As a native (not Native) member of the Sourdough Diaspora, I can't help but prefer AK-2. I think the other choices are not distinct enough to represent Alaska.
- AK-1: "Land of the Midnight Sun" or some variation commonly refers to Siberia and parts of Scandinavia as well as Alaska - and Polar Bears have become more synonymous with Northern Canada. Or is that Binky? No - not a mauled tennis shoe to be found.
- AK-3: Besides the North Star, the grizzly doesn't say anything unique about Alaska - this isn't Montana's quarter after all. Besides, the last grizzly bear notoriety out of AK was the Grizzly Man documentary about nutjob Timothy Treadwell's (and his girlfriend's) grisly and largely avoidable consumption by a starving bear.
- AK-4: I like the Denali image and reference; but although the goldpanner is historically significant, dog mushing portrayed in AK-2 is just as historically resonant with Alaskans and it is still an important element of Alaska's image and life today.
AK-2 features Alaska's 8 Stars of Gold (Yes, I still remember how to sing the State Anthem!), Denali, and dog mushing. And I like how the mushing/Iditarod reference alludes to different regions of Alaska at the same time by tying together Anchorage/South Central to the Bush (interior AK for you Cheechakos) and the Bering Sea/Nome.
AK-2 is also the only one that makes any sort of reference to Alaska's Native heritage, by way of the dog sled team.
So my vote as a native Alaskan and former resident for 16.5 years would be cast for AK-2.
No comments:
Post a Comment