A question about Alaska

[TheYellowDog]

My friend lives in Alaska, and we were talking today, and he was telling me about how the racism is incredibly thick there. My friend is native american, and he told me how native americans there are afraid to even leave their house for fear of being beaten up by skinheads. He says that native americans are a very tiny minority there now and that the place is crawling with Republican Texans. He told me that 6 of their native american women were killed in 2001. Is anyone here from Alaska who can expound on this?

[TheYellowDog]

1. He also told me that in

2001, a group of kids went and paintballed the homeless native population near him, and that the kids saying that they were looking for "Monkeys". :( I seriously am so pissed off at this shit.

[Brian Sweat]

2. Alaska used to be a Democratic state.

Did a lot of Alaskans turn into Republicans or did a lot of Republicans turn into Alaskans?

[TheYellowDog]

3. Alaska has gone Democratic in every presidential race

since 1964, so I don't know if Alaska was ever a REALLY Democratic state. Granted, I can think of maybe One democratic senator they have had there.

[ButterflyBlood]

9. to my knowledge they have only had one Democratic senator in history

who only lasted one term (even though we have a good shot picking up Murkowski's seat there next year). I don't think the state was quite as solidly Republican until recentely though.

[TheYellowDog]

4. kick

:kick:

[Yupster]

5. Texan here

Friend of mine -- Mexican - American woman was transferred to Alaska as an oil worker. She loves it. Hasn't ever mentioned racism, but she's the kind of person that is friends with everyone.

I would imagine that Alaska has become more Republican from the transfers of oil workers.

[TheYellowDog]

6. Ok

Thanks for the info

[RichV]

7. Likely

Probably a lot of energy, logging, and military up there who have shifted the political dynamic toward the GOP.

[Character Assassin]

8. Not exactly a 'very tiny minority'

http://www.nnlm.gov/pnr/characteristics/alaska.html

The second largest population demographic in AK: 15.6% in a population of 627,000

[bigtree]

11. oil

[Character Assassin]

14. Yes, by weight and volume, there is more oil than natives in AK

Very glad we could clear that up.

[Bandit]

10. Well in the first place you swing a mighty broad brush

Alaska is a very large state. You can put one part in New York and another in California. Your statement is akin to saying the USA is a very rascist country. While this may be true there are many millions who may disagree. Alaska has been on the Republican side for a very long time. All three of it's congressional representatives are GOP and they have been in office for decades. It has gone Republican in the last five Presidential elections at least. As far as skinheads making it impossible for Natives to go out is just ridiculous on it's face. Alaska has quite the Native population and they do quite well. Your friend reads too many comic books I'm afraid.

[maxsolomon]

12. alaska is filled with hypocrites

rugged individualists.

yet

they all cash their oil royalty checks.

[Bandit]

13. Ignorance is Bliss

To be a little more blunt, You don't know what the fu*k you are talking about. There is no oil royalty check. There are dividends from the Permanent Fund which had it's origination in Oil royalties but no longer is based on oil. It is based on Investment Dividends. It is a bank account of twenty four billion dollars and the interest income and proceeds from investments from that account is what makes up the dividend checks each Alaskan receives.

[roguevalley]

16. I live in Soldotna, a small town on the Kenai Peninsula.

I haven't seen such things. Your friend sounds a bit hysterical. The
paintball thing was INCREDIBLY painful for everyone in this state and
the reprecussions to the offenders and the attempt to understand and change things was huge here. We are not perfect but we try harder than a lot of places I think to figure out what to do better.

We take in everyone and a lot of different types come here: losers from all walks of life, adventurers, outdoorsy types, oil field 'trash', normal people, all kinds. Of course, they bring their baggage but Alaska in INCREDIBLY forgiving. You could be Ted Bundy's brother and no one will hate you for it unless you act like him. You come here to make your last stand sometimes. A lot of people come here to work because they can't work in their home states. I did. Thank you, Richard Nixon.

The permanent fund is a dividend source of income that the state gives to the shareholders/residents. It makes the difference for a lot of people in living like crap and living decently. I realize that is a begrudge thing for some states to know about but we live here and its ours. We pay for it in long winters, -40 temps and isolation. Living here is like living on Mars. If they need colonists, take Alaskans. We have to drive through an entire country to even reach the Lower 48 states. :)

The Natives are a big part of the life here and it hasn't always been pretty but this is hard to accept, what your friend said. The murders happened. Native women are more likely to be hurt than white but then that is true of Native women and men EVERYWHERE in America. Check stats in the southwest.

Alaska is a fascinating, contradictory, incredibly modern/outstandingly primative and diverse place. We have a different breed of cat here, the kind of person who doesn't always fit in elsewhere and you are welcomed until you prove yourself unwelcome. Its like a lot of other places and like no place at all.
Its more unforgiving if you make mistakes, the environment is very hard on fools, but you can remake yourself here if you want to.

Your friend has interesting views but they don't match my experience.
Alaska is a hoot, a trip, an experience, a work in progress and a refuge to more kinds of people than most places. In short, for all its uniqueness, its a lot like every place else.

RV, who was born in CALIFORNIA, raised in OREGON and lives in ALASKA

[Bandit]

19. I think your post was for someone else

I live in Juneau so I know what you say is true.

[maxsolomon]

27. so i don't know what its called PRECISELY

sue me.

the point is still valid.

its a bribe.

[WhoDoYouTrust]

15. Hi, YellowDog

In Anchorage there is terrible racism towards the native population. All that you have heard about the murders and paint ball incidents is true. I live in a small town south of Anchorage. We have quite a few natives here and I love them! I don't see the prejudice here.

It is true that we have lots of Repug Texans up here, but I don't think you can put the blame on that. I found an old Clinton/Gore sign and put it in my front window. Wish me luck! I live in a very Repug area.

The Repugs have pretty much taken over the state, politically, but listening to the local "Sound Off" program, I think they will be taken over by the good guys in the next election. Murkowski has taken away the seniors longevity program, raised taxes, is looking at taking our permanent fund money, and appointed his daughter as senator, which doesn't set too well with the people I listen to.

[roguevalley]

17. I agree.

I would imagine it depends upon where you live here what you see.
As for Anchorage, I don't live there but I've been there a lot and haven't seen the racism that others might. A lot of natives do the 'fourth street experience', ie, they do the drinking and living rough bit. I remember a kid once saying that it was like a right of passage for many native kids. That made me sick to hear.

Those poor souls get a lot of hell I am sure. But the overt hide in your house stuff? I've never seen it. Maybe others might have and they can speak to it but it sounds so extreme, it wouldn't stand scrutiny. We tend to self-flagellate up here. :)

[roguevalley]

18. my niece, a sort of apathetic little gal, calls him Murtaxki

its what is his common name at the university. :)

I think Knowles has a good shot. I would love to see the cone heads go.

[maxanne]

20. roguevalley

Soldotna is absolutely lovely. The Kenai Peninsula is the most beautiful place I've ever been. *sighs*

I loved Alaska - almost moved there. Some days I have deep regret that I didn't.

[roguevalley]

21. sweetie,

we'll leave the light on for ya. :)

Tom Bodett lives in Homer, just down the road. I know what you mean about beautiful. I was driving down from Anchorage the other day and a black bear was fishing along the edge of a little lake near Cooper Landing. I remember thinking, wonderful place, this.

I think just about everyone has the idea of coming here and a lot of people stay. I welcome them. Immigration is good. :)

As a dedicated Ory-go-neun <Just for those who call it Ory-gone... shudder!> this is the next best place. :) <Plug for Oregon, what done right by me until phase IV> :)

Hugs and come back. We miss ya.

RV

[maxanne]

24. thanks, roguevalley

If NH didn't need it's few liberals so badly, I'd be packing my car right now!! ;-)

[Grins]

22. Call Grover Norquist!

"...Murkowski has RAISED taxes,..." Huh?

A republican governor raised taxes! I wonder if Grover knows about this? Will he go after Murkowski like he is going after Alabama Governor Riley in his attempt to chage the state constitution so he can raise taxes? Anybody know if the Gov took any heat for this "treason"? Inquiring minds want to know.

[roguevalley]

23. the only heat I can detect is from the electorate.

RoveCo. is too busy taking heat over everything else, including the Klamath Basin.

[Clete]

25. Wow, things have changed since I was there in 1968.

Of course that was before they brought in all the Texans and other outsiders to work on the pipe line. The one thing that impressed me was how open the society was between whites, Native Americans and blacks. Many of the whites were married to native Americans. The blacks owned businesses and lived in the same neighborhoods as everyone else. They had originally been sent there in the military and stayed after to make their way because of the tolerance, which wasn't that way in the lower forty eight.

People were really like the Alaskans in "North Exposure", quirky but all living together equally. I'm sorry to hear that our stupid hatred from the lower forty-eight has been imported.

[Bandit]

26. Not all that much has changed

Mostly in Anchorage is this even close to true and Big Cities are all very similar. In the bush things are still quite a lot like you describe. :-)