August 29, 2007
Wednesday

Come on now; let's get realistic here on the Jewelry store petition. Regardless of what anyone thinks, the petition has nothing to do with racism. It has, in my opinion, everything to do with the changes tourism has brought to Ketchikan. People who have lived here a long time, me included, want the old Ketchikan back. I also want to be 21 again, but that isn't likely to happen.

I can remember the assault on the bars downtown because it was thought there were too many of them. They were open too late and let in the kids too young (i.e. age 19 drinking age). Well, people got their wish and now it's jewelry stores people want to limit. It does beg the question, Who is next?

If I were to hazard a guess, the wrong type of business has been targeted. We should have started with the espresso shops that have cropped up everywhere. Why if we outlawed those little babies everyone's nerves would even out and the number of jewelry stores wouldn't matter so much. Who can think straight at that caffeine level?

The best right decision made so far was the Borough Assembly's to start a long range planning effort for the downtown. Hopefully the courage to move that effort forward will remain despite the inevitable stepped on political toes that will complain about it. It is the right thing to do. What about the initiative?

Well, like it or not they have the same right to not want any more jewelry stores as the Chamber's right to defend building more. A person could draw a parallel with Israel and the West Bank but then we get back to the racism thing. Let's just let democracy take its course.

If you want to limit the jewelry stores then vote for it; if you don t want to limit the type of stores then vote against it. If you don't vote then keep quiet. What could be more American?

It is interesting to note that the last time I checked the poll on the matter here on Sitnews, it said that 60% of the people were for the initiative. I remember a very good native friend of mine, once told me that he, wasn't racist, I hate everybody the same! Is that what the poll was telling us, that we hate everyone the same? That makes more sense to me than blaming it on racism.

Now, let's get back to the bridge ..

David Hull
Ketchikan, AK

Received August 28, 2007 - Published August 29, 2007

About: "A longtime resident, speaking for himself and not associated with any group likely to claim me, or not."

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