Thanks to fire chief
I'd like to thank Fire Chief John Fullenweider and his wife Debbie for all those years of service to the city of Anchorage. Well done.
-- Roy Callaway
Anchorage
Peaceful solutions sought over bombs destruction
Aug. 6 is the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, by our Air Force. Aug. 9 is the 70th anniversary of our nuclear bombing of Nagasaki, Japan.
Scientific American reminded me by publishing an article titled "Remembering the Blast" in this August's issue. Two victims of those bombings describe their experience with nuclear radiation, burns, cancers and deaths that have been estimated at over 200,000 dead.
His descriptions of the survivors of the blast were more horrible than anything I can imagine. I suspect President Truman had no idea of the death, suffering and destruction he would unleash by his decision to use atomic bombs on Japan. Fortunately our leaders have diplomatically kept us from becoming engaged in a subsequent nuclear war.
Aug. 14, 1945, eight days after Nagasaki was bombed, I remember well. My family and I were in Sterling, Kansas, to have a picnic at the Sterling Lake in celebration of my 13th birthday. Billy Herndon, chief of police, turned on his siren and raced up and down Broadway in celebration of Japan's announcement of its unconditional surrender signaling the end of World War II. The official surrender to MacArthur was carried out on Sept. 2.
My sincerest hope is our current leaders work out a peaceful solution with Iran. John Kerry and President Obama are to be commended for their efforts to make that happen. Peace to all.
Veteran for Peace
Opposing team featured
God bless Jamaica, Usain Bolt, Bob Marley, herb and Kingston. And thank you ADN for covering the United States participation in the CONCACAF soccer tournament. But do we really need to have over a third of the front page of the sports section filled with a photo of the opposing squad celebrating its victory over our squad? Think of your audience.
-- Grant Hedman
Anchorage
Salute Mother Earth
How about we get rid of all flags that create division and just fly an Earth flag (picture of Earth taken from outer space)?
-- Mary Hayhoe
Homer
APD should concentrate on serious crimes, not pot
Here we go again. Take note of the front page article in the ADN of July 22, "APD seizes cars from pot delivery service."
I am infinitely glad that APD has time to corral these miscreants of justice, whose offense seems to be, not the legality of a substance, but the quantity and process involved in transporting it.
With at least four unsolved homeless persons' deaths in the last week, several unsolved murder/unusual death cases, an unsolved sexual predator attack on a woman -- where do they find the time?
And if we are really serious about DUI issues we would have a patrol officer outside every bar at closing time ticketing drivers who leave the premises under the influence and drive.
Instead of targeting the cannabis delivery drivers, why not take care of the multitude of illegal panhandlers on nearly every street corner in the city?
It is still a crime to panhandle, as well as being a public safety hazard to all drivers when these folks dart out into the street to collect monies. But that is clearly not the priority of APD. Go after the pot delivery people, let the murders, deaths and assaults solve themselves.
The voters spoke. Pot is legal. Now only the details need be worked out.
--David M. Schauer
Anchorage
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