Opinions

When Alaska makes the world seem right

The Alaska days of summer are here.  I can't say "at last" because I just returned from a month in India. I joke that I'm taking full credit for bringing the good weather back with me. "You should've brought it earlier," retorts a friend exhausted by all the rain in July. But as I write, the sun beams evening warmth after a glorious day of playing outside … along with the entire community of Juneau.

The boats get launched. The dogs get multiple runs at the beach. The neighbor's kids scream with laughter running in and out of the water hose.  The salmon are jumping in the channel. The eagles screech and call to each other in contentment. My husband returns from fishing with fresh halibut for dinner. In looking up, I notice that the sunlight on the water is now set dancing by a light breeze releasing spotlights of diamonds to frame mountains already made majestic by deep green forest and cascading waterfalls. This is Alaska at its finest. When these days of sunlit beauty arrive, I can't help but feel that "all is right with the world."

[Skagway broke its all-time high temperature record on Saturday]

But I know from my travels to India that all is not right with a lot of the world. The mothers with toddlers in tow, pounding rocks with small hammers alongside the narrow congested roads, looking up to smile at the foreigners, is an image that seared my heart. Then upon learning that jackhammers are not allowed for road repair because it would put millions of impoverished women and young men out of work, the sadness in my heart widens. I looked back at the young mother and saw strength in her piercing eyes; and I knew that all that separated us was luck. The author Abraham Verghese of "Cutting for Stone" notes, "We come unbidden into this life and if we are lucky we find a purpose beyond starvation, misery and early death which, lest we forget, is the common lot."

I am lucky enough to not only have found a life with purpose, but also to experience the magic of hot summer days in Alaska. I've learned that travel to highly populated, developing parts of the world make you ever more cognizant of how precious these "all is right" days are. When these magical days come along we should bask in their beauty — if for no other reason but to renew our souls. I would not know my sense of soul if it were not for the salmon jumping in the channel. I would not know a sense of consciousness connecting in deep appreciation for one another if not for travel to the less fortunate parts of the world. In the brevity of my moment with this young mother huddled by the gravel road, I splayed my hand against the window in a hopeful gesture of saying "I feel you." I give to Oxfam, (an international confederation of 20 nongovernmental organizations working with partners in over 90 countries to end poverty) and write about her now as a way of saying "I hear you."

Audrey Hepburn once said, "Nothing is more important than empathy for another human being's suffering. Not a career. Not wealth. Not intelligence. Certainly not status. We have to feel for one another if we're going to survive with dignity."

Oh, if only Ms. Hepburn were president. With President Trump's excessive narcissism in full display, we seem to be worlds away from a path of empathy and dignity . . .  or so I thought. When I came home to Juneau I soon discovered painted flag signs sprouting all over like campaign yard signs (only it was too soon for local races). Curious, I stopped to read the words on the bars and stripes. I really liked their empathetic message:

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In Our America

All People Are Equal

Love Wins

Black Lives Matter

Migrants and Refugees are Welcome

Disabilities Are Respected

Women Are In Charge Of Their Bodies

People & Planet Are Valued Over Profit

Diversity Is Celebrated

This is what America used to represent to the rest of the world. This is what I want America to be again. Then the world will be a bit closer to being all right.

Kate Troll is the author of "The Great Unconformity: Reflections on Hope in an Imperiled World." She has  over 22 years experience in Alaska fisheries, coastal management and energy policy. She lives in Douglas.

The views expressed here are the writer's and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary@alaskadispatch.com. Send submissions shorter than 200 words to letters@alaskadispatch.com. 

Kate Troll

Kate Troll, a longtime Alaskan, has over 22 years experience in coastal management, fisheries and energy policy and is a former executive director for United Fishermen of Alaska and the Alaska Conservation Voters. She's been elected to local office twice, written two books and resides in Douglas.

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