Keep up the fight, Rep. Young

Thank God for Don Young. His opposition to the health bill is a point that is being grossly overlooked. Nationalized health care may be wonderful for all that it may cover. But if it will be at all like Medicare, try and find a doctor (provider) who will accept it.

Thanks, Rep. Young. I just hope Sens. Murkowski and Begich see that too and will vote "NO!"

-- Blaine G. Berg

Anchorage

All health care bills lacking

I am not in support of any of the health care bills coming out of Washington. The government has never run anything that is not bankrupt. Look at this H1N1 crisis -- what a joke.

Knowing how our government works with its special interests, can you imagine them in charge of our health? How can they say they are going to take $500 billion out of Medicare and not ration care to our elderly. Everyone will be rationed except the politicians, who wouldn't touch this health care for themselves with a 10-foot pole.

-- Sharon Heck

Anchorage

Not all soldiers are Christians

The meaning of Veterans Day is lost on Terry Lucas, who claims in his Nov. 11 letter that American soldiers fought and are fighting to protect our nation's "Christian heritage." He calls "us" to pause to evaluate "the Christian lives our soldiers won for us" as if "we" are all Christian.

Of course, if Terry would simply look around or if he had paid attention in school, or maybe even read the U.S. Constitution, he would know that the United States is and has always been a secular, civil society, promising freedom to all citizens, be they Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, atheist or whatever else they were born to or choose to be.

This is the heritage we honor our veterans for defending. With his exclusionary thinking Terry besmirches my father, who fought in World War II, and my grandfather, whose exposure to mustard gas in World War I shortened his life. As Jewish Americans, they are equally deserving of our honor as any other veterans.

-- Jeff Silverman

Anchorage

Athletes recognized professors

In the news article on Friday describing the exciting Seawolf volleyball team's win over Northwest Nazarene on Thursday that gave them the first GNAC championship in school history, one aspect of the evening was omitted.

Those in attendance were treated to a one of a kind event that personifies the policies of the UAA administration, the athletic department, the athletes, and those of us who support UAA athletics.

Prior to the introduction of the starting line-ups for the match, the Seawolf players lined up on the floor with "civilians" who appeared, at first, to be the player's parents. In fact, the people introduced along with the players were UAA professors whom the players chose to honor for the educator's dedication to their education. Each player was given the opportunity to explain why this particular professor was chosen and their remarks were read to an astounded crowd.

I have been attending NCAA and professional sports events for 57 years. This includes three basketball "Final Four" tournaments and games in many venues throughout the country and I have never seen anything like this before.

Those of us who are close to the athletic programs at UAA know what a positive atmosphere the athletes here are exposed to. I am writing this to let the rest of you know also.

-- Jim O'Toole

Anchorage

EDITOR'S NOTE: The writer is the Seawolf Athletic Association board member representing the women's basketball program.

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