Dear Senator Murkowski, 

Please rescind your endorsement of Don Young for the U.S. House of Representatives. By endorsing Mr. Young, you condone his intolerant behavior and diminish the traits you bring to the U.S. Senate: dignity, tolerance, and compassion. 

Don Young’s recent hateful speech proves he is no longer competent to represent us and is out of touch with Alaskans. Through his actions and words, Representative Young belittles and bullies anyone who does not share his viewpoints—viewpoints grounded in bias, disrespect, and insensitivity. 

In the past days, Mr. Young has insulted an entire generation of Alaskans with his archaic, inappropriate, and mean statements to students at Wasilla West High School. By belittling and blaming children, students and staff still grieving a classmate's recent suicide, he underlines his inability to understand issues we face today. Lest his insensitivity be limited to a single demographic, using inappropriate language he went on to target teachers- and later public benefits- for suicide, as well. After yet another qualified "apology" from his staff, he unapologetically re-emphasized his previous day's comments at the Palmer Senior Center. Mr Young's ignorance of some of the most important issues facing Alaskan's today shows how completely out of touch he is with us.

These are not isolated incidents. Rather, Mr Young displays a decades-long pattern of entitled behavior where ethics violations, racist comments about Latino-Americans, homophobic comments ("You can't have marriage with two men. What do you get with two bulls?"), assaulting congressional staffers, threats to opponents, and bullying of our future generation are all on full display.

There was a time when Alaskans would look the other way, excusing Mr. Young's behavior as "colorful" and "forthright." However, in today's society Alaskans see his actions for what they are: ignorant and intolerant. 

Mr Young's viewpoints- and his time in Congress- belong in the history books.

Your recent reelection demonstrated that broad support of centrist, independent, and open-minded voters will lead Alaska into the future, yet Mr. Young insults and alienates those very voters. Please display the qualities you bring to the U.S. Senate- vision, compassion, and resolve- and immediately rescind your endorsement of Don Young.

With respect,

Emerson Eads