American First, Freezing-Cold Second.

A fine example of what real Americans are. Yeah, they are native American, but that is not exactly what makes them real Americans.

THIS is:

In Alaska's native villages, the punishing winter cold is already penetrating the walls of the lightly insulated plywood homes, many of the villagers are desperately poor, and heating-oil prices are among the highest in the nation.

And yet a few of the small communities want to refuse free heating oil from Venezuela, on the patriotic principle that no foreigner has the right to call their president "the devil."

The heating oil is being offered by the petroleum company controlled by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, President Bush's nemesis. While scores of Alaska's Eskimo and Indian villages say they have no choice but to accept, others would rather suffer.

"As a citizen of this country, you can have your own opinion of our president and our country. But I don't want a foreigner coming in here and bashing us," said Justine Gunderson, administrator for the tribal council in the Aleut village of Nelson Lagoon. "Even though we're in economically dire straits, it was the right choice to make." (CNN)

In the overlapping grey areas of sovereignty, humanitarianism and trade, I think a little pride could go a long way. Crazy-man Hugo should be allowed to help whoever he wants, but we can and should beat him at this game. It's only commonsense to help out our own people before our enemies get the opportunity.

I don't care whether Harlem and Alaska get free and cheap oil through private donations or through socialist handouts. Such cases aren't foundations for domestic economic policy; it's about national security and pride.

Here's the info on the all-American villages:

Village of Nelson Lagoon
Anchorage Agency
Paul Gunderson, President
P.O. Box 13-NLG
Nelson Lagoon, AK 99571
Tel# (907) 989-2204, Fax# 989-2234

Aleut Communtiy of St. Paul Island
Anchorage Agency
Rena J. Kudrin, President
P.O. Box 86
St. Paul Island, AK 99660
Tel# (907) 546-2211, Fax# 546-2407

Village of Atka
Anchorage Agency
Raymond Goldoff, President
P.O. 47030
Atka, AK 99574
Tel# (907) 767-8001

St. George Island
Anchorage Agency
Gilberty G. Kashevarof, President
P.O. Box 940
St. George Island, AK 99660
Tel# (907) 859-2205