Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/21513
6A – Daily News – Thursday, December 16, 2010 Opinion Disappointed Editor: D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 I am disappointed in the lead story on the front of the Red Bluff Daily News this morning. Do you have to dig so deep for stories that they are as low as six feet under? Thank you for sharing Red Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer’s home street address and home phone num- ber. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong com- munity newspaper is essential to a strong community, creating citizens who are better informed and more involved. The Daily News will be the indispensible guide to life and living in Tehama County. We will be the premier provider of local news, information and advertising through our daily newspaper, online edition and other print and Internet vehi- cles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its com- munities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the resi- dents and businesses of Tehama County. How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 Bluff morgue’s new suction device that can accommodate up to six people. That is just the kind of story I like to start my day with during the holiday season. It you are really digging for stories maybe look on the bright side. There are plenty of great sto- ries out there, maybe you need to dig a little deeper above ground. Joni Samay, Red Bluff Letters Editor: Your two letters from Larry (Gray) and Orval (Strong) were both downers. Larry dislikes Republicans and Orval seems to dislike everything American. Larry, if you'll wait you can see the new majority — Republicans — take over the House next month. For Orval, it seems like everything is bad except for whatever he thinks is right. You can throw out all the fig- ures you want, since most of us don't care to follow your reason- ing, but if you're going to write, why not pick something we're interested in. Maybe even some- thing to make us smile. Don Perry, Corning Ringing the bell Editor: Just wanted to let some peo- ple know about a great tradition my daughter and I have started by ringing the Salvation Army bell on Christmas Eve. We've been doing this for five years now and each year it becomes more rewarding and something I know she and I will both always remember. So if you're looking for something to bring the Christ- mas joy back and help people too, try the bell. John Hacker, Red Bluff Christmas spirit Editor: I would like to commend the parents and the children who I met the past two weeks ringing bells for the Salvation Army. It exemplifies that these parents understand the importance of embodying the spirit of Christ- mas in their lives and passing it on to their children. That is what the Christmas season is all about. Merry Christmas to you parents and to your children. Peachey Harrop, Red Bluff Thanks Editor: A special thank you to every- one who has purchased new toys from the children’s Angel Tree wish lists. With community support we hope to provide about 600 chil- dren with a new toy for Christ- mas. So far we have toys for about 195 children. On Angel Tree wish lists, some of the children may have asked for a new bike or other expensive item. How- ever, it is up to the shopper’s discretion as to which kind of toy they purchase for the child and whatever the donor decides to give will be appreciated. Thank you, Tehama County, for your support in providing about 600 children with a new toy for Christmas. To sign up to ring the bell for Your Turn down the road, if you prefer. The current debt has resulted in a per capita debt of $44,747.77, as of Dec. 10. That is not just for the wage earners in the country, but for all the children and succeeding generations of those earners. Until the national budget is balanced, that debt will continue to grow. Once the bud- get is balanced, the debt will remain the same from that date until there is an annual surplus of income over outgo. The growth changes in debt the Salvation Army, call 527- 8530 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and ask for Crystal. Contributions may be sent to: The Salvation Army, PO Box 935, Red Bluff, 96080 or on line at www.redbluffsalarmy.org. Major Frank Severs, Red Bluff Civil response Editor: I don't doubt that there are those who disagree with my comments. I would appreciate a rational rebut- tal to what I contend to be the issues, and the conclusions I offer. Today, another consideration. Cutting taxes today does not remove them from the national debt calculations, it simply post- pones the taxes to future years, or future generations — kicks the can have been the greatest under the most recent three Republican administrations. The debt change under Reagan was an increase of 166%, Bush I, 49.2%, Bush II, 75.2%. The worst under a Democ- rat was under the Carter adminis- tration, with a growth of 36.6%. No administration has succeeded in a true cut in the debt. It is simple to prove that cut- ting, or even eliminating, 90% of spending would never reduce the steady