Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/13929
4A – Daily News – Wednesday, July 28, 2010 Opinion Bigotry 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 Apparently I missed the arti- cle or editorial related to bigotry, however, I would like to express my concern for the misuse and common improper interchang- ing of bigotry with prejudice and an opinion. We are all prejudice, howev- 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 er, not all of use are bigots. A bigot is unwilling to change their opinion no matter what evi- dence is presented, however, prejudice is how we use past life’s experiences to form an ini- tial opinion of a person, group, event or situation. Prejudice exists in all of us, and is how we form first impres- sions of individual(s), groups or situation(s) and if you are on the receiving end of prejudice, it is probably for reasons of the way you portray yourself — either through dress or expressions of personal behavior. For instance, say you dress with crotch-low, baggy pants you have to hold up or any other “gangsta” style clothing. My prejudice assumption is you were either in prison and proud of being some inmate’s sex-toy, or are aspiring to be to be one — either way, I don’t want you in my community. If you are male or female and walk around town sporting low- quality tattoos and tasteless clothing to match, again you have succeeded in portraying yourself as such. I don’t want you in my community either. Say, you are unbathed, have dreadlocks and sporting hemp related images upon your attired — in my opinion, you have nailed the brain-fried stoner look. If you let your lawn die, weeds get waste high and find it acceptable to park your vehicle running or not) amongst that mess, well, then again you have just reinforced those slothful stereotypes and I don’t want you in my community, either. Now, say your appearance is clean, attire neat and well-fit- ting, your choice of language and grammar befitting of use in grandma’s house. Yes, first impressions would be you are at least portraying yourself as a decent person — a good start for who I want in my community. Point being, I know who I want to live and associate with in my community, so call me prejudice, but not a bigot. Because I know who I want liv- ing in my community and it sure isn’t the human trash I see blow- ing around this once wonderful community or nation. And, that is my bigoted opinion. Freedom of expression is a personal choice and right, so chose wisely, sometimes you only get one chance. Louie Andreini, Red Bluff Common sense Editor: Today two articles in the opinion page addressed lack of common sense. One of my per- sonal objectives, too. This is a dying trait in the world these days. It must be a virus with no known cure. For example, if people want or need to take marijuana, why can't they get a prescription and pick it up at the local pharmacy? Tax it if they must to raise money because our elected offi- cials have squandered so much for programs we could live with- out most likely. No, we have to have a complicated system that will be challenged from here to eternity like so many other sys- tems. What's the latest on the whale ship? We haven't heard a thing for days. Not much is working, I'm begin- ning to think it's true, our president doesn't want the spill to be contained. Several days ago that was the big hope, then nothing. ee her daughter hired, has legal- ly applied for citizenship seven years ago, is in the last stage, but he has to return to Mexico for a year and a half, do paper- work and then he can come back. He loses his job, his fam- ily is in this country, what a mess. Your Turn I recently ordered some beau- ty products. Several items had to be re-formulated for California. Every drug sold has side effects to no end, some eventually are pulled off the market, but those remaining are still dangerous to some degree. No heartworm shots still for dogs. Years ago when I had horses, we briefly had shots for worms but a horse died and that was pulled. Granted, we have to be safe, yet we still buy products from China who continues to use lead, etc. in the candy, milk, dog chews, toys, etc. until they get caught. Why don't we ban all products from China, they know what they are doing. All this fuss about the undoc- umented immigrants. When my son graduated from high school years ago, he couldn't get into a fire fighting job, he wasn't the right color or race. Profiling? Racism? Nothing new as far as I'm concerned. We have to have a passport to go into Mexico now, didn't used to be. My sister told of an employ- The problem is the system, if you can call it that, not his fault. Apparently we want these people to become citizens, why the heck make it so hard. Is it any won- der things are like they are. Who puts together these rules and regulations? Do they have any common sense at all? I was listening to a talk show the other