After a recent, negative encounter with two men from Outside, I began to reflect on the values of the men of our valley.

I have never once, when faced with an emergency, lacked help for my family. The men in Haines are just made like that. I have never once been called the B-word or heard any local men refer to any woman in such a manner. Such a man is a worm.

I have never had a disagreement with a man in this community and been afraid. A man that would use his body to frighten a woman is a gorilla. Gorilla and worms hang together.

I have never had a man of this valley put rough hands on me. A woman is no match physically against a man. That’s just a fact. Men that exhibit such behaviors are men without honor and men that stand aside and allow such conduct are cowards.

In short, I would like to thank you gentlemen for your decency and to thank the women of this community who have raised up such men.

Anney Shuder