Letters to the Editor

Readers write: Letters to the editor, Dec. 1, 2015

Has Dispatch shifted?

Cass Sunstein, in his Nov. 18 commentary on media bias, mentions a University of Chicago study that concluded that newspaper “readers have a strong preference for like-minded news, and newspapers tend to show a slant in a direction consistent with the preferences of their readers.”

OK … one might infer from this that when the Anchorage Daily News became the Alaska Dispatch, that there should have been some sort of shift from left to right, since the paper no longer catered to just Anchorage folks, but now to all Alaskans. Has that happened?

— Jim Lieb

Palmer

Pop-up ads push readers away

Pop-down ads and Pop-up ads on your website have recently increased to the point that they are detrimental to the business paying for them. If a person is annoyed by something they are more likely to avoid it rather than embrace it. As a long time subscriber I find that I will tend to read the news elsewhere because of these ads.

— Jerrold Matthews

Kasilof

Demonizing Putin hurts chance of collaborating with Russia

Imagine that following the end of the Cold War in the Warsaw Pact still existed between Russia and its allies. Now imagine this pact not staying static, only retaining its member states, but bringing in new states under its charter. Finally, imagine Russia attempting to bring in countries like Mexico and Cuba. How would the United States respond?

The answer is that the US would see this as an act of aggression and attempt to curve this type of behavior. Well the above hypothetical is exactly the situation Russian leaders see when they look out there window. With the admission of the Baltic countries (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) NATO is literally on Russia’s boarder. Russia sees the United States participating in a nuclear sharing program with countries as close as Turkey and setting up ballistic missile defense in Poland.

Here in America we are too quick to call the actions taken by President Putin as acts of aggression. When the actions of President put are put into proper context they seem reactionary and even justifiable. Rather than the irrational moves of a crazed, Hitleresque dictator that the Western media typically depicts them to be, President Putin actions are one of a rational and capable statesmen.

While certainly President Putin has his faults, the constant demonization of him here in America is harmful and making it impossible for us to collaborate with Russia on issues where our interests are mutual, namely ISIS.

— Michael Lowe

Anchorage

Choose to fight with words

The recent article in the Alaska Dispatch News revealed ISIS’s media propaganda aired world wide for recruitment and reinforcements of their tenets in the Raqqa neighborhoods much like Big Brother of George Orwell’s novel, “1984.”

Our country is a master of propaganda: TV commercials for everything from soap suds to whiskey and we have political pundits that will say anything for a buck or two. Considering the millions spent on advertising products and people the cost would be minimal. We cannot lay down our arms, but our first attack must be through the media and disseminated like a grape shot across the world, into every household, behind every closed door, into every church, every institution.

Let us not fall into to the trap of the elimination of a group of people, a society, lest we become another Hitler, another ISIS. Bullets cannot kill ideology. Ideology is a learned behavior. Let’s fight with words.

— Jerry Dale McDonnell

Anchorage

Pour money into refugee centers to keep host systems afloat

The refugee dilemma is more complicated than “just letting them in or keeping them out.” Compassion and security can coexist in societies that are 1) physically capable of and 2) willing to absorb and provide for refugees, and equally important 3) if refugees are willing to accept peacefully and patiently their guest status which is above all, humanitarian — to save their lives.

A high level of monetary support and involvement in refugee centers near the exiled people’s countries should be a parallel humanitarian effort. With the money misspent in other arenas entire mini-cities could be constructed practically overnight; the winter is more forgiving around Syria than in Northern Europe. Over-taxing host country infrastructures and misuse of host country social norms could be minimized.

Europe’s unprecedented, near-Biblical invasion appears to have turned violent in many places as refugees’ unrealistic expectations are not quickly fulfilled. Host country infrastructures are becoming swamped. Many within Europe’s human tsunami are taking advantage of wars to escape economic poverty. Palestinians of all religions have faced similar problems of assimilation into host Arab countries for over 60 years. Acceptance is not solely a religious problem; it is also a physical and cultural dilemma. We should not forget that Zionist leaders obstructed the rescue of large numbers of Jews from Nazi Germany. History shows Zionists used German anti-Semitic persecution as a ticket for claiming British Mandate Palestine to create Israel. Every coin has two sides.

