Anchorage Daily News

Hunters and watchers share blame for dangerous situation

"Hunters kill bear as shocked wildlife viewers watch" (Oct. 8) -- There were heated discussions for days after this article, with no clear outcome to this other than a need to improve understanding on both sides.

There is no way I could remember how many times I've had to stomp on my brakes due to a vehicle parked half in the road and half off so just so someone could take a quick picture. Being a hunter most of my life, it worries me what sort of message these "hunters" have given to non-hunters, and if all hunters were to consider this a hunt, just how long would it be before hunting was banned altogether.

The hunters violated a law meant to keep the public safe; the wildlife watchers parked on the side of a somewhat dangerous stretch of road. Who created the most dangerous situation? Seems to me the watchers should be receiving some fines and the hunters a class in ethics.

-- Gary Fanning

Elmendorf AFB

Whether Columbus was good or bad is immaterial

School teachers trying to teach students about Columbus Day and the man are basically missing the point ("Dark side of Columbus discovery emerges," Oct. 12).

We honor Christopher Columbus because he opened up the "New World" for exploration and started the process of European colonization. This directly led to the founding of our American nation 284 years later, the country that all of us are now citizen of.

Whether Columbus was a good man or bad is really immaterial. Whether colonization of the New World was a good thing or bad is also immaterial. Trying to be politically correct by saying Columbus was a bad man or poor Natives got the short end of the stick is bad history and bad teaching.

Sometimes the truth of history is horrible to learn and often ugly but if we don't teach it, will we not repeat it? There were cruelty, meanness and evil in the New World prior to Columbus and they continued on after Columbus. There is no monopoly of innocence in this story.

-- Gerald Tamura

Anchorage

Writer's diatribe about pet owners was distasteful

Regarding Al-Hajji Frederick H. Minshall and his letter "Pets are not people (Oct. 9)," I have to say that I was awed when I read his attack on pet owners.

His letter is offensive and ill-informed. Obviously, he has not come to understand the powerful relationship between a human and -- for example -- a dog. Also, he has obviously misunderstood the nature of loving and caring pet owners as he casually dismisses them as "pathetic, overindulged hypocrites" who "should not be contributing to our gene pool." In his opinion, they incline to their pets as a way to escape from their duties and love they owe to their children or fellow humans.

My parents tirelessly raised their children into adults with excessive love and care in -- at times -- difficult situations. They have also been loving and reputable pet owners, teaching us lessons in respect and care. Please don't feed me this bogus line about the faulty makeup of caring pet owners. It comes off as so adolescent and distasteful.

-- Erick Romig

Cooper Landing

Health care is in-house for Murkowski and compatriots

Seems our Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who recently wrote to the ADN explaining her federal health care plan, neglected to mention this health care perk.

The perk I am referring to is the Attending Physician of the United States Congress. The mission statement for this office states that they are responsible for the medical welfare of the members of Congress, the Senate and the nine justices. They provide these select members with physicals and routine examinations, on-site X-rays and lab work, physical therapy and referrals to medical specialists from military hospitals and private medical practices.

When specialists are needed, they are brought to the Capitol, often at no charge to members of Congress. They submit no claims through their health insurance policies. Instead, as of 2009, members pay a flat, annual fee of $503. The rest of the cost of their care is paid for from the U.S. Navy budget. The annual fee has not changed significantly since 1992.

Just one more example why we cannot trust politicians with our money or our health care.

-- Jack E. Miller

Wasilla

Begich's Compass drivel deserves a degree -- kind of

Obviously, Mark Begich "protests too much." Even though he lacks a college background, he should be awarded an honorary B.S. by some non-accredited institution for the drivel he authored in his Compass commentary Sunday ("Administration put city on the right track").

-- Henry Versnick

Anchorage

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