LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which  distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming.  (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

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Daily Sitka Sentinel

June 15, 2020, Letters to the Editor

Unity, Revisited

Dear Editor: This letter is in response to the June 10 letter with the subject “Unity,” from Charles B. Dean. Mr. Dean’s short letter asks “what exact words retired General Mattis, and by extension, Senator Murkowski, would recommend the president use to ‘‘unite’’ law-abiding citizens with the looters and thugs plaguing several U.S. cities these days.” 

The title and wording of this brief letter are shocking for several reasons. How to respond concisely to such an abyss is overwhelming. 

This country was built with plenty of looting and thuggery, but your word choice does not identify you as someone who recognizes historical trauma and the many effects. That is the plague afflicting us. 

Amidst the tens of thousands of law-abiding protesters in all 50 states and across the globe, there were also some provocateurs, from both sides. 

Far from attempting words to unify us, our Provocateur in Chief tweets divisive lies. Take, for example, the police assault of the 75-year-old protester from Buffalo. Please find the June 9 Politico article titled “Trump’s Conspiracy Theory on 75-year-old Protester Draws Sharp Backlash.” 

And what about the many recent recorded instances of police illegally brutalizing peaceful demonstrators? Does this bother you? I encourage you to watch Steven Colbert’s 13-minute clip on YouTube titled “America’s Citizens Will Not Be Silenced By Government Intimidation.” 

What about the 1921 looting and massacre in Tulsa? Please read the Atlantic article titled “The Illustrated History of the Massacre of Black Wall Street.” Between 100-300 black residents were killed and 9,000 were left homeless. Twelve hundred black-owned buildings were destroyed and by today’s standards there was between $50-100 million in damages. This was committed by white looters and thugs. It took the city 80 years to release an official report. 

You see, there has been a variety of looting in this country. Don’t forget the Boston Tea Party! As Howard Zinn says, “There is an underside to every age about which history does not often speak, because history is written from the records left by the privileged.” 

Your supposed “call” for unity only speaks to divide more. Nevertheless, I will try to answer your question. Some words that the president could use to unify us would acknowledge and be respectful of the vast inequalities and historical trauma among us today. He could share some details he read about redlining practices, for example, or about the 1943 Detroit riots (White on Black). Plenty to acknowledge here in Alaska too! There is really quite a cornucopia of things he could say, regarding the past and present, to unify us. As far as what exact words he could use (as you asked) that would depend upon the context and his level of understanding. It really is an insensible question. 

Kari Johnson, Sitka

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20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.

50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.

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