Would You Take $5 from Senator Fred Dyson?
So, what would you do if the school bully who’d been stealing your lunch money all year, came up to you in the playground and said, “Come here, I want to show you something!” Yes, that’s a rhetorical question. What about if he handed you a $5 bill? You’d look around, maybe, to see if anyone was in the immediate area….any co-conspirators lurking in the bushes? You might shuffle around a little. You’d wonder, “What’s the catch?” No catch, insists the bully. He hands you the $5 bill.
Is it counterfeit? Dusted with some crazy skin itching powder? Is it going to turn your fingers black? Is he going to take it back, and then beat you up? Is he going to tell someone you stole it? Is he going to wait for you to take it and snatch it back at the last moment making you look like an idiot? Are you going to be framed? What???
This is how I felt when I saw the compass piece in the Daily News titled “Alaska Natives Thrived Before the Coming of the White Man” by Eagle River Senator Fred Dyson. My blood ran cold. What was he going to say NOW. This is the guy that wrote to concerned citizens from Alaskans for Truth who were asking that Sarah Palin, recently resigned AG Talis Colberg, and witnesses who ignored subpoenas be held accountable for their actions, and started his letter:
I am in receipt of your e-mail concerning your recommendation that I investigate, impeach or lynch Governor Palin.
It then went on to say that the writers of these letters had come to the conclusion that Sarah Palin was EVIL (all caps) and that the letter writers had come up with NO NEW FACTS (all caps and underlined). So, said Senator Dyson, these letters of concern have “had NO positive effect on me.” Way to encourage citizen participation in government. This correspondence earned Dyson the Mudflats Moose Nugget award.
All that said, I was expecting something awful from the curmudgeonly bully from north of Anchorage. I started reading. After the first sentence, I thought, “OK, what’s the catch?” I thought the same thing after the first paragraph. And the second. And the third. Instead of finding the catch, I was treated to an informative, interesting, and fascinating read. Really. I’m not being sarcastic. He handed us $5 and walked away. And that was it. How ’bout that?
I’m not letting my guard down for a second, but here’s a link to the compass piece that ends with:
I trust my observations here are largely accurate and not offensive. We non-Natives are unfair to not acknowledge that we are latecomers to this great land and that we are standing on the shoulders of giants who learned to live in this magnificent land over 10,000 years ago. Let us acknowledge our debts and sins and go forward with respect, justice and dignity.
I encourage you to read the piece, take the $5, enjoy Senator Dyson’s moment of lucidity, but please watch your back on the way home from school.
I took the $5, left a couple comments, and I’m leaving now to go faint somewhere. But I will be sure to watch my back as soon as I recover – thanks for the reminder! Are we in the Twilight Zone now AKM?
We ARE in the twilight zone…after a big earthquake…
You think a hurricane is next?
It IS well written.
A long overdue open thoughtful..
Ah heck- the universe just turned inside out…
Nice piece and a good reminder. In the ‘related stories’ box there is a short piece on how the state helped get food to a community in need in the 60′s. That is worth a look also.
@Writing from Alaska-
I think it a necessary reminder and much appreciated.
The other short piece was a treat and the link in early comments on Mr Dyson’s to another Compass piece leads to a good read as well.
It feels like we’re coming to a new place… at least right this moment it does.
Well, let’s see….
Recently the news is about world wide funds pouring into the rural villages. The blogs and newspapers both have stories about the relief effort, as well as the conditions in the villages. In other words, this has become a spotlight issue.
Mr. Dyson seems to be seizing the political moment, jumping on the bandwagon, taking the high road or whatever lovely metaphor you desire that can hide political design behind it.
Sorry, but I can’t forget the throroughly nasty and unprofessional letter in response to citizens’ concerns that Troopergate be pursued.
What was Dyson’s last sentence in his article? Oh, yeah….” Let us acknowledge our debts and sins and go forward with respect, justice and dignity.” Mr. Dyson….this sentiment could be applied as well to the absolute right that citizens have to respect, justice, and dignity in their inquiries regarding Ms. Palin’s abuse of power and ethics violations……even if they’re not 10,000 years old yet.
In fairness, it was a good comment by Mr. Dyson. Sounded like right out of the Encyclopedia(although I have never personally seen “atlatals” spelled as “attalas.” )
Keep your $5.00, Sir. I don’t believe it’s sincere for one minute….but then I tend to be skeptical of wholesale changes in character in “grownups.”
I thanked Sen. Dyson, as well. It’s good sometimes to concentrate on the things about which we agree rather than the things we don’t.
It just seemed right to thank Sen Dyson – and even if he’s fakin’ it to look PC or whatever – maybe he’ll change just a tad-little-microscopic-tiny bit just by having read comments that were actually decent toward him (mostly). I think he’s been lonely. Maybe he’s a little like the Grinch.
Until you actually see his shrunken heart grow three sizes in one day, and pop the little wire frame thingy, I’ll have to ask you not to compare Fred Dyson to one of my all-time favorite literary figures.
