Mat-Su.

Here's a dirty little secret about moose kills: The Alaska Railroad kills far more moose every year than vehicles on all the highways combined. So if you increase multiple trips on that right of way, you increase the moose kills. Why aren't they against that? Alert drivers do have a chance of avoiding moose; a train does not.

Transportation options shouldn't be limited to one or the other. Groups want to put every transportation egg in a single basket. That's a mistake from an emergency management perspective. Commuters certainly should have the option to use the cattle-car systems like in the Lower 48 if they wish, as well as traditional options for personal vehicle/commercial traffic use.

-- Brian Webb

Anchorage

Why speak up now, mayors?

I would like to know where the mayors who object to the final process of the Knik Arm bridge have been for the last six years. There have been so many public forums on this very topic it was hard to attend all, but I did attend all I could. I am a resident of Government Hill so this was close to home and very important to me. Meetings were not only held in Anchorage but also in the Valley.

It seems to me that some outside motivation has propelled these mayors to speak out at the last minute, as we haven't heard from any of them before. It is just another embarrassing display of political maneuvering or complete unconsciousness of some of the leaders in Alaska.

-- Nancy Schweiker

Anchorage

Keep wearing those red shirts

People who are likely to have an emotional outburst because they are uncomfortable with other folks' sexuality and private behaviors are people to steer clear of. I had not realized until recent Assembly "testimony" how easily frightened some folks can be over activity that has nothing to do with them.

Some people believe they should have the freedom to thwart and disrupt civil process to get an outcome they want, regardless of potential damage to their neighbors and community. It is helpful that they wore red and I hope that they continue doing so. This could help me to avoid utilizing their services and goods, and to avoid any time-wasting or even dangerous confrontation.

I will continue wearing whatever color I choose and being the best citizen I can be.

-- Gwenn Jester-Haslett

Anchorage

Immorality damages society

This is in regard to Ronda A. Hubbard's June 20 letter to you: "Same-sex marriage, divorce, hurt society's foundation." Stunning, just absolutely stunning! Right on, clear, correct and to the total issue. The practice of immorality creates major ripple effects throughout all of society.

-- James Mercer

Anchorage