day, the host went state by state and concluded that if we didn't have all the expens- es of the undocumented immi- grants, every state mentioned would be in the black, including California. The nuts running this state and our country would rather see our citizens homeless and starving to save people who don't belong here. The sad truth is Mexico and other countries are so controlled by evil, they don't have any choice but to escape to America. What's the answer? I have no idea. Simplicity is another dying trait. I think we need to re- group, simplify our laws and enforce them. Where did the law come into play that if a baby is born here from an undocument- ed woman, that baby is a U.S. citizen. Talk about a drawing card? The only word that comes to mind is, duh. Bernice Cressy, Cottonwood Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 4164 P.O. Box 942849, Sacramento 94249; (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319- 2102 STATE SENATOR — Sam Aanestad (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 2054, Sacramen- to, 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. How to mooch off your parents in a down economy Commentary I can't really blame them, if you want to know the truth. I speak of the latest down- economy trend: More 20-some- things are moving back home with Mom and Dad -- and happi- ly accepting financial assistance. So pronounced is the trend -- some 41 percent of parents are giving their 20-somethings some 10 percent of their com- bined income -- that Parade magazine published six tips on how to "help grown children without going broke." Which prompts me to offer 20-somethings tips on how to take advantage of a good situa- tion. Look, 20-somethings, it's only partly your fault that the economy is still a mess -- most of you voted for you know who -- but it isn't your fault that you lack the skills to deal with it. Your generation has been coddled like no other generation before it -- never has any gener- ation been given so much for doing so little -- and that is your parents' fault. It's payback time. Parade suggests your parents charge you at least a token rent. Mom and Dad will likely assume that you'll offer a stipend of some kind. Don't. Your father will complain to your mother -- eventually they'll get into loud arguments over the matter -- but if you hold steady, you'll likely keep living at home for free. To that end, it will help to gripe loudly about your college loan bills. Mom and Dad will feel guilty that they were unable to pay for all your college costs -- further ensuring that Mom won't let Dad ask you for rent. Complaining about the food is also helpful. No matter how good Mom and Dad's cooking is -- and it surely is better than the grub you prepare for yourself -- point out its shortcomings. In the unlikely event that the sub- ject of rent does come up, you can use this as a bargaining chip. That brings us to your social life. It would be foolish to con- tinue running up your credit cards at nightclubs when Dad's liquor cabinet is full. Have your friends over. Mix your own drinks. This is sure to agitate Dad further -- he and Mom will be arguing regularly by now -- and cause him to mark the level in his liquor bottles with Scotch tape. Simply adjust the tape as you drain Dad's bottles. Another important tip is earplugs. As you sleep off your hangovers late Satur- day mornings, Dad will bang the lawn- mower against the bricks under your win- dow, figuring the least you can do is cut the grass. Foam plugs offer the best Dad-noise- blocking capability. I know some people will complain that I am encouraging you to mooch off your par- ents. Some will argue that everyone, includ- ing 20-somethings, must carry their own load if our country is to thrive. Nuts to that. The reason we got into our economic mess — one reason it persists — is because, like dependent children, so many have come to expect somebody else to bear the consequences of their poor decisions, irresponsi- ble behavior, failure to plan and demands for instant, unearned gratification. The Wall Street boys made risky decisions and the taxpay- ers bailed them out. States that overspent during the good times want the federal government to bail them out during the bad times. Tom Purcell Our federal gov- ernment is spending billions more than it is taking in and expects future taxpayers to bail it out. Since few adults appear to be interested in carrying their own load, who can criti- cize 20-somethings who are moving home to mooch off Mom and Dad? A great recession like ours comes along once in a lifetime. Don't let it pass without free drinks from Dad's liquor cabi- net. Tom Purcell, a humor columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, is nationally syndicated exclusively by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate. Visit Tom on the Web at www.TomPurcell.com or e-mail him at Purcell@caglecartoons.com. ———