Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/204570
4A Daily News – Saturday, November 2, 2013 Opinion DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U NTY S I N C E 1 8 8 5 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 letters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All letters must be signed and provide the writer's home street address and home phone number. 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 submitted will be considered for publication. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong community 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 vehicles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its communities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the residents and businesses of Tehama County. 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When Dad's turn came, he employed rural Tennessee common sense. He crouched and advanced on the instructor, with the knife blade tucked against his forearm so he could slash with impunity. With a "deer in the headlights" facial expression, the instructor tried to save face by sputtering, "You dumb old hillbilly! Sit back down! Somebody who knows how to hold a knife come up here and attack me!" So the raw recruit was revealing things that made someone uncomfortable. Alas, even those who put in multiple tours of duty can still be unwelcome. While preparing this column, I asked veteran Terry Lowe of Marshall County, Tennessee (who sent 18 months in a tank in Vietnam and whose father was with Dwight Eisenhower's army all the way from Normandy Beach to Berlin) what he would like to tell my readership for Veterans Day. Although he threw in some colorful details about backroom deals and sniper attacks, the short answer was "Don't ever forget." A simple request, but one we often find hard to carry out. To a large extent, we wish veterans would stay "out of sight, out of mind" and not inconvenience us with reminders of their sacrifice or lessons learned from the school of hard knocks. Veterans Day makes our Nov. 11 mail a day late. It mess- nent word of caution. es up our school curOur leaders are riculum by making us delayed in their treks mention 20th century to the golf course wars while trying to diswhen they have to cuss the Industrial Revdeal with making olution. sure today's military Our budget numberpersonnel have a crunchers must work clear mission and extra hard to deal with sufficient gear, or the benefits the veterans when they have to were promised. justify the geopolitiWhen we want to cal wheeling and watch the heroes on dealing that leaves "The Jerry Springer Danny service people fightShow" or "Real Houseing with one hand wives," the veterans tied behind their want to prattle on about back. some buddy who threw Somehow or another we himself on a live grenade or need to overcome these frustrasome such. When we see veterans living tions, honor the vets 365 days a on the street, it dampens our year and value their input. Even a dumb old hillbilly downtown dinner parties and makes us temporarily feel guilty would know that the nation can't about not exercising our hard- afford to make its valuable human resources sit down and won right to vote. When our military-industrial shut up forever. complex licks its chops at the Danny Tyree welcomes prospects of dropping some bombs and having "boots on the reader e-mail responses at and ground," it's counterproductive tyreetyrades@aol.com for those who've known the hor- visits to his Facebook fan page rors of war to voice an imperti- "Tyree's Tyrades." Tyree Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Dan Logue, 150 Amber Grove Drive, Ste. 154, Chico, CA 95928, 530-895-4217 STATE SENATOR — Jim Nielsen, 2635 Forest Ave., Ste. 110, Chico, CA 95928, (530) 879-7424, senator.nielsen@senate.ca.gov GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 5583160; E-mail: governor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Doug LaMalfa 506 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, 202-2253076. U.S. SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 3930710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224-0454. Commentary Warm autumn thoughts about community This has been an inspiring couple of weeks, with lots of things to think about. We attended the Dairyville Orchard Festival, The Alternatives to Violence Trivia Night, the memorial service for Faith Bennett, a performance of Les Miserables by Chico Regional Theatre, we have been participating in a study of the Old Testament, and most recently we gave out treats for Halloween. These things bring warm feelings and pleasant thoughts. These activities reminded me of community, the many things we have in common that bind us together, that create a web of relationships and needs, and that foster the interdependence that weaves us together, no matter the superficial differences between us individually. It is so easy to dwell on those differences, and much of the rhetoric preached by our "leaders" does just that. I believe it is much more affirming and productive to consider our commonalities, the core of our lives, the dreams of our future, and our individual roles in making this creation a better place for all. I realize this may be idealistic, but without idealism we are lost, without guidance, and often left with simply complaining and venting our frustrations. My mother-inlaw always said we need to bloom where we are planted; she was a wise person. Consider the Dairyville Orchard Festival, a gathering to celebrate the rural nature of our community, to affirm the harvest of hard labor, to gather in that celebration on a field in Dairyville, and to look with pride on the diversity we embrace in our neighbors. There are displays of local pride, vendors with unique talents, clubs and organizations helping to build a better future, nostalgic displays, and lots of people just looking at the displays and enjoying a sunny fall day, sharing its joys. It was particularly enjoyable watching the children walking their new two legged puppets among the crowd. It was a community celebration. During Trivia Night, the major fund raiser for Alternatives to Violence, one victim of domestic violence had the courage to testify to her difficult experiences, to affirm her understanding of her own worth. She asked us all to support her and others who are making new affirmations of their worth as individuals and their desire to contribute to the solution to domestic violence, and to support them during a difficult transition. She was affirming the value of community and the strength a healthy community has to cultivate health and growth. The memorial service for Faith Bennett was attended by a cross section of people from our community, and a large number of her extended family. The service was well organized by Faith, herself, before she passed. A few weeks ago she delivered a mini sermon in our church in which she spoke of each of us being given an assignment in life; that assignment binds us to others to make this world a better place. She challenged each of us to understand what our indi- vidual assignments were and was put down.) We have been studying the work to complete them as part of Exodus and the era building God's commuof Judges in the Old nity. Testament recently. The Chico producThe Hebrews drifted tion of Les Miserables from loyalty to was well done and even grumbling on a reguthough it was not the lar basis as they first time I had seen the make their trek from musical, the haunting Egypt to Canaan lyrics of songs echoed over a 40 year perithough my head for sevod; their rebellion eral days after the actucontinues as they al performance. take their Promised One of the turning Joe Land, but usually points in the story was adverse events and a the protagonist's change leader help them when offered the gift of refocus on their forgiveness. Jean Valassignment