‘Make Sitka Great Again'
Dear Editor: On my way from Eliason Harbor up to AC Lakeside, I chanced upon the neatest – because most thought-provoking – bumper sticker I have seen in a long, long time. Festooned with an American flag, it read, in bold letters: “MAKE SITKA GREAT AGAIN.”
While wishing that Orion Sporting Goods had chosen a more appropriate visual to go along with its message, I couldn’t help but noting the implications – both overt and covert – in their words.
The overt, almost obvious, and explicit implication, of course, is that it is a play on – and possibly apparent endorsement of – the principal and primary meme of Trumpatismo: “Make America Great Again.” That, at least, explains the flag. Which leads one to believe that it is a savvy marketing and advertising project, at a minimum.
But the covert, perhaps less obvious, but implicit implication is a little more detailed, and thus complicated. For example:
The emphatic use of the term “AGAIN” suggests a couple of things:
1. That Sitka was once “Great,” and;
2. That Sitka is no longer “Great.”
The equally emphatic use of the term “MAKE” similarly hints that:
1. Somehow, Sitka was made “Not Great” anymore, but;
2. Somehow, Sitka can be made “Great Again.”
Thinking this over led to the following questions:
1. What exactly is meant by the word “Great?”
2. Who gets to define it, and on what basis do they define it (and get to define it?)
3. Whatever it means, when did Sitka become “Great?”
4. Whenever that was, how did Sitka become “Great?”
5. When did Sitka stop being “Great?”
6. How and why did Sitka stop being “Great?”
7. What must happen to “Make Sitka Great Again?”
8. How will Sitkans (and anybody else paying attention) know that Sitka is indeed “Great Again?”
By the time I made it to Lakeside, I realized that these might be a very good set of questions to ask about America, and the vision, goal, dream, and stated intent of the president of the United States, and of his constituents, his followers, his believers, his vassals, his lieges, and his legions.
I also mused that the same challenge could be addressed to a different, specific audience; as in: “Make Alaska Great Again.” As could the same above questions. For starters: IS Alaska still “The Great Land”? Is it as great as it was? Or as great as it could be?
In a world where Trump dreams and schemes to MAGA, and Putin plots and plans to MRGA, and Xi is aspiring and conspiring to MCGA, and while Netanyahu is intent to MI(srael)GA (and then there are those missioned to MI(slam)GA), and so forth; given all that, one begins to wonder if “Greatness,” or seeking it, is such a great thing, or idea, after all. Especially for those who pay the bills in blood and treasure for all those aspirations to greatness.
In any event, back here on the boat, I can look around and see the forests and the mountains, the rivers, streams, bays, a sound, and the great ocean, and, “cloud-hidden but whereabouts known,”` a volcano. I feel a north wind bringing some of the cleanest air on the planet (assuming we avoid at least some of China’s and Japan’s counter-contributions.) And see ravens and eagles like I saw pigeons and seagulls down on San Francisco Bay. And sense that “greatness” is already here.
Now all we have to do is figure out how to keep it here.
Jeff Moebus, Sitka
Public Library
Dear Editor: A little while ago I, wife, and two in-laws made a little visit to your town, “Old/New Archangel,” my nickname for Sitka. Yours always has been and continues to be a very special place. History and culture combine with natural setting, exhibit to residents and visitors alike what a wonderful community you inhabit. However, I want to emphasize only one place in this letter because this spot is significant to my wife and me.
This is Sitka Public Library, formerly Kettleson Memorial Library. Yours is the most beautiful, engaging, useful library I am acquainted with. Our eyes and other senses respond to this building as we approach and enter the door. Your board, staff and designers should continue to gain congratulations from many, after the wonderful rebuild you’ve recently completed. Please include my “well done” to your list. I sense peace, light, interesting things, ideas, and harmony all at the same time. Nothing seems out of place, in fact everything is still “right” – down to the silicone “drool” in T-Rex’s jaw in the children’s section!
Sentiment colors this commentary as I’d trolled out of Sitka for many years, coming to the Gulf of Alaska from Petersburg home. Mom and Dad, but especially son Erik and daughter Sarah would use your library every summer from 15 to 25 years, depending on the individual. This family had a routine. After unloading our catch at SPC we would tie up the F/V Hazel B in a harbor. The kids would hoist their little backpacks and trot over to the library to exchange the dozen or more books they had read for new ones. We were grateful your librarian would allow out-of-towners to check out Sitka’s books. Our kids’ intellectual lives grew because of this and a great portion of their adult careers can be attributed to their opportunity to use your wonderful library. Today, Sarah teaches advanced English and mathematics in Stockholm and speaks both Swedish and German fluently. Erik is a plasma physicist in Los Angeles and is working to find a new source of energy in nuclear fusion. If they each were writing this, your Kettleson Memorial Library would get its measure of credit in their individual lives.
Sitka, love your library and visit often! Sincerely and admiringly yours,
Grant H. Trask
ex F/V Hazel B
