Letters to the Editor

Readers write: Letters to the editor, Nov. 16, 2014

Controversy over prayer at wrestling events is silly

The comment by Carey Restino ("Founders had reason to keep church and state separate (Nov.14)" on the ridiculous, almost laughable controversy over the Anchorage Baptist Temple having an opening prayer before the hosted wrestling competition, blows the misunderstood "separation of church and state" way out of proportion.

First of all, those schools participating were guests of the Anchorage Christian Schools' (ACS) campus. A private institution. They have a history of providing space for visiting schools to "camp" on site to save money. They provided security and supervision. ACS is unsupported by taxpayer funds and before you say it, yes, I know they get tax exemptions, which ostensibly, indirectly, means taxpayer support. Their school also educates hundreds of kids through 12th grade at no taxpayer expense, which equates to additional money to the public schools because the property taxpayer is still contributing, paying twice for education.

This stupid controversy comes down to one simple question: If you were invited to a friend's home for dinner and they had a short prayer before sitting down, would you refuse to participate?

-- William Ahrens

Eagle River

Teen got light sentence

Seventeen-year-old Murphy Madison Gross "… stole his father's new SUV … was smoking pot with friends in the vehicle and driving without a license …" — and texting.

And killed a 27-year-old mother of two.

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And he got a year? Eight months with time served? Ah, I get it — Ms. Cope was from Bethel. Died at the Alaska Native Medical Center. Once again Alaska's criminal system (word "justice" doesn't apply) declares how much less it values the lives of Alaskan Native peoples than those of European descent.

These so-called "law-and-order conservatives" transform into "soft-on-crime flaming liberals" when the perp is white and his victim isn't. Same thing happened when 19-year-old Ashley Nichole Bashore did her hit-and-run over 28-year-old Hubert Tunuchuk and killed him.

Young Mr. Gross should be thankful for his paint job. Had he been darker he'd have done serious time — or been shot dead in the street.

— Al-Hajj Frederick H. Minshall

Anchorage

Average person possesses more common sense

The face of the deranged idiots of academia.

Latest from academia … economist Jonathan Gruber.

William F. Buckley once said, "I'd rather have the first 50 people in the phone book running the country than the staff from Harvard." Well, is there any doubt what we have now?

RR was successful with the country because he went directly to the people. He knew the "functioning" people of society were equipped with common sense, and he trusted and believed in their judgment. This group from academia now actually admits they think all the people are stupid, and "they, only they" need to make all the decisions for the people. And say it openly now. They couldn't be more wrong.

The average person who functions by running a business or household or goes out every day and functions in a workplace has to have common sense. And has to make the right decisions each and every day of their lives. Unlike people in academia and certainly the government now. The people in power, especially the liberals in power now, hate the voter and certainly see them as a nuisance because of this ridiculous voter process. God do they ever hate the voter right now.

The biggest threat to our society is the planned disinformation by the left and basic lack of knowledge on issues of the people.

— Paul Markstrom

Soldotna

Southern soldiers’ actions perpetuated slave society

I disagree with Don Neal's Nov. 12 letter that politics is separate from human actions.

Yes, it's understandable that the descendents of Confederate soldiers feel pride in their ancestors' martial prowess while defending their homeland. Ultimately, though, there's no denying that each Southern soldier's efforts facilitated maintenance of a society based upon perpetuation of slavery. I'm certain that the vast majority of the soldiers readily understood that fact.

Conversely, each descendant of a Union soldier can take pride that their ancestor represented a moral force based upon values of individual freedom as incorporated within an inclusive political framework called, in those days, a "republic."

The principles of republicanism were strong enough to motivate him to invade the South and, in many cases, sacrifice his life or health in order to preserve the Union, the last great hope on earth for the continued development of individual human rights. Abraham Lincoln, of course, was the primary proponent of this concept which, as a direct result of the Union victory, subsequently spread throughout the world. I think that result speaks for itself.

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— Larry Slone

Homer

The views expressed here are the writers' own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a letter for consideration, email letters@adn.com, or click here to submit via any web browser. Submitting a letter to the editor constitutes granting permission for it to be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity. Send longer works of opinion to commentary@alaskadispatch.com.

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