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6A – Daily News – Saturday, November 20, 2010 Opinion 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 Tragedies a wake up call for holiday season 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 I just returned after four weeks in Egypt and Jordan, a trip we booked over one year ago. There were seven of us from Red Bluff for most of the time, and we were all awed by what we saw and experienced. Prior to the trip, our Red Bluff group met regularly to view a DVD series on ancient Egypt, and we felt prepared for wading through 6,000 years of history. Nevertheless, we all experienced some apprehension as we antici- pated our journey to the modern Middle East. We knew a little of ancient history, but like most Americans we were unsure about contemporary events and the people we would meet. It was the election season in both countries, and while their poli- tics are more controlled than ours, we recognized there were some political tensions that might impact our travels. On our second day in Cairo we visited the Museum of Antiquities; the museum was filled with artifacts that dated from preliterate times through the Greek-Roman Era; it was also filled with people and the noise that comes from crowds. Many exhibits were covered with dust, and the signage was poorly placed and not compre- hensive. Nevertheless, we left the museum with a sense of the majesty and grandeur that was Egypt for almost 3,000 years. When we walk the streets of Red Bluff we think of our less than 200 years of history and we consider how our population and economy has changed over that time. It is almost incomprehen- sible to consider a country that Highway 99 has been the scene of several fatal collisions in recent weeks, but perhaps the most horrifying came a week ago Sunday when four people were killed in collisions alleged- ly due to drivers under the influ- ence. Rogelio Herrera, 29, Sarai Alvarez, 31, and Alvarez’s son Cristian Zaizar, 7, were killed as the result of a collision with a vehicle driven by 25-year-old Robert Barnes of Corning. Cris- tian’s 6-year-old brother Emanuel Zaizar Alvarez remained in critical condition at last report. Barnes was arraigned Wednesday on three charges of murder, three counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated with two prior con- victions and one count of dri- ving under the influence caus- ing injury. He and his two pas- sengers received minor to mod- erate injuries. A few hours later, Caltrans worker Gary Wayne Smith, 57, was directing traffic around the crash scene when he was struck and killed by a vehicle driven by Russell Hodge, 45, of Corning. Hodge, on probation for a drunken driving conviction with priors, appeared Wednesday on charges of murder and gross vehicular manslaughter with three priors. This needless loss of life and, for the surviving child, family is heartbreaking and a solid argu- ment for stricter punishment for repeat offenders. Hodge and Barnes face life prison terms if found guilty — they have run out of second chances. It is upsetting, though, that four innocent peo- ple had to lose their lives in order for that message to be delivered. These tragedies carry a lesson that we should all know by now: Drinking and dri- ving kills. We all see the sta- tistics and even hear stories of similar inci- dents throughout the state and nation. But when lightning strikes twice in our own back yard, it is hard to ignore. As we head into the holiday season in the weeks ahead, many of us will be attending parties and family gatherings where alcohol will be served. As you leave these events insist that whomever gets behind the wheel, no matter how short the drive, is sober. If you are the driver and you Editorial What do you think? Let us know have had a few drinks, stop to think about two men in Corning who, if convicted, are staring at a lifetime inside prison walls thanks to a lapse in judgment. It could as easily be you once you turn the key. If that’s doesn’t do it, tape a picture of your children or spouse or mother or father to your dashboard. Look into their eyes and imagine for a second what your life would be like if they were killed by an impaired driver. That driver could as eas- ily be you once you turn the key. Plan ahead, impose on hosts by staying the night or call a taxi cab or sober friend to get you home safely. Tehama County doesn’t need another night like Nov. 14. 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. Berkas and ball caps Commentary can trace its roots back more than 5,000 years. The most recent abrupt change for Egypt was the deposition of King Farouk, the great grandson of Mohammed Ali who kicked out the French and the Turks and took control in 1806. Our guide described their current govern- ment as a “revolutionary democ- ratic police state.” In Egypt the party in power since 1952 deter- mines who can run as an oppo- nent. In fact, police were every- where. Tourist Police are very common. They are armed, but not dangerous. Once when we were walking through a market- place in Rosetta there were 19 of us tourists and eight security police. When we were on our bus there was always an armed guard in the front seat; he car- ried an ill concealed hand gun. On a couple of occasions we actually had an armed escort for our bus—jeeps filled with sleepy looking guards. I almost got a picture of such a guard asleep on his chair in front of a tourist site, rifle on his lap, but I thought the better of it. We were told the security force was necessary but not needed…it was sort of a make- work program, in part instituted to calm tourist angst caused by the fatal shootings in November 1997 by an extremist group at the Temple of Hatshepsut. While driving near the Presi- dent’ s palace in Cairo we saw several men dressed in dark suits and ties, hands folded in front of them, earpieces in place, look- ing up and down the street. The men were placed about every 200 feet on both sides of the boulevard and in the center divider; they were the Egyptian equivalent to the Secret Service and were securing the route the President was going to be taking. As I mentioned above, we were unsure what the people of Egypt would be like. It turns out they are a lot like us. People on the street would greet us with a smile and “wel- come to Egypt”; we were greeted by young children and toothless old men. Tourism is an important part of the Egyptian economy, and the people have surely been reminded of that; however, you cannot remind them to be spontaneously friendly. That comes from the heart. When we see the news we are exposed to brief glimpses of stereotypical situations in the Middle East…men with beards, women covered up, violence, and denouncements of the west. Beards are not common in Egypt; many women wear scarves, and some wear veils or even full berkas; women wear berkas with long pants, even tight fitting ones. Many women dress as they would for work in our country. One fully covered woman, with a small slit in her berka engaged us in a very amiable conversation about America, telling us about her own children and their aspirations, and thank- ing us for stopping to talk. We visited the home of a retired police general and this family. The adult daughters spoke flawless English and did not wear a scarf. We saw a lot of Joe Harrop poverty, and in Cairo we realized that nobody picked up after themselves. Garbage was everywhere. One of our traveling com- panions was an air quality engineer, and he pointed out the strong smell of smoke each morning was from garbage burning throughout the city. We were told the Mus- lim Brotherhood was actively trying to recruit members, trying to trig- ger a revolt. My guess is that the relatively growing status of women in Egypt, the education system, and a growing economy will blunt their efforts. While in the Museum of Antiquities I noticed a young woman near the Narmer Stele, which dates from 3100 BC. This artifact is the oldest existing example of hieroglyphs. There, next to this ancient object was a modern Muslim woman, fully covered with a black berka and a black gown down to her feet. There was only a small slit in the berka for her eyes. On her head was a baseball cap. So much for stereotypes. Joe Harrop is a retired educator with more than 30 years of service to the North State. He can be reached at DrJoeHarrop@sbcglobal.net.