Box scores online? No way
It is with shock and despair that I learned today that you will no longer provide major league baseball box scores in your print edition. One of the many joys in these days of ongoing global dysfunction is to sit with a cup of coffee of a morning, perusing the previous day's box scores and reliving, if only vicariously, our national pastime's previous day's struggles and triumphs.
Please, please, please don't make me do this online, it just ain't the same. Respectfully and disappointedly,
— Gil Dickie, M.D.
Anchorage
Find someone to replace Jenkins
Your columnist Paul Jenkins has essentially praised hate crimes. If he hasn't done that, he's minimized them, and belittled those who suffered their impact and those who empathized with that suffering — aware that so many of us can become targets. I'm thinking, given that there are some solid, rational arguments for conservative political policy, the ADN might consider finding someone who can make those policy arguments.
While Jenkins is a boon to progressives, even we might like to hear something intelligent from time to time. If the ADN doesn't act soon, it won't have any lines that can't be crossed.
— Andy Josephson
Anchorage
What happened to common sense?
What would happen if a straight couple walked into a bakery or flower shop owned by an LGBT individual or couple, and asked them to cater their wedding, and they were turned away because they are not LGBT? They would probably give their business to another shop, right? Businesses that turn away customers because of their religious beliefs, whatever they may be, are turning away dollars, which is contrary to economic common sense.
At the end of the day when these businesses are doing their bank deposit for the day's receipts I would ask them how they separate the dollars that come from the straight people from those of the LGBT individuals. It can't be done. But for some reason there are businesses that think they can pick and choose their customers according to their religious beliefs, and I would suggest that most or all of those businesses are not around for very long.
That said, why couldn't gays and all LGBT folks simply look for a vendor who will deliver the service they are looking for? It shouldn't be that difficult to find people who want your business. They are all over the place.
And if you looked around you would probably be able to find a bakery or florist that is owned by, or employs, LGBT folks. Said another way, if the RFRA issue was left to economics, the problem would solve itself. Do we really think it's possible to pass laws that cover every conceivable discrimination and every religion in the world? I think not. That's why we have the First Amendment.
— Bob Lewis
Wasilla
We need a crackdown in downtown
Every weekend, violence takes place in downtown Anchorage. People who gather around in downtown bars and clubs are always causing trouble. Most of these problems end up in fights, car accidents, gunshots and vandalism.
This is important because these kind of people are destroying the downtown Anchorage area by creating an insecure and dangerous environment.
A good solution will be to demand an increase of police on the streets of downtown during the weekends. Also, it will be a good idea for APD to set up checkpoints during those nights.
— David Rosas
Anchorage
Walkers choice disappoints
I find it ironic that Sunday, April 6th's Alaska Dispatch front page has an article stating that 68 percent of Alaskans polled feel that Gov. Walker is doing a good to excellent job. Last week I would have agreed. Unfortunately, Thursday, April 2, the state of Alaska joined 15 other states in filing an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in favor of same-sex marriage bans.
Gov. Walker's claim that had it been his decision he would not have joined is disingenuous at best. I do not believe that Attorney General Craig Richards filed the bigoted brief without discussing it with his former law partner and current boss, Gov. Walker. I am extremely disappointed in the hypocrisy of Walker's actions, considering he was elected on a platform of equality for all Alaskans.
— Debra Wright
Anchorage
Have I got a deal for you
If Obama is looking for another good deal, I've got some prime real estate he could purchase. They call me "Low Tide Louie."
— Rolf L. Bilet
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@alaskadispatch.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.