Comments on: Voices from the Flats – Alaska’s Third Rail of Politics http://www.themudflats.net/2010/07/27/voices-from-the-flats-alaskas-third-rail-of-politics/ Tiptoeing Through the Muck of Alaskan Politics Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:08:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The Ptarmigan Nest - Ptarmigan, the State Bird of Alaska. A peaceful little creature. » Link: Don Mitchell, native Alaskan’s and politics http://www.themudflats.net/2010/07/27/voices-from-the-flats-alaskas-third-rail-of-politics/#comment-209009 The Ptarmigan Nest - Ptarmigan, the State Bird of Alaska. A peaceful little creature. » Link: Don Mitchell, native Alaskan’s and politics Mon, 02 Aug 2010 08:24:39 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=14808#comment-209009 [...] and politics By CityKid I don’t agree with all of what Don Mitchell has to say here. But Donald Craig Mitchell been around the block and in the thick of things up here for a long [...] [...] and politics By CityKid I don’t agree with all of what Don Mitchell has to say here. But Donald Craig Mitchell been around the block and in the thick of things up here for a long [...]

]]> By: Moose Pucky http://www.themudflats.net/2010/07/27/voices-from-the-flats-alaskas-third-rail-of-politics/#comment-208943 Moose Pucky Sun, 01 Aug 2010 20:57:07 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=14808#comment-208943 Correction: For the sake of accuracy, my mistake. Scott McAdams seems like he is an Alaska Native, is Mayor of a rural community that is strongly Alaskan Native, and has been adopted into Alaska Native, but is not actually Alaska Native. He has corrected me on this. Is making no false claims. My error solely. Correction: For the sake of accuracy, my mistake. Scott McAdams seems like he is an Alaska Native, is Mayor of a rural community that is strongly Alaskan Native, and has been adopted into Alaska Native, but is not actually Alaska Native.

He has corrected me on this. Is making no false claims. My error solely.

]]> By: Shelby http://www.themudflats.net/2010/07/27/voices-from-the-flats-alaskas-third-rail-of-politics/#comment-208835 Shelby Sun, 01 Aug 2010 03:50:00 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=14808#comment-208835 I think this is an important <a href="http://www.gap.com/products/flats.jsp" rel="nofollow">issue</a> that needs to be answered by anyone running for governor of Alaska! The governor needs to take care of the entire state not just certain parts, and the rural parts is still considered Alaska. I think this is an important issue that needs to be answered by anyone running for governor of Alaska! The governor needs to take care of the entire state not just certain parts, and the rural parts is still considered Alaska.

]]> By: beth http://www.themudflats.net/2010/07/27/voices-from-the-flats-alaskas-third-rail-of-politics/#comment-208609 beth Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:03:37 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=14808#comment-208609 Desa - I believe you are entirely missing the point. While you may live in AK, and while you may have "seen the victims. And those who collaborate with them," it doesn't seem as if you are understanding that *nothing* will be accomplished FOR those you want to have given respect, IF the request [demand] isn't heard. And, it will, gurandamnteed, *not*, be heard if it is presented as a bull-dozer. Human nature won't 'allow' it [nor will the egos and pride of those who are being 'bulldozed', allow for it to be heard]. The <i>reason</i> Ghandhi, King, et. al, were able to change opinions [win], is that they took fundamental truth and presented it in a calm, rational, logical, consistently steady, honest and open manner. Had they tried to bulldoze their opinions across, they, too, would have failed. Trying to sway fanatic by countering it with 'opposing' fanatic, gets nowhere. I may be misreading what you've written, here, Desa, but my impression is that you are of the opinion that strident and 'revolutionary' tactics MUST be used to bring about the change you seek. If how I'm interpreting what I'm reading <i>is</i> the case, I have a feeling you're going to terribly disappointed --for a loooong time-- that you are [still!] aren't making inroads into getting things changed; if I'm not reading what you've written 'correctly', my apologies. I'm *not* 'preaching' anything at you, Desa; but time, I think, will prove me correct on the difference between fighting for a just cause with sanity, and fighting for it with reciprocal insanity. One works; the other fails. Just sayin'. beth. Desa – I believe you are entirely missing the point. While you may live in AK, and while you may have “seen the victims. And those who collaborate with them,” it doesn’t seem as if you are understanding that *nothing* will be accomplished FOR those you want to have given respect, IF the request [demand] isn’t heard.

And, it will, gurandamnteed, *not*, be heard if it is presented as a bull-dozer. Human nature won’t ‘allow’ it [nor will the egos and pride of those who are being 'bulldozed', allow for it to be heard].

The reason Ghandhi, King, et. al, were able to change opinions [win], is that they took fundamental truth and presented it in a calm, rational, logical, consistently steady, honest and open manner. Had they tried to bulldoze their opinions across, they, too, would have failed. Trying to sway fanatic by countering it with ‘opposing’ fanatic, gets nowhere.

I may be misreading what you’ve written, here, Desa, but my impression is that you are of the opinion that strident and ‘revolutionary’ tactics MUST be used to bring about the change you seek. If how I’m interpreting what I’m reading is the case, I have a feeling you’re going to terribly disappointed –for a loooong time– that you are [still!] aren’t making inroads into getting things changed; if I’m not reading what you’ve written ‘correctly’, my apologies.

I’m *not* ‘preaching’ anything at you, Desa; but time, I think, will prove me correct on the difference between fighting for a just cause with sanity, and fighting for it with reciprocal insanity. One works; the other fails. Just sayin’. beth.

]]> By: Desa Jacobsson http://www.themudflats.net/2010/07/27/voices-from-the-flats-alaskas-third-rail-of-politics/#comment-208587 Desa Jacobsson Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:26:17 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=14808#comment-208587 I do not need you to preach to me about Ghandi or King. I live here. I've seen the victims. And those who collaborate with them. I do not need you to preach to me about Ghandi or King.

I live here. I’ve seen the victims. And those who collaborate with them.

]]> By: beth http://www.themudflats.net/2010/07/27/voices-from-the-flats-alaskas-third-rail-of-politics/#comment-208427 beth Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:32:25 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=14808#comment-208427 Thanks for the link, Alaska Pi. "They" sure did make a mish-mash of things, didn't they? And it appears as if none of these issues will be settled any time real soon...mainly because the very foundations of the 'designations' were so poorly constructed in the first place. Maybe the state of AK <i>should</i> give Glenn and his chalkboard a whack at it...if he can (and he does!) take the completely sane and, with his swirly-line-drawing chalk, turn it into some totally incomprehensible head-scratcher, surely he can take some totally incomprehensible head-scratcher and work some 'reverse' magic on it? Hey, it's a thought... beth. Thanks for the link, Alaska Pi. “They” sure did make a mish-mash of things, didn’t they? And it appears as if none of these issues will be settled any time real soon…mainly because the very foundations of the ‘designations’ were so poorly constructed in the first place.

Maybe the state of AK should give Glenn and his chalkboard a whack at it…if he can (and he does!) take the completely sane and, with his swirly-line-drawing chalk, turn it into some totally incomprehensible head-scratcher, surely he can take some totally incomprehensible head-scratcher and work some ‘reverse’ magic on it? Hey, it’s a thought… beth.

]]> By: beth http://www.themudflats.net/2010/07/27/voices-from-the-flats-alaskas-third-rail-of-politics/#comment-208425 beth Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:09:49 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=14808#comment-208425 Desa - I'm sorry you took so negatively what I wrote. I was expressing an absolute truth I have learned over many, <i>many</i> years of MY advocacy for persons who have systematically (and institutionally) been denied the rights and privileges others are afforded without question. It's impossible to knock the chip off of someone else's shoulder when you're weighed down with chips on your own; addressing an issue combatively inevitably begets resistance and combat right back. Mohandas K. Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., among others, knew that; they took the higher road, they met ugly with calm and purpose, and they prevailed. And <i>that</i>, Desa, is a valuable, <i>valuable</i> lesson to learn. I do not pretend to know the personalities --on either 'side'-- involved in the issues of Native Rights in AK, I <i>do</i>, however, know that when folks start yammering and yelling at each other in demand for (or against) things, the 'target's' ears close, nothing is heard, and the fortifications against the onslaught are reinforced. If you want to be a voice, you have to at least present the truth you are saying in a manner that can be heard! I stand by what I wrote @ 32.2. beth. Desa – I’m sorry you took so negatively what I wrote. I was expressing an absolute truth I have learned over many, many years of MY advocacy for persons who have systematically (and institutionally) been denied the rights and privileges others are afforded without question.

It’s impossible to knock the chip off of someone else’s shoulder when you’re weighed down with chips on your own; addressing an issue combatively inevitably begets resistance and combat right back. Mohandas K. Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., among others, knew that; they took the higher road, they met ugly with calm and purpose, and they prevailed. And that, Desa, is a valuable, valuable lesson to learn.

I do not pretend to know the personalities –on either ‘side’– involved in the issues of Native Rights in AK, I do, however, know that when folks start yammering and yelling at each other in demand for (or against) things, the ‘target’s’ ears close, nothing is heard, and the fortifications against the onslaught are reinforced.

If you want to be a voice, you have to at least present the truth you are saying in a manner that can be heard! I stand by what I wrote @ 32.2. beth.

]]> By: Polarbear http://www.themudflats.net/2010/07/27/voices-from-the-flats-alaskas-third-rail-of-politics/#comment-208381 Polarbear Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:15:29 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=14808#comment-208381 Read both of your posts, and believe your comments need acknowledgement. I just feel it is important for you to know that non-Natives, in my case an Anglo, are reading and listening. This note is just to say, "I hear you" and hope that you continue to post. I cannot say much positive about the political conversation swirling around us all right now, only that based on our changing racial and cultural composition, I think my own neighborhood is getting healthier on an interpersonal level. I see signs close around me that neighbors of strongly different cultural backgrounds are connecting and listening to one another. And I think the civility of Mudflats helps. Who knows, perhaps blogs will help us all. Read both of your posts, and believe your comments need acknowledgement. I just feel it is important for you to know that non-Natives, in my case an Anglo, are reading and listening. This note is just to say, “I hear you” and hope that you continue to post. I cannot say much positive about the political conversation swirling around us all right now, only that based on our changing racial and cultural composition, I think my own neighborhood is getting healthier on an interpersonal level. I see signs close around me that neighbors of strongly different cultural backgrounds are connecting and listening to one another. And I think the civility of Mudflats helps. Who knows, perhaps blogs will help us all.

]]> By: Moose Pucky http://www.themudflats.net/2010/07/27/voices-from-the-flats-alaskas-third-rail-of-politics/#comment-208352 Moose Pucky Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:15:19 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=14808#comment-208352 Do you think maybe Canada has done it all a little better? More respect for First Nations? And in turn, First Nations are more respectful to others in return? There is, of course, no perfect way out of a former system where Natives were abused and their land rights taken away by newcomers. However, none of us were around at the time--so we now must form our own best community as we know how. The history of the planet is territorial--with plants, animals, people. No easy answers. Do you think maybe Canada has done it all a little better? More respect for First Nations? And in turn, First Nations are more respectful to others in return?

There is, of course, no perfect way out of a former system where Natives were abused and their land rights taken away by newcomers.

However, none of us were around at the time–so we now must form our own best community as we know how.

The history of the planet is territorial–with plants, animals, people. No easy answers.

]]> By: Moose Pucky http://www.themudflats.net/2010/07/27/voices-from-the-flats-alaskas-third-rail-of-politics/#comment-208349 Moose Pucky Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:08:54 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=14808#comment-208349 Good observations there. Good observations there.

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