Letter I submitted to the ADN on Don(think they'll publish it?)

[Ken Burch]

With his insensitive and offensive comments about suicide to the grieving high school students in Wasilla, and with his disrespectful and physically violent(squeezing her hand until it hurt)response to Native elder Gloria Poullard at this week's AFN convention when she confronted him on those insensitive remarks(remarks he still refuses to admit were simply wrong-falling back, once again, on the meaningless "I'm sorry if offense was taken" non-apology apology), Congressman Don Young has, once and for all, morally disqualified himself from electoral office or further public service in any form.

Suicide is not caused by government spending, or by, "permissiveness", or by families who didn't "try hard enough" to save the person who chose to commit it. Suicide is caused by a person becoming overwhelmed by the pain of life. We've always had it in Alaska, and it has always occurred in all other societies, regardless of politics, ideology, family values or "effort". And no one, even a twenty-some term congressman, is ever entitled to lecture grieving families and friends about what they did and didn't do before the person they loved chose to end her or his life.

Congressman Young should withdraw from his race for re-election and resign his seat immediately.

If he will not do that, he needs to be removed from office at the polls this November 4th.

He's no longer "folksy". He's no longer "crusty". Congressman Young is now nothing more than a spiteful life-hating relic. His time is past. He must go. Alaska deserves better than this.

[bravenak]

1. Yes.

I think they will publish it. It sums up how many of us are feeling about the man right now. Many of us have been left behind by friends and family who have taken their own lives. Who is he to put that extra level of grief upon our children? What right has he to spread his message of blame and shame? I also felt anger at the way he gripped that woman's hand so tightly that she had to let him know he was hurting her. His abusive nature is obvious now. Time to retire. Time for a new day. Good bye Don Young. I hope to never drive by his office in midtown ever again.

[Warpy]

2. Demented Don's performance at the high school

might be the thing that finally gets rid of him. Oh, it wasn't just his insensitivity to kids grieving over a fellow student's suicide, he also talked about bull sex and every picklefaced conservative knows that if you mention sex to a teenager, s/he will run out and do it.

[Blue_In_AK]

3. Yes, they'll publish it if they have room.

They've been publishing several anti-Young letters a day for several days. It wouldn't surprise me if they endorse Forrest. Endorsing Don Young is just too embarrassing these days. I bet the unions wish they could take back their endorsement.

[Ken Burch]

4. They ran it today.

Hope it has at least some impact.