Viewpoints
Buttinskies
By Neil Gray
July 30, 2007
Monday PM
At the risk of being called a buttinsky, I'll take the perogative
to butt in.
We of course are all entitled to our own opinions. Be they based
on fact, or fiction, or emotion. While I differ in opinion
from Don Hoff Jr. quite often, I still respect his right to do
what's called "butt in." He lived in Ketchikan, was
a Ketchikan City Council member, and I'm sure still feels very
close to the First City. Besides, his letters make for entertaining
reading and responses.
So, here's where I butt in. I moved to Ketchikan (the first
time) in 1971. And belive it nor not, it seems there was a bridge
discussion going on then as well. So, some 36 years later it's
still the local buzz, and has made it to the national news level
several times. It's sort like the Tongass National Forest issues
in the 70's where most of the facts and information got blown
out of shape and context by writers and reporters who really
DIDN'T research and know the facts. My standing solution to
the whole discussion:
1) Build the bridge
2) Or don't build the bridge
Then everybody can get on to some other major problem.
P.S. To the lady in Missouri
who feels Ketchikan is a tourist trap and won't visit, etc.
My response would be, fine, just make travel plans to go some
place else. There'll be somebody else to take your seat on that
plane, cruise ship, or state ferry. In case you didn't know
it, Ketchikan is a city trying to survive after economic woes
of the fishing and timber industries. Give them credit for trying
to stay alive.
Leavenworth, Washington is another example. Oh yeah, I guess
it could be considered a tourist trap too, as could Solvang,
CA, Grand Canyon National Park, Yellowstone, etc. So, to you
in Missouri, if you don't visit Ketchikan or Alaska, you are
missing an experience you'll never forget and will talk about
positively the rest of your life. We raised three sons in Ketchikan,
and have no regrets...
G-Day!!
Neil Gray
Lakeside, CA
Received July 28, 2007 - Published July 30, 2007
About: Former 20 year resident
of my "second home town", Ketchikan
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