 By Joe Branco June 21, 2005
Let's see in your first sentence
you accuse me of impolite negatism (not really a word but you
probably meant negativism). I presume that you are saying that
in comparison to Mr. Hoff's cheerful optimism and warm embrace
of humanity, right? Or were you referencing the polite and positive
tone of your own correspondence? Either way, I think you missed
the point. On the contrary, my letter was very positive and optimistic.
Positive means you are for something, negative means you are
against something. If I were arguing against the bridge I would
be using positive statements such as "preserving the unspoiled
view of Gravina Island" or "relying on our traditional
ties to the sea for transportation". Do you get it? People
like you and Mr. Hoff spend so much energy harping on the negative
when a positive argument or two goes so much further. Still in
your first sentence you point out my "ignorance of rights
of opinion in your non-informed decision". What? You really
lost m! Let's jump to the bottom of your letter and work backward to the beginning. First, of course I dare! The only fact in Mr. Hoff's writings are summarized by his own admission at the bottom of each of his submissions that "this is my opinion". He does not cite facts and I am certain that you have never bothered to research the claims he makes. You take them on blind faith because you want to. That is okay. It is human nature to presume that things that sound like facts from people more educated must therefore, be facts. I am not surprised he impresses you with his "facts". The fact that Don Hoff does not live in Ketchikan is very germaine to this issue. The bridge does not affect Mr. Hoff in any manner. He does not ever have to take the ferry to or from the airport. He simply drives around Hixson, Tennessee on roads paid for, wastefully, with my tax dollars. His home is in Tennessee. He may have grown up in Ketchikan and may have fond memories but he has chosen to forego that in favor of his new home. As to the name calling issue, I strongly suspect that you have probably never read a single letter by Mr. Hoff. If you did then you would realize that over the past two years Mr. Hoff has engaged in personal attacks at every step. He is, in fact, a bigoted curmudgeon. That is not name calling it is fact stating. Mr. Hoff engages in PERSONAL attacks with every letter. But I am certain that you chose to ignore that because your are busy cheering his opinion. You are entitled to your opinion, you are entitled to cheer his opinion, and you are by all means entitled to disagree with me. But don't be so foolish as to believe that he hasn't been the harbinger of racism in this issue. I have never denied Mr. Hoff
the right to his opinion and I have an absolute belief in his
right to ethnic pride. If the entire Pennock Island is a collection
of random gravesites then I would advocate moving the graves
to a sacred site prior to the building of the bridge with a demonstration
for the sanctity of the remains. But the bridge should still
be built. See what a positive compromise we can arrive at when
we dialogue.
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