Alaska Day Means We Are American, Not Russian.

Until October 18, 1867 when Alaskans looked out any window they all saw Russia. Maybe that’s what confused the Crazy Man Running for Senate and his thugs who handcuffed my friend Tony yesterday for asking him a question. Anyway, today we celebrate where our connection to the nation all began, the official transfer of the Alaska territory from the Russians to the U.S.A. At the time, Secretary of State William Seward was teased for paying 7.2 million dollars for all of Alaska– from Hyder to Barrow.  The holiday means that Alaska is America, not Russia, and has been for a long time.  American politicians don’t have armed, private police forces or the freedom to have them take down  reporters who ask questions at campaign events in public schools. Historian Norm Smith Sr.  (my brother-in-law’s father) says that the stars and stripes were flown in Haines first– at the now gone village of Chilkat where my house is, on October 17, 1867, by mistake. Local officials thought the Sitka ceremony had already happened. If  it wasn’t raining so hard I’d fly an American flag and an Alaskan flag today to remind us all where we live and what that means.(Click here for the latest on the reporter’s  handcuffing.)