(See “If Americans Knew — Against Our Better Judgement” — a historical investigation by Allison Weir.)

— Ken Green

Cooper Landing

Take responsibility for

your aggressive dogs

I like dogs. I like bears and, in my job, I’ve been around literally hundreds of bears (occasionally much closer than I liked). I’ve never had a problem with bears, but sadly I can’t say the same for dogs.

Three times while cross-country skiing I’ve been attacked by dogs and had to stop them with a ski pole. I walk the trails quite a bit in the Far North Bicentennial Park around the Campbell Airstrip area and have had way too many problems with off-leash very aggressive dogs. I carry Counter Assault bear spray (after all it is bear country) and it’s not unusual for things to degenerate with dogs to where I have the safety clip out, although I haven’t had to spray one yet. Most dogs just ignore me, but when they come from a ways off barking and growling and try to get behind me, I get ready. If they come up, bark a few times then relax, I don’t worry, but when they continue barking and growling, that’s not a good sign. I’m not acting out of fear, but in recognition of the dangers.

If your dog is too aggressive, don’t blame me. You and you alone are responsible for your dog and if it bites me, you’re going to have more trouble than you ever want. Don’t tell me your dog doesn’t bite, every year there are thousands of people bit by “dogs that don’t bite.” Unfortunately, I’ve seen no credible evidence there is a leash law in this town.

— Chuck Jamieson

Anchorage

School Board should turn down raise, show support of teachers

The School Board has an opportunity to show their respect and support for teachers by turning down 1.5 percent raise which is being discussed. They recently agreed to an extension of the teachers' contract, but only allowed for a 1 percent raise citing budget issues.

By not accepting a larger raise than was offered to the teachers, the School Board would send the message that, although the budget does not allow for monetary compensation, the School Board respects and appreciates all that teachers do for students each day.

— Heidi Tsukada

Eagle River

GOP message loud, clear and

repetitive: Keep out of office

I have to say this, I'm truly impressed by the Republican Party.

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I've been closely watching the presidential campaigning by Republican candidates. Republican presidential candidates are becoming more effective and successful at getting their message across.

Republican presidential candidates have spent their time campaigning successfully and effectively. They provide confirmation over and over again.

It's uncanny.

It's awesome.

It’s indelible.

Each of them has made it unmistakably clear to the American public that not a one of them should ever be allowed even anywhere near any elected office, let alone anywhere near the office of the presidency.

The message from Republicans these days? It is loud and it is clear. It is endlessly repetitive, and it has not left any more room for any doubt.

The election is still a year away. My guess is, this doesn’t get better. The Republican’s have been pushing the limits of credibility for several years now, the only thing not clear now is if they’ve finally given up any question of pretense whatsoever.

If I find it hard to comprehend the depths to which the Republican Party has fallen, what can the discriminating Republican have on his or her mind? Are there any discriminating Republicans left?

It’s not like there aren’t real world policy questions that need be addressed.

As I get older and admittedly somewhat more irascible, I have to say, there’s more to this than just my own lack of the ability to any longer remain stoic in the face of it.

— Paul Zimmerman

Kasilof

Get over glacial melt

The glaciers are melting because it’s been getting warmer day by day for the last 11,000 years. Hardly front page news. Get over it!

— David Cox

Palmer

Violence not solving pro-life vs. pro-choice movements’ issues

As a justice major at the University of Alaska Anchorage, I strongly believe in fairness, equality and doing what is ethically right for society. Planned Parenthood has been under a high amount of scrutiny over the last few months due to a number of highly edited videos that were released by the Center For Medical Progress.