AKM
Also, too… I forgot to add that for some reason, I did not get the response from Sen. Dyson that others got in response to my request to follow up on Troopergate. Maybe my “Alaska Story” email where I described how much I loved Gov. Hammond and prior AG Wilson Condon may have been just weird enough to elicit no response rather than a rude one. Or, he got spammed. I’ll never know for sure.
I’ve been trying to tell AKM and other people that underneath the bluff, bluster and bullsh*t, Fred Dyson isn’t a bad guy. What he does in the state senate sucks sometimes (okay, a lot), but the man is not a phoney. I like him personally. I mean, when I talk to him, I really like the guy. And I’m a true-blue leftie.
I love the essay Fred wrote in the paper. Don’t you guys see what he’s doing? He’s totally dissing the governor and all of her suck.buddies that say that Natives need to get over it, move to a city and get jobs. That your old, quaint Native ways are charming, but we’re not going to subsidize them. Fred just gave Sarah a big, fat FU, you don’t get it white girl, do you? shoutout. In my humble opinion.
OOh Martha Unalaska lil sis- also, too..?
Be careful – you are starting to catch the verbal tics of someone we know. I don’t think there is a cure.
I thanked Sen Dyson as well. The work to bring ALL Alaskans to the table with parity begins with all being valued equally.
I thank every single man or woman, whether in hopes of Pc-dom on earth or rewards in heaven, who creates a place to start
Doesn’t mean I have to trust em every minute.
@grewingk (23:38:06)
I hope you are right!!
Ronnie Raygun said, “Trust, but verify.” He was talking about nuclear disarmament. You girls who are Native have absolutely no reason in the world to trust any white person, god only knows. But when a hardass like Dyson comes around, boy, oh, boy, something big is a’foot. *woo hoo* I can’t wait to see what happens next : )
Quick informative read from Fred Dyson.
AKM, take the $5 and donate it to Alaskans for Truth and continue along with other ‘yes we canners’ (outside Alaska too, also) to work hard in our communities to support our new president. Community organizing requires more than just sweat equity.
Note to GINO:
The Darroll Hargraves article about village good shortages is timely (perhaps it should have been written/published a month or so earlier). Perhaps GINO can now, with instructions do something besides offering to fly to Emmonak if that would be helpful.
South Side Chicago
Sarah isn’t going to fly to Emo. She missed that boat. Besides, they use honeybuckets in Emo. The Governor can’t use a honeybucket, now that her status has been elevated from fish picker to Gov! *swoon* *laugh*
It’s too late for her to do anything meaningful, but it would be _helpful_ if she’d let the Alaska Air National Guard fly the stuff that the pathetic anonymous bloggers, hardcore rightwingnut church groups, REPUBLICAN lawmakers and others have gathered into the villages. The National Guard flies Santy Claus and gifts for the kids into the villages every Christmas. The same villages need relief flights now. Where’s Sarah? At the Iron Dog Race finish with Greta and Piper. Go figure.
Maybe Fred Dyson would like to Adopt A Wolf?
http://www.themudflats.net/forum/index.php/topic,6310.msg58321.html#msg58321
Don’t push our luck, BigSlick. I doubt Fred will be adopting any wolves any time soon.
Oh, wow. I just read the Compass piece and am now really confused. It’s obvious to me that one of the Fred Dyson’s we are dealing with is a doppleganger! The question is, which one is it?
Is asshat Fred Dyson the doppleganger or is it this new, heretofore unknown sensative and insightful Fred Dyson?
Judging by what’s gone before I think that the old Fred Dyson just had concience hiccup. I expect to see the Fred Dyson who spews venom back with us anytime now.
However, I could be wrong. I’m jaded and disillusioned enough to expect the worst from people yet still warm hearted enough to hope for better things from them.
Time will tell which is the “real” Fred Dyson.
grewingk (23:52:48) hit it right on the head.
So Dyson had a “come to Jesus” moment ??……..time will tell….
Quickly, before i forget. There IS a big diss to GINO in the very first sentence, Since she believes the earth is only 6000 years old, and he wrote that “homo sapiens have lived and prospered in Alaska for at least 10,000 years.” Yup, there it is in the very first sentence. Middle finger. I don’t know the guy, I’ve only seen the nastiness about his email responses, etc, but that one was pointed at the dingbat in the Governor’s mansion, oops, I mean wasilla.
The last couple of comments are unbelievably rude and show why Natives are still treated poorly. My very best hex on those unevolved dirtbags. They show quite clearly why you Alaskans are still having trouble getting anything done up there. Why wasn’t there a bouncer when they showed up in Alaska?
I meant the comments after the article, not the ones here.
Also too a lying delusional chugabilly in the story about the food shortage of the 60s. Who are these people? They believe anything GINO says but after weeks and weeks of documentation, “there is still no evidence that there was a food shortage, and fuel was available, but pricey”? No wonder my blood pressure is in the danger zone and I spend half my day thinking about murder.
I have hate in my heart. Guess that makes me a hater.