growth of indebtedness, and result in a surplus. It is past the time that politicians should stop constantly arguing the merits of a balanced budget, and begin to seri- ously consider the future of our coming generations. The idea that tax cuts, introduced by any admin- istration, has saved the economy is a myth — unless you consider that an indebtedness of a family of four amounting to $178,992, and con- tinually growing, is a great gift to you and yours. Some savings. Some gift. Hugh Merhoff , Red Bluff Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR — Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3063 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2635 Forest Ave. Ste. 100, Chico, CA 95928; 893-8363. U.S.SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Freedom of deplorable speech Commentary Pastor Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church con- gregation - also known as the "God Hates Fags" picketers - have no place in a polite society. But we don’t live in a polite society. We live in this one. And in this one we are guaranteed the freedom of speech. If you’re for free speech, which I am, you’re proclaiming you can be offended and be rea- sonably okay with it. Freedom of speech isn’t just saying what you want to say, it’s also letting other people say heinous and indefensible things and accept- ing the government’s inaction on the issue. The Bill of Rights deals with the relationship you have between you and your govern- ment. It doesn’t mean that I can’t tell you to shut up. It also doesn’t mean that people like "n-word" aficionado Dr. Laura Schlessinger is "losing her First Amendment rights" by being boycotted. It means she is so distasteful that corporations don’t want to endorse her speech by giving her advertising money. She still has the right to say it – it’s the wide broadcast and corporate sponsorship she mis- takenly thinks is her constitu- tional right. It’s the reason she quit her job as a syndicated radio host to go to Sirius XM…to be a satellite radio host. Makes sense. The Westboro Baptist Church came on the national scene by picketing Matthew Shepard’s funeral. Shepard was a 21-year-old student in Wyoming, who in 1998 was tor- tured and beaten to death because he was gay. The church showed up to point out the vic- tim was a "sinner." At the time it reminded me of the bloodthirsty demonstrators outside prisons during an execu- tion, but this wasn’t a convict – Shepard’s only "crime" was being a gay kid in a small town. After that, capitalizing on a tragedy to make a religious point became a theme for Pastor Phelps and his small church. Soon they started picketing soldiers’ funerals, claiming our men and women in uniform die because our country tolerates homosexuality. The church sees this as their mission: tell us we’re going to hell. And to thwart any labeling by the media – the description they provide on their website reads, "Site of anti-homosexual propa- gandist Fred Phelps of Topeka, Kansas." What they do is hideous. But lots of hideous things are done in the name of religion: shelter- ing child rapists; advocating violence against women; not helping the poor. And becoming wealthy by preaching the gospel of an insolvent prophet is…well, not exactly practicing what He preached. Every time I hear blowhards claim this is a Christian nation – I just point out the poverty rate is 14.3 percent. Christian nation? No, we’re not. Anyway, in 2007 Louis Theroux of the BBC made the docu- mentary, "The Most Hated Family in America." He fol- lowed the Phelps con- gregation, which is mostly his own large family. It’s a fascinat- Anything we as a country deem sacrosanct and beyond contro- versy — there’s Westboro Bap- tist protest signs reading "Thank God for AIDS." Tina Dupuy ing look inside this icon of intolerance, daughter Shirley Phelps-Roper explained that what they scream on the street corner is done out of love. Informing people they’re going to hell for their sins and for tol- erating others’ sins is…loving. That’s how they see what they do. They think they’re spreading the word and all of us are over-sensitive and in denial about our impending perpetuity in hell. It’s almost street theater the way our sacred cows are made into creamed chipped beef casserole right in front of us. Which is why last week the group showed up at Elizabeth Edwards’ funeral. Why? I’ll paraphrase: It was because she did- n’t repent enough. There are plenty who think they are against political cor- rectness until faced with a Fred Phelps God Hates Parade at the gravesite of a marine who died from an IED. Then there’s a PC pause. Yes, it angers us. What they do is disgusting. Which is why the Supreme Court is going to decide a case brought against the church by a family of a sol- dier who died in combat. But popular speech doesn’t need protection. Nor does popu- lar religious belief. Seeing the Westboro Baptist Church protesting is (at the very, very least) a sign of our freedom. Tina Dupuy is an award- winning writer and fill-in host at The Young Turks. Tina can be reached at tinadupuy@yahoo.com.