MEHS Closure
Dear Editor: We have sent the following letter to the Alaska State Legislative Education and Budget Committees about the proposed closure of Mt. Edgecumbe High School.
The Sitka Woman’s Club is the oldest social organization for women in Sitka and continues to serve the community since 1916, then called the Friendly Society. It has championed humanitarian causes since that time. It existed when Alaska was still a territory.
It was deeply disturbing to club members when they learned the intentions of ANSEP to take over the Mt. Edgecumbe High School. It did not appreciate the abrupt manner in which ANSEP brought this matter forward for consideration, nor the idea of such a change. It was disrespectful to the school, students, parents, administration, as well as the community of Sitka.
As mothers and grandmothers we understand that MEHS and the community of Sitka went the extra mile to support and encourage the students who came from all over the state to gain an education. They do have a wide variety of areas to choose from as their future careers now, and MEHS is doing a fine job of preparing them for higher education, future employment, and to be fine citizens of this state. We can appreciate the hard work of the staff and employees to prepare the students to be good citizens and it goes way beyond math and science. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.
One only needs to look at past history to see how instrumental past MEHS graduates are in present day organizations, state policies, and these bonds are forever. Your education dollars buy much more than education.
Please consider our opinions and voice as you move forward with these decisions.
Robin Shull, President
For Sitka Woman’s Club
Donald Trump
Dear Editor: To some people, Donald Trump is merely a clownish, short-fingered schoolyard bully who just happened to be born with a lot of money. He is not a mere bully, and his ideas are nothing new – his populist nationalistic agenda brings to the National GOP a particular brand of politics common among European anti-globalization nativist movements. To those better versed in WWII history than contemporary European politics, he is much like your average fascist.
Trump wants U.S. service members to commit war crimes for him, and he is convinced that we are going to accept his illegal orders to slaughter Muslim families in a terror campaign. Some certainly would, and I hope that they go to jail with him if this ever comes to pass.
After 14 years in the infantry in the Army National Guard, three of them in combat zones pulling patrols and running checkpoints, I and my men have never committed a war crime. I and my men (as long as I am in charge of them) will never commit a war crime, for him or anyone. This is not a political position; this is my duty under UCMJ. Let’s be clear: when you support Trump, you are asking me and my men to kill innocent women and kids. That is the particular war crime he is advocating. I hope the people who voted for him are merely fools, because the alternative makes me shudder.
Paul Norwood, Sitka