Maybe it’s just the teacher in me (been a few years though), but to me this sounded like he took one of his children’s or grandchildren’s (don’t know his age) report on Ancient Native Alaskans and Their Achievements, but on the last paragraph or so and sent it to the paper.
I do agree with his supposed opinions in the article, but appearing to be completely out of the blue?
Keep warm.
“I like him personally. I mean, when I talk to him, I really like the guy. ”
LOTS of people said the same thing about G.W. Bush and look where that got us.
I am 50 and have lived all over the country, I don’t trust this guy any more than any other political animal. They do not change, Dyson included. This is political grand standing on a LATE scale. Where was this joker MONTHS ago when this situation was predicted by Monegan?
@grewingk (23:52:48) :
But when a hardass like Dyson comes around, boy, oh, boy, something big is a’foot. *woo hoo* I can’t wait to see what happens next : )
——————–
You have always shown good sense so I’m gonna take your word that something is coming up. Hoping something is coming up . About to pop waiting for something to come up.
Not gonna hold my breath though… have turned blue and passed out too many times doing that.
Covered in bruises from all the times I’ve hit the floor…
But I DO stay hopeful, warily hopeful.
Thanks neighbor for the call on this…
I have been reading this blog for quite some time and I have a question to ask. I know it is off subject but could the people of Alaska please tell me if the wolf problem is so bad that starving wolves are coming into the cities and eating dogs and doing this right in front of their owners? I read a post by someone who said they are from Alaska on another site and I find it hard to believe that wolves would be so bold but I guess if they are starving maybe it would be true. I also want to say that I really enjoy reading all the posts on this site, I read them almost everyday and it makes my day!!! Bless you all!
regarding dyson, if something seems to good to be true, it probably is.
“Most Alaska Native people had an effective system of selecting honorable and effective leaders that worked well. The prospective leaders had to prove themselves worthy by showing maturity, hunting skills and wisdom. Then the elders went through some deliberative process that resulted in consensus to confirm the leaders.”
Definitely another dig at SP.
First thought: Is he up for re-election soon?
Second thought: Who are his opponents?
Third thought: What is he afraid of?
After reading Alaska Pi’s comment, “We ARE in the twilight zone…after a big earthquake…
You think a hurricane is next?”, the cynic in me wants to say “OMG! It’s the End Times!”
That HAS to be the only reason your Sen. Dyson is mending fences, righting old wrongs, and sounding lucid and honest.
Actually, after reading that synopsis of GINO’s new unauthorized biography “Trailblazer” at People.com, especially some of the quotes about Bristol Palin’s pregnancy time-line, I’m thinking this may be GINO’s End Time.
As in, her political career. Pfffft.
Truth is, even people with political opinions which differ from the folks in our Mudflats Universe here can be smart, insightful, friendly, thoughtful, non-bigoted, and even have a bad day, be pissed off, and make concessions they regret later.
I understand when grewink says she likes the guy personally. That’s how it works here in our small town state. We know these folks, and we live next to them. We socialize with them. We know they can be pains in the ass, embarrassing us on more than one occasion, but we may also know them as “just folks” with all the warts we all carry. And we agree to disagree.
We stand up and say “Thank you” when it is warranted, and say “I don’t agree with you on this one” when the time comes. (also, too)
WomanWithSardineCan, I laughed out loud at your term, “unevolved dirtbags” to describe the nasty soulless denizens of that ADN comment section. These troll-like creatures pop up from under the bridge on just about every topic that has to do with Alaska: the ANWR, Alaska Natives, the PDR, civilization vs. rural villages, the GINO, the legislature, you name it.
Next time I post a comment at the ADN, may I borrow the term? — not for a direct insult, mind you, just a general reference about riffraff.
I’m a lurker. Just had to say, dig the “MudFlats Universe”. My friend CRFlats turned me on to this site, and I stopped by to visit today. So we are having a Mudflats day perusing the comments and posts, following the links, sipping on tea, and gossiping about pols and friends. A great snowed in holiday way to spend time with my friend(s).
AlsoToo — OMG you blew your cover! No longer a lurker, sorry.
In fact, delurked.
But welcome to the flats, AlsoToo, also, too.
Remember, he used to be in the majority group, and rarely listened to those on the bottom. I tried to write something, but I got the sense, that now there is a national spotlight on the issue,, he is saying something about natives , sure they were strong and adaptable, but so much has changed. They dont have those survival mechanisms, NOt many natives can go back and realearned the cultural ways, it has been more than 2 generations…
AKM – another well-written article. Wish I has more faith in Dyson, but it’s hard to buy the new persona. I assume this was written in response to the haters saying the Natives should move out of the Bush and thus was well-meaning. It’s disappointing to read the comments over at Compass which have such a xenophobic tone (ironic considering who was here first). Anyway, I’ve got the $5 in my pocket, assuming someone will come and take it back – “it was all a mistake.”
OT I saw a commercial today for the Today Show asking where you want Matt Lauer to go on his annual jaunt. I’m sending a recommendation to ship him off to Emmonak along with a big shipment of supplies.