Chain of command appreciated by vets
Veterans should be embarrassed, as I am, over the current Begich political ad gloating over his holding up an Air Force officer's promotion to force a stationing decision within Alaska.
Any veteran has acquired an appreciation of the absolute importance of the military chain of command being able to make unrestricted strategic/stationing decisions in the context of their worldwide mission.
The Air Force installations in Alaska are here to support a critical U.S. mission, not some federal subsidy to create local employment for Begich constituents in the Interior.
— Thomas Petersen
Anchorage
Share in mourning of Malaysia flight
The latest news on the Malaysia Flight 17 disaster mentioned the nationalities of victims. Many were from the Netherlands and Malaysia and the reporting went on to say that those nations' flags are flying at half-staff.
I am struck at how much we define ourselves by nationality when these awful things happen. A tragedy of this magnitude hits all of us. I would like to think that all nations would fly their flags at half-staff. Borders, boundaries, and banners simply don't go far enough in defining who we really are — in spite of cultural differences, we are citizens of a shared world with common dreams and goals: to raise families, be healthy, happy, and safe.
The perpetrators of this heinous act should know that the whole world mourns and will not soon forget what happened simply because no Americans or Spaniards or Tongans or whoever were onboard.
Let's all lower our flags and show these violent, small-minded groups the world over that we know how to respect nationalities and that's by being a humanity united in mourning and hope for a saner world.
— Lita Oppegard
Eagle River
How can Jenkins keep a straight face?
Paul Jenkins' rationale (Daily News, July 20) for supporting SB 21 is very interesting: forgoing a fair share of windfall profits on a finite resource is good for all Alaskans because excessive profits for oil companies will be great for everyone. Jenkins ostensibly does not have anything to do with his parent company's work to defeat the repeal of SB 21. Even in Alaska, this does not pass the "straight face" test. The repeal of SB 21 will give Alaskans a chance to fairly share in any windfall profits — for the benefit of all Alaskans.
— William Maxey
Anchorage
Sign thieves violate voters rights
Last night someone took our "Yes on 1" yard signs down. The "No" signs in our neighborhood are still up. What happened to free speech on McMahon Avenue?
— Joan Clover and Rick Onorato
Craig and Barbara Mishler
Anchorage
First Americans were not immigrants
Ask the Native Americans how well they were served by immigration.
— David McCargo
Anchorage
Meeting set about Enstar rate hike
The rate hike by Enstar has been approved by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska. Done deal? How this piracy has been done is unethical and wrong.
There is a meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday at 701 West Eighth Ave., Suite 300, to voice your opinion. All people who are interested are encouraged to come and see how this has been allowed.
This will mean the difference between beans and bacon for the elderly and financially disadvantaged. It will be interesting to see how they got away with it.
— Liz Bowen
Anchorage
DNA shows we are all immigrants
Rita Hatch writes in a letter last week that: "Natives are the only non-immigrants. If you do not have Native American blood in your DNA, you are an immigrant. Live with it."
With all due respect, if you have Native American blood in your DNA, you too are an immigrant.
— Terry L. Chambers
Anchorage
Killing mama bear was senseless, cruel
For a magical moment I watched a non-aggressive attentive mama bear at Goose Lake Park, feeding her cubs. I felt how special it was to enjoy this wilderness experience. I heard children and newcomers receive instruction on bear safety, and watched people keep a safe distance as they took photos with fancy cameras and cell phones. We concurred that Parks & Rec created the trash problem by using decorative cans rather than secure bear-proof cans.
Sadly, I read that Jessy Coltrane, Fish and Game's biologist, ordered the sow killed because there was "so much garbage." Rather than relocate the bear family, they avoided costs, killed mama bear and sent the cubs to the zoo. My photos now make me sad and ashamed of the short-sighted poor way Alaskans manage their wildlife. After the sow was killed, Parks and Rec installed bear proof cans — had they been there earlier, the bear would not have been shot.
How do we explain such senseless animal cruelty to our children?
— Marty Margeson
Anchorage
Dont trash Alaska, clean it up
I recently attended a family and class reunion in central Nebraska, I flew to Denver from Anchorage and rode with my brother from Denver to Central Nebraska. On our trip through small and large towns and cities through both Colorado and Nebraska I did not see any trash or debris in any urban area or on the sides of the roads. People have pride in where they live, here in Alaska the only difference between the land fill and the sides of the road is one has to pay to deposit their trash in the landfill.
I do not know if only the slovenly people leave other states and move to Alaska or if the local police and troopers turn a blind eye to the trashing of Alaska. We advertise Alaska as being a beautiful place and yet we trash it like no other.
— Roger Bon, Sr.
Anchorage
Fish camp story was a winner
Zowie! A home run right off the bat by Lisa Demer and Bob Hallinen.
I loved the fish camp story: Real photo journalism at its best. And the new Alaska Dispatch News team takes the lead on the first pitch of what I hope is a very long game.
My prediction: Alaska will be the big winner.
— Michael Meiser
Anchorage
New owner should give Jenkins a rest
Though I've looked forward to what would become of the Daily News under its new management, I have to say that it's been a great disappointment that Paul Jenkins was allowed to continue on with his weekly banalities.
The only good thing about Jenkins writing is that whenever I see or hear his name I am reminded of that truly great observer of both politics and human nature, H. L. Mencken. Though both Jenkins and Mencken are of the same craft this remembering is not for a likening of styles (that is logically impossible) but for what Mencken said about Warren Harding's writing: that it reminded him of "A string of wet sponges."
— Mark Ervice
Homer
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, e-mail letters@adn.com, or click here to submit via any web browser. Submitting a letter constitutes granting permission for it to be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity.