A Meditation on the Future of Alaska, in 10 Precepts
By Elstun Lauesen Ring the Bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in — Leonard Cohen, “Anthem” Alaskans seem frozen in place. After a promising beginning 54 years ago, we established a solid foundation for our state. Now, after a pipeline and a new demographic of Lower 48 immigrants we are in the second semester of our first century and we feel lost. Where do we go from here? I think we are high centered on some barriers to self-knowledge. The Oracle of Delphi said to ‘know…
Golem Turns on its GOP Masters
By Elstun Lauesen There is a powerful tale of biblical dimensions unfolding in the politics of these latter days. It comes through the drama within the Grand Old Party. As we all know, the Republican Party has used religion and ‘faith’ as its most powerful organizing weapon. But what we are witnessing in the political theater today is what happens when that weapon is turned upon its creator. Those within the Republican Party who understand the mainstream purposes of government are staring helplessly at the advancing shadow of their own creation like the legendary Rabbi of Prague beheld the ravages…
Voices from the Flats – AFN Diary: Day 3
AFN Diary: Day 3. Stop the Bullying and Let’s Be Family Again! By Elstun Lauesen This morning the long list of Resolutions were considered by the delegates and the Chairman of the AFN Resolutions Committee, Trefon Angasan asked if there were other matters to be brought before the body. A young man from Ft. Yukon, Edward Alexander, who looks to be in his mid-20s, took to the microphone on the floor and made a motion to suspend the rules. Immediately another delegate seconded it. Mr. Alexander announced that he wished to introduce a resolution asking for certain changes to the…