Letters to the Editor

Readers write: Letters to the editor, September 12, 2017

Letter writers' perceptions may madden, but also instruct

Twenty years ago this month, Anchorage Daily News letter writers taught me a lesson.

Mike Doogan had written a column about how the deaths of two prominent world figures, who had died within a week of each other, was a strange coincidence." Mother Teresa, who worked almost all her adult life without pay, and Princess Diana, who lived in luxury off British taxpayers. His commentary provoked a full page of angry responses from admirers of the woman my niece identified as the world's most famous welfare recipient. My favorite example was the letter that praised the princess for saying nice things about poor people, while Mother Teresa was only following orders from the pope.

For years I'd heard disparaging remarks for people on welfare, especially about "welfare queens" who were accused of getting pregnant just to collect money from people who worked for a living, and widows who spent taxpayer money on buying TV sets. Yet all the letters had nothing but praise for a welfare princess, who literally lived like a real queen. I began to realize our urban Alaska culture doesn't disparage all welfare recipients — only the poor ones.

The ones we spend the most on are the ones we actually revere. I remember hearing an Alaskan who was angry when he found out the state deducted $28 from each recipient of the free money we get as Permanent Fund dividends, so poor people would not lose their benefits. Yet how many Alaskans express anger when you tell them former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos got a third of a billion dollars from the earnings of American workers? Our politicians show their compassion for oil companies, for which they preach appeasement, so the "oilies" won't leave Alaska, and tell elderly poor Alaskans to leave their homes, if the state cuts their benefits.

I keep hearing we are a Christian nation. But I can't find the passage where Jesus tells his followers the way they treat the richest of his people is the way they should treat him.

— Geoff Kennedy
Anchorage

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'We Alaskans' is excellent

Congratulations on the "We Alaskans" section of your Sunday newspaper. I hope it will be a continuing offering. It's excellent.

— Hal Post
Anchorage

South Korea and Japan should acquire nuclear capability

Dr. William Cox, a physician, writes in his commentary (ADN, Sept. 7) about his multiple contacts with the North Koreans. I am sure these contacts were authorized in advance by the U.S. authorities and he was debriefed by them after his contacts.

The person with such a quasi-diplomatic experience in dealing with North Korea as Dr. Cox shouldn't ask about the North Koreans "what they want." By asking such a question he demonstrates the same kind of thinking he is accusing President Trump of practicing.

What North Korea, and China by the way, wants is to end our military presence in South Korea. But even then, North Korea wouldn't give up its nuclear capability, but only stop the further nuclear and ballistic testing. However, if we leave South Korea, the North would swallow the South, maybe even with China's help. Would then the U.S. be willing to engage with North Korea and China?

To prevent this scenario, South Korea and Japan should acquire a nuclear capability.

In the long historical run, the unification of North and South Korea is inevitable. But it should happen on our terms. The unification of Germany is a good example.

— Rudy J. Budesky
Anchorage

On 9/11 anniversary, let's reflect on military involvement

As we observe the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on New York, any rational person has to ask what we have accomplished in the years since then. Are we safer for destabilizing the Middle East, creating one of the largest humanitarian disasters in history? In 16 yeas of war in Afghanistan what has the U.S. accomplished? Where have the trillions of dollars gone and what have we accomplished in spending them?

The effects of climate change are increasing and so is the damage to our country through these major weather events. Our infrastructure, roads, bridges, etc. are falling apart. Can we afford to give so much of our tax dollars to the military to wage wars around the world? The U.S. is the only industrialized nation not to have a universal health care system for its citizens. Now the Republicans want to cut Social Security. Will you let them? Inquiring minds want to know.

— Jay Cross
Big Lake

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.

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