These videos claimed that Planned Parenthood earned profit from the sale of fetal tissue. These allegations were proven to be false. Planned Parenthood only received reimbursements for shipping costs of donated tissue. However, this has not stopped the fact that these videos have created a domino effect on the amount of violent acts against Planned Parenthood since the release of these videos.

I am in not indicating that the Center for Medical Progress is responsible for the violence that has occurred against Planned Parenthood. However, abortion is a highly emotional topic for some, and the release of undercover videos over the summer caused outrage within the United States. The videos caused such outrage that it lead to four arsons of Planned Parenthood facilities, and a mass shooting that occurred inside a Planned Parenthood clinic. The shooting has been confirmed to be politically driven.

My thoughts and condolences go out to the Planned Parenthood staff, the deceased and injured patients, and law enforcement personnel who were injured and killed during this tragedy. These attacks against Planned Parenthood must stop. The violence against this organization is not fixing any of the issues between the pro-choice and pro-life movements.

— Lena Illig

Anchorage

Name it ‘Alaska temporary fund’

The Republican politicians in Juneau have had control since time began, got us into this budget mess with all the mega projects to nowhere, hundreds of millions gone. Now the talk is raiding the Permanent Fund. First they will have to change the name to the Alaska temporary fund.

— Bill Samuelson

Anchorage

Vet Christians entering U.S.

We’re engaged in what is likely to be a very long ideological struggle. Given the probability of further terrorist attacks — such as the church massacre in Charleston, South Carolina, last summer, and now at Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs — we need very strict vetting of any further Christians allowed into the country. Or perhaps we shouldn’t allow any more at all.

It may be that Christianity is simply not compatible with tolerance and democracy. At minimum we need those Christians already in the country to stand up and speak out against terrorism.

— Rick Wicks

Anchorage

Allow teachers to show kids meaning of hard work, respect

Thank you, ADN, for publishing Kathleen Parker’s commentary (Nov. 27) about how ridiculous our society has become. As a society, we should have kicked these sensitivity issues to the curb along with the rest of the liberal garbage ideas. The kids going through our education system — from our current college students all the way down — are going to be in for a real culture shock when they get into real life and find that their bosses don’t give a hoot about their feelings, and won’t give them a reward for participation.

Unfortunately, we will now be faced with a couple of generations of young, do-nothing “workers” who will expect to earn a $40,000 salary just for showing up. This will force those of us who learned how to grow up to pick up their slack, while still trying to get by on our $25,000 salary that took us five years to get to.

We need to get back to prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance before school starts. Get back to PE/recess. Get back to rewarding actual things, rather than just participation. We don’t need to go all the way back to allowing teachers to use switches on our kids, but we need to allow our teachers to actually teach our kids the meaning of hard work, respect for those in authority and respect for themselves, rather than have to worry about being attacked by the students they are supposed to teach.

Most of all, our parents need to start actually raising their kids, instead of trying so hard to be friends with their kids. Raise the kids to respect you as the parent, then we won’t have so many societal leeches. Teach your kids that nothing in life will be given to them; they have to earn it.

— Jason Karpinski

Anchorage

MOA should throw out Title 21 and inject ideas in simple code

Connie Yoshimura’s advertorial in Sunday’s (Nov. 29) paper only briefly describes the mess the new Title 21 code is making of our development process.
Ten years ago we were in need of an update of our very workable Title 21 code. Some well-meaning, civic-minded Assembly members were talked into a doing a completely new code.

The new version is complicated and puts in place very restrictive rules which it will be difficult and expensive for the municipality to enforce.

The hardworking designers and planners in the development services department heaved mightily to make this thing work but no amount of hard work and good intentions can undo this mess.

Some good lessons and ideas were brought forth in this process but the result is not good.

MOA should throw out this mess, take the good ideas brought forth in the process, and inject them into a revision of our old, usable and simple code.

I know this will be very hard to do given the time, money and commitment made but we should not let a mistake go on when we know full well it’s a mistake.

— Jeffery S. Wilson,

architect

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 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.

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