Letters to the Editor

Readers write: Letters to the editor, July 1, 2015

Snide-meister in rare form on Sunday

This past Sunday (ADN, June 28) hyperventilating Paul Jenkins aimed his gloomy spotlight on President Obama for exaggerating a claim regarding gun violence in America. This criticism came from a master of hyperbole. But Jenkins' description of the president as a "pimp" for gun control is unconscionable. Such a statement demeans the office of the U.S. president, it insults Mr. Obama, and it affirms Paul's bigoted bloviator bona fides.

However, Jenkins thoughtfully asks in conclusion of his op-ed, "How do we stop malevolent hatred?" I suggest for starters the snide-meister stop promoting opinions that inspire extremist beliefs.

Ken Flynn

Anchorage

Court should repeal Citizens United

Now that the Supreme Court is on a roll, it's time to repeal the Citizens United decision. And, while they are at it, call it "Corporations United." Nothing like honesty in advertising.

Bill Heubner

Anchorage

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Please add more dispatchers for 911

Hi, I'm Aiva Brimanis and I am 10 years old. One beautiful Thursday evening, my mom and I were driving home on Minnesota Drive, when all of the sudden we spotted smoke in the ditch. So my mom called 911 and they put her on hold. Luckily, someone had already reported about the fire.

I thought to myself, they shouldn't have to put you on hold. What would happen if someone were being kidnapped and had a chance to call 911 and then was put on hold? Two or three minutes on hold could be more than enough time for something bad to happen.

I hope there can be more dispatchers so this doesn't happen again.

Aiva Brimanis

Anchorage

State must remedy over-harvesting

Bob Shavelson was spot on with his comments regarding failure to manage Cook Inlet's marine resources sustainability (ADN, June 26). For beluga whales, king salmon, three species of shellfish and three species of clams, over-harvesting and loss of river habitat resulted in population crashes.

But marine resources do not provide the only examples of management failures. Several species of wildlife in diverse areas of the state have also declined in recent years, and over-harvesting is linked to the causes. Dall sheep populations in several mountain ranges have crashed and northern caribou herds have declined.

As Shavelson indicated, we often hear Alaska has the best renewable resource management system in the world. Perhaps this was true several decades ago, but now things are different. Hopefully, the Walker administration will recognize the problem and work to remedy it. Our world-class fish and wildlife resources deserve nothing less than the best science-based management available.

Vic Van Ballenberghe

Anchorage

Enough with Jenkins already

Enough of Mr. Jenkins' ramblings! Alaska Dispatch News states he is the editor of the Anchorage Daily Planet. Let those who share his opinions go there to read his rantings, and leave the rest of us in peace.

I remember when the Anchorage Times (Veco), had its opinions published in the Anchorage Daily News, but that was different — that was a respectable news organization.

Glenn Gibeault

Anchorage

Decision opens a Pandora’s box

It is with great dismay that I read of the U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling making same-sex marriages legal nationwide. I, for one, believe marriage has always been, and always will be, a sacred contract of union between one man and one woman. I feel the Supreme Court, by broadening the definition of marriage in this manner has left us open to the future legal admission of such practices as polygamy (one man marrying more that one woman — currently illegal) and polyandry (one woman marrying more than one man).

I wonder if the five assenting judges considered all of the ramifications of opening this particular Pandora's box.

George Darrow

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Anchorage

Jenkins wrong on Charleston massacre

Paul Jenkins' senseless diatribe (ADN, June 28) regarding the reactions to the Charleston murders was as predictable as the day is long. But the telling point of his opinion, and one that surely underscores his complete and utter ignorance of the issue, is when he wrote: "… it is not about racism."

Really? Did that young man go into a white church and murder white people? Did he go into a mosque and shoot down Muslims, or a synagogue and shoot Jews? No, the alleged killer purposely sought out and murdered black folks in a black church. It wasn't random, it was a planned and premeditated massacre of black people. Racism is alive and well in America as these horrible killings make all too clear. And that is a fact.

Mark Miner

Anchorage

Dig deeper into King Cove road

Thanks to Gary Ferguson for his thoughtful commentary about the proposed King Cove road (ADN, June 28). It is apparent from this piece, and past ones by Dermot Cole and others, that the medical emergency stories are only part of the picture. We shouldn't be so keen to build the road when there is so much potential for unintended consequences.

Perhaps ADN could do some investigative reporting on this issue.

Cheryl Lovegreen

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Anchorage

Jenkins has no empathy for victims

Right now I would like Paul Jenkins and those who agree with him that the recent church shooting was not about racial hatred to close their eyes. Now I would like for them to imagine sitting in their all-white church as a young black man enters and joins in the service. Now imagine this young man jumps up and begin shooting members of the congregation.

You are shocked, then outraged, and then you wonder why? You find out this young man has been studying the Black Panthers and posting statements of hatred against whites. Oh, by the way, there is a flag of the Black Panthers flying in front of your state capital as a remembrance. The state flag and U.S. flag are flown at half-mast but the Black Panthers flag still waves high. How would you feel now and what would you believe caused this tragedy? How much would you support the continued flying of that flag?

Beverly Churchill

Anchorage

The views expressed here are the writer's own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)alaskadispatch.com.

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