The Alaskan Example
Contributed by Brett Ahern
Alaska. The last frontier, infused with a pioneering spirit, to coexist with challenging wildlife, exercise some independence, and live fully – no matter the context we come from. We celebrate the landscape of Alaskan weather, where the harsh winter births rejuvenating spring.
We had a challenge thrust on us recently that needs a reminder of the way forward. The city of Palmer serves as a good example for this purpose.
Palmer experienced the struggle from nothing to something. It began as a trading post. It transformed from a mere whistle stop rail-siding to a planned community with modern utilities and community services.
Eleven million dollars from the Federal Emergency Relief Administration was spent to create the town of Palmer and relocate 203 families from the hard-hit Iron Range region of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Upon their arrival they were housed in a city tent during their first Alaskan summer. Each family drew lots for 40-acre tracts and their farming adventure began in earnest. The failure rate was high, but many of their descendants still live in the area and there are still many operating farms in Palmer.
In addition to an agrarian heritage, the colony families brought with them Midwest America's small-town values, institutional structures, and a well-planned city center reminiscent of their old hometowns. Many of the structures built are now in a nationally recognized historic district. Palmer is a gem of values, wisdom, and grit. It shows us we can be united with the powerful forces of nature, living out a rejuvenating spring wisely. This is the Alaskan example we have to offer. This is our heart’s cry!
This is also reflected in the Native communities. Native Alaskans believe that all living things have spirits and are to be revered. They teach us how to be one with our environment. They show us how to be united with the powerful forces of nature. They wisely developed many of the basic medicines that we use daily. They invented numerous tools we relish using. They have reaped the benefits of oneness with nature.
Sadly, in the Middle East we see there is a contrast. Two peoples came out of their difficult histories and chose different paths. Israel is also a last frontier, infused with a pioneering spirit, that can coexist in a challenging wildlife, exercise some independence, and live fully. They have modernized and epitomized revolution, adding quality cutting-edge advances to the world’s life. They are now a Silicon Valley nation. They offered to assist Palestinians to make this transition too and each time it was rejected.
The Palestinians were forged from a variety of nomadic peoples. A group of supposed freedom fighters sang the Pied Piper tune to them, and they believed it. Israel gave them the Gaza territory, forced all the Israeli citizens out and offered to help them form their own national infrastructure. They did an extremely Christian act. The USA also offered this to the Palestinians. They chose not to go this route.
Gaza held one election, selected Hamas, and the violence began to ferment their lives. Many opportunities to cast out Hamas were bypassed – they kept believing the Pied Piper’s tune instead! Their Hamas bondage intensified as time progressed. Annual surveys of Palestinian views regarding their coexistence with Israel show 80% of the people don’t want this now.
Even worse, their terrorist mentors have raised the Palestinian kids to adults, steeped in the wounded-life view. Poisoned by victimhood the Palestinians still see no way out but by Hamas’ violence. Steeped in jealousy, overflowing with self-inflicted wounds, still following terrorisms’ twisted way of life. They are poisoned by the view that now inflicts much of the West too. The illusion that idealist political systems can birth more than totalitarian bondage. Just ask Russians, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodians, and Iranians people their experiences. A stark century of dead dreams abounds.
Palestinians still don’t know that the offers for freedom that they passed up on were genuine. They still don’t know that they could have peace and growth if they try as other nations did, like Japan and Germany after WWII. They still don’t know any people can be a last frontier people, infused with a pioneering spirit, can coexist with a challenging wildlife, exercise some independence, and live fully – no matter the context they come from. That the harsh winter births the perpetually rejuvenating spring. This is life’s cry worth sacrificing for! This is what they can offer their children, as many people have done throughout history. They too can follow the Alaskan example. They too can be Palmer again.