History of North melts from museum collection
This is last weekend to see the Anchorage Museum of History and Art's Alaska Gallery as we know it. Say goodbye and expect the new exhibit to open in 2017. It's a shame the closure can't wait till the end of tourist season.
Most of the wing's contents are being refurbished, but the dioramas will not be back. The museum's board has been planning these changes for the past two years. A new mission statement follows:
"The Anchorage Museum connects people, expands perspectives and encourages global dialogue about the North and its distinct environment."
What? No history?
Don't miss the Circumpolar Exhibit (Russia, Holland, Finland, Greenland, Canada and Alaska): "Art of the North features landscapes, portraits, sculpture and photography that reveal the land, people and culture of the circumpolar North."
Of course, there are many other wonderful exhibits to enjoy and discover.
I never heard anything about the changes, nor have any of my friends. My information has been gleaned from the members' spring newsletter. It might be of interest to know the museum is owned by the Municipality of Anchorage, which is funded with our tax dollars. Isn't it?
— Gayle Cederberg
Anchorage
Need Libertarian voice in presidential debates
The Republicans claim they want to unite the country and then parade families of illegal alien assaults at the Republican National Convention. The Democrats claim they want to unite the country and then parade families of black people involved in police shootings at the their convention.
Our country is being hurt by big corporations, lobbyists, professional politicians and fear-mongering, which has corrupted the two-party system. I would like to see Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate for president, reach the 15 percent threshold to be involved in the presidential debates.
— Frank Rast
Anchorage
Ashamed of anti-Clinton coverage in ADN
I find ADN coverage of the presidential election extremely sexist and disheartening. Even if Alaska's largest paper does not support Hillary Clinton for president, I think it is outrageous on the morning after the first woman is nominated by a major political party in the United States, the photo on the front page of the ADN is of her husband! When Donald Trump was nominated the cover photo was not of his wife. There is not a single picture of Hillary Clinton in Wednesday's paper and her nomination is historic. What message are you sending our daughters?
I hope every person who believes in human equality holds your paper accountable. I will no longer be purchasing ADN. As a 35-year resident of Alaska I am ashamed of Alaska Dispatch News.
— Megan O'Neill
Homer
Support Taylor to diversify Alaska Board of Game
With all due respect, the Alaska Board of Game and Alaska Trappers Association pursue victimization and vilifying of their critics. The Game Board has a history of supporting the ATA even if the decision is detrimental to wildlife or contrary to Alaska's interests. By claiming "loss of trappers rights," the ATA becomes the victim of every attempt to moderate trapping practices no matter how reasonable. By branding issues as "anti-trapper," those who criticize or even discuss underregulated trapping practices, the trapping interests vilify legitimate criticism.
This approach leads to polarization, intimidation and animosity, which doesn't help in solving any of the problems, but it can eventually create anti-trappers out of ordinary critics. This is detrimental because it gives the powers-that-be the self-pitying justification to ensure that the self-serving no-progress status quo will continue — and the public gets such things as the decimation of the popular Denali wolf pack and dead or mutilated pets. There is now an opportunity to balance representation on Game Board (if one out of seven members is balanced) by nominating Kneeland Taylor, an exceptionally qualified candidate who will speak for nonconsumptive users of wildlife. Please urge Gov. Bill Walker to take this action at boards@alaska.gov.
— Ken Green
Cooper Landing
Rising co-pays don’t make sense to consumers
I've seen changes and not for the better. After seeing the same bill from a local hospital for five years, it has doubled in amount for the same service. The insurance company does not want to pay for anything. I find it disturbing and sad our medical co-pays are high because the cost of medical services has gone up. I figured with all this "Obamacare," our medical prices would go down, but instead they've doubled in price. It sure doesn't make any sense.
— Leslie Little
Eagle River
Change ‘honey’ for ‘ice’ for bucket challenge
I congratulate the efforts of the ladies and gentlemen who discovered new forms of gene therapy for Lou Gehrig's disease. The $115 million raised by the campaign is extraordinary, and I do not wish to denigrate the efforts of anyone involved in trying to help their fellow human beings.
However, there are problems that are more plain and immediate to many citizens of our nation, namely the residents of Alaska Native and American Indian communities. That problem is the lack of basic sanitation (water/sewage).
This is not a problem that has to be solved in a laboratory. To see so many people pouring perfectly fresh, cold water over themselves, when so many in our own nation lack it, is … bothersome.
— Jessica Warrior
Anchorage
Join the conversation:
Send opinions or comments of less than 200 words to letters@alaskadispatch.com or enter them at www.adn.com/content/submit-letter-editor. Letters may be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity. Send items longer than 200 words to commentary@alaskadispatch.com. With submissions, please include your town of residence and a daytime phone number for confirmation. For longer pieces, please also include a short author's bio.