Letters to the editor
June, 2005
The exploration of this question (Why is the Hummer at the airport? May, 2005 issue) could have led to a larger analysis of drivers’ fascination with large vehicles. We live in Alaska but we are in America and nationally SUV sales have, until recently, done well. So, placing the Hummer in the baggage claim area IS making a statement about Alaska’s values, which are mainly power, ego and money. For example, in Anchorage, notice the types of vehicles in traffic; road bonds are passed, but bus bonds mostly fail; and the predictive reelection of our D.C. delegation ensures Alaska gobs of money every fiscal year as promised.
It appears to me that this Hummer symbolizes Alaska in many ways: expensive, powerful, appealing and aptly placed in Senator Ted Stevens’ International Airport: that sums up the Last Frontier attitude in Anchorage nicely.
Surely that was a coincidence.
Michael Power
I read Alaska Humanity News, and I’m impressed! Very well thought out and nicely organized.
There is just one big disappointment. In the article Alaska’s Dark Secret, by Heather Baker, there was a comment about priests. Quote: “I hope that I make a lot of parents mad, mad enough to sit down and be real with their kids, so that there aren’t anymore little girls being taken from homes or little boys being molested by priests, family members, or family friends.” It seems as though she’s being specific to the Catholic religion. An organization cannot be defined by the actions of a dozen people when the organization is as large as the Catholic faith. Many other church leaders from other denominations and religions molest children. There are many, many, many priests who wouldn’t dream of molesting children. The statement perpetuates an anti-Catholic view of a lot of people in America. It is one of the most accepted forms of prejudice in the U.S. It should be discouraged in my opinion.
Beth Tigert
Hello and Goodbye
You are holding issue three of Alaska Humanity News, a new and promising community contribution with so much potential. I’m proud to have been able to help with its continued growth and shaping. Seeking to be a catalyst for change in the way news is shaped, this idea is a long time in coming. I hope to see this project thrive with the support of like-minded folks who care about what is going on in a town that is small enough for true potential change. With the world as it is today, and the typical media perpetuating the ugliness, there really is beauty and goodness to be sought out.
There are different ways of looking at ‘news.’ What is really affecting us? Let’s not just talk about what the facts are, but what questions do we need to ask to get to the solutions? Who are the unheard voices of our community? What is great about eateries in town aside from the food? Do they contribute to the community in a positive way? If you are a writer who cares about your community I encourage you to get involved with Alaska Humanity News.
When I signed on this month to help manage the paper, I was hoping to nurture this little bulb into full bloom. Now I know exactly what they mean by ‘Life is what happens when you are making other plans.’ I’ve had my attention turned to something else demanding nurture: a baby on the way already tapping into my energy reserves and zapping my stamina. I’m going to have to take a back seat to see what our community can contribute to this novel venture. When I was out on the streets working on distribution I was struck by the many different views. The first four places I considered fundamental in reaching the ‘intellectual-artist-appreciation crowd’ were Bernie’s Bungalow, Bitoz Pizzaria, Snow Goose Restaurant, and Fiora D’ Italia. These places all welcomed the paper happily as I suspected they would due to their obvious community support in the Anchorage music and art scene. Later, I hand delivered the paper with an introduction letter to over twenty local businesses and not one called to say we could place the paper in their establishment.
That was very disheartening. This theme of apathy continued to plague me. The people helping to distribute the paper before I signed on were delivering to about 170 locations. But sometimes when I went to a location, like Coffee Cats, I found the paper had been thrown out and they did not want a rack. I placed a rack at the entry of Natural Pantry next to several other paper racks and soon after they called to ask us to remove it. It surprised me that a store promoting a healthy body wasn’t interested in supporting a healthy community. I stopped by Cook Inlet Books, a local owned Alaskan bookstore on Fifth Avenue, and the man behind the counter, apparently the owner, told me he didn’t have room in his giant book store for our paper rack, though he had a rack for AK This Month and the Press and four other local publications. I asked if he wouldn’t consider looking at the paper before declining it and he replied, ‘I’ll pass. Thanks Anyway.’ I for one, will never shop there again.
I think a local book store should support local publications. Even corporate-owned Borders Books and Music has a community paper rack. It is this kind of ignorance and apathy that is why our world is in the state it is in. I implore you to get involved in your community however you can. This paper is a great place to start. Think about what you can contribute and be a voice for a community we can be proud to be a part of. I plan to instill these ideas with my children, starting with my three year old and our trips to the playground, where we learn to interact with other people. Children are very pure and honest. My daughter doesn’t shy away from people with disabilities. She has questions, so we talk to people. I don’t hush her up and scurry away like I have seen people do who want to ignore reality. We treat people like people and we often end up having great conversations and both learning from it. It’s kind of like what this paper wants to do: ask questions, get answers and learn, together as a community. Is it too much to strive for? I don’t think so. I hope you’ll join me in supporting this unique Alaskan voice for the people.
Crystal Hutchens, Manager