White America paid a terrible price
I have wondered why there is such opposition to the proposition that the Civil War was fought to end slavery.
Whether it was or not, it did, ending with the ratification of the 13th Amendment.
But then it dawned on me: To accept that the Civil War ended slavery, one would have to admit that somewhere between 600,000 and 850,000, mostly white, boys and men died in that war and that some 500,000 were wounded, many grievously.
If one recognizes these deaths, then one has to admit that 149 years ago, white America paid a horrible price in blood for its slavery guilt debt.
White America has paid for slavery: No more treasure or guilt, or demons or self-hate, or fear of righteous retribution is required.
I/we/you have paid the price in blood.
Get over it.
— David Cox
Palmer
This Thanksgiving, spare a turkey
Next week, President Obama will pardon two turkeys to promote the turkey industry. Every one of us can exercise that same pardon power by choosing a nonviolent Thanksgiving observance. It's a most fitting way to give thanks for our own life, health and happiness.
The 240 million turkeys killed in the U.S. this year have nothing to give thanks for. They are raised in crowded sheds filled with toxic fumes. Their beaks and toes are severed. At the slaughterhouse, workers cut their throats and dump them into boiling water, sometimes while still alive.
Consumers too pay a heavy price. Turkey flesh is laced with cholesterol and saturated fats that elevate the risk of chronic killer diseases.
Labels warn of food poisoning potential.
This Thanksgiving, I won't be calling the government's Poultry Hotline, wondering how that turkey lived and died, or dozing through the football game. Our Thanksgiving dinner may include a "tofurky" (soy-based roast), mashed potatoes, stuffed squash, chestnut soup, candied yams, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and carrot cake. An Internet search on vegan Thanksgiving and a visit to my local supermarket will provide me more recipes and delicious turkey alternatives than I can possibly use.
— Alexander Durbin
Anchorage
Young wrestlers merited loud support
An open letter to wrestling fans:
After attending the four-way wrestling meet this evening at Wendler Middle School, I need to say how very proud I am of all of the coaches, staff and young wrestlers who participated this evening. As a parent of a former wrestler (our son), a wrestling trainer (our daughter) and grandparent of a budding 140-pound wrestler, I must say everyone gave their best effort tonight — you represented your schools and your teams very well. Win or lose, the training and hours of practice are paying off. You are all getting better in every match I have had the pleasure of watching; keep up the good work. To the parents and grandparents who were here tonight, thank you for supporting our kids, thank you for cheering them on in your loudest voice and thanks for your good sportsmanship — everyone deserves your support. And to the spectator who was upset by the loudness of the cheering: If you want to watch a sporting event in silence, go to a golf tournament or a tennis match — or, better yet, stay home and watch sports on TV. Otherwise, let those who want to cheer on their wrestler do so without restriction.
— David M. Schauer
Anchorage
Take heed of what Jefferson wrote
The Republicans in Congress intend to block President Obama's partial solution to our immigrant problem, citing constitutional grounds. Five million longtime residents would be allowed to stay and strengthen our economy under Obama's plan.
When Thomas Jefferson was president he wrote to a friend: "A strict observance of the written law is doubtless ONE of the highest duties of a good citizen, but it is NOT the highest. The laws of necessity, of self-preservation, of saving our country when in danger, are of a higher obligation. To lose our country by a scrupulous adherence to written law would be to lose the law itself, with life, liberty, property and all those who are enjoying them with us; thus absurdly sacrificing the end to the means."
Saint Ronny and George the First were two of our Republican presidents who did essentially what President Obama proposes. Not that present-day Republicans are hypocrites. God forbid.
— Dick Palmatier
Willow
Lincoln needed hindsight and foresight
Patrick Knowles says that "hindsight is generally pretty good vision," and asserts Lincoln is ranked as "No. 1 among the great presidents." I would think that a great president would be able to use his hindsight and foresight to make political decisions and gain consensus that would avoid the destruction of hundreds of thousands of his country's citizens. Lincoln could have used hindsight to examine how England ended slavery throughout the British Empire in 1833, France abolished slavery in 1818, Sweden (including Finland) in 1335, Russia in 1723, Portugal in 1761, Netherlands in 1814, Mexico in 1820, Greece in 1822, Venezuela in 1854 and Cuba in 1862, all without the destruction of hundreds of thousands of their respective citizens. It is simply untrue to say that "all (framers, founding fathers) had slaves," and "they all knew how wrong it was." Thirty years ago, "everyone" knew homosexuality was an immoral choice.
I don't call any president who violates his oath of office, shreds the Constitution and brings harm to the United States a great president but I have read that President Washington was considered the most respected person in the world when he stepped down from his presidency.
— Dean Cox
Eagle River
Old cars as well as new wear on roads
Really? Old cars don't have to pay registration taxes? Why? Don't they use the same roads? Don't they force the same upkeep of the road system? Don't they need the same snow plowing? I would think the new hover cars of "Back to the Future" fame should be exempt, as they won't actually use the roads. Bottom line: All cars on the road should be treated equally.
— Tim Powers
Juneau
Pollsters arent calling now but
Whew. At last the election is over. Now we can reclaim our lives from the six o'clock pollsters, survey takers and robo-callers; all we have to deal with now are the scammers, phishers and hucksters. Some of them will become politicians soon enough, and we'll have to deal with them on both sides of the election.
My condolences to the losers and congratulations to the winners. I'd like to point out that several elections were decided by a handful of votes. What that means to the winners is that about half of the Alaska voters really don't like you already.
That ought to tamp down the euphoria a bit. Try to win them all over. Work hard for Alaska and not some political agenda, and you just might too. Good luck.
— Michael Meiser
Anchorage
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.