Roy Corral’s commentary “Do I need to fear my neighbors?” broke my heart. It pains me that any of our fellow Alaskans need to worry that they are “the enemy.” But I understand his fear. When someone feels entitled to refer to fellow citizens as the enemy within, or shoot up a Homer health clinic, or paint a swastika, I feel a twinge of fear myself — and I’m an old white guy of German ancestry. No German was spared the agonybrought forth by similar rhetoric and action.
I guess I would tell Corral that “an overwhelming preference” of voters was not for Donald Trump. He won barely over 50% of the vote — that is not a mandate. And I believe (hope) that many within that 50% will push back against the worst impulses. It is clearly within their best interest to do so, but that remains to be seen.
And I am with Mr. Corral — we have to support our friends and neighbors, and move forward with “greater resolve and a wary eye.”
— Jim Thiele
Anchorage
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