Readers write: Letters to the editor, August 16, 2017

Save rare fern from legislators

In my recent letter to the editor regarding moving the Legislature to Adak, I find I have missed a most important consideration. In the Aug. 15 issue of the ADN, there appeared an article related to a very rare plant, the only plant in Alaska on the federal endangered species list, which we all need to consider. This plant, the Aleutian shield fern, only grows on the side of one mountain on Adak and apparently, as far as anyone knows, nowhere else in the world.

Heaven forbid that one of our legislators, if the Legislature were moved to Adak as I propose, steps on one of these rare plants! Our state lawmakers, I know, continually aspire to hammer out priority legislation and climb to new heights. My concern is that, as high altitude is the only place where these rare plants grow, in the interest of biological diversity I find I am obliged to end my campaign to move the legislature to Adak.

— Dennis Lattery
Chugiak

Tell the whole truth

While we rightfully condemn neo-Nazis, KKK and the white supremacists for havoc in Charlottesville, Virginia, we shouldn't close our eyes on inconvenient (for some) truth about this event. No, counterdemonstrators were not "peaceful," as Lars Opland wants us believe in his letter (Aug. 15). Some of them came with the baseball bats and shields. And even today it is not clear who started the first physical confrontation.

Originally the mayor's office of the city was planning to ban the far right demonstration because of the safety concerns. But it was the ACLU, the favorite child of liberals, that insisted on lifting the ban on the pretext of freedom of demonstration.

Yes, some of the thugs were displaying the flag with the swastika on it. But what were some counterdemonstrators displaying? They were displaying the red flag with the hammer and sickle on it, the flag of the people whose name a long time ago disappeared from our vocabulary — the American communists.

So let us not idolize all people in the counterdemonstration. That is what President Trump meant when he said that we should condemn "hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides."

— Rudy J. Budesky
Anchorage

Thanks to Congress

The sanctions bill was passed overwhelmingly by Congress, and President Trump proceeded to criticize and blast them for taking away his powers as president to negotiate. He has now extensively complained about Congress and the judiciary repeatedly, to the extent that I am not sure he understands the three branches of our government and how they balance one another.

Thank you to Congress for dealing strongly with Russia regarding their interference in our election process.

— Jim Bailey
Anchorage

New script for Trump

Instead of posting provocative tweets, the president needs to make clear in a scripted speech that:

The U.S. will not start either a nuclear or a conventional war, and reaffirm that a nuclear attack on the U.S. or its allies will be responded to, while being careful not to be construed as making a war declaration.

He needs to apply sanctions on North Korea, apply pressure against Chinese companies that trade with North Korea, persuade the Chinese that they are better off without a violent, unpredictable neighbor, and convince South Korea the U.S. will not act without consulting them.

— Mary L. Turner
Anchorage

The views expressed here are the writers' own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a letter under 200 words for consideration, email letters@alaskadispatch.com, or click here to submit via any web browser. Submitting a letter to the editor constitutes granting permission for it to be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity. Send longer works of opinion to commentary@alaskadispatch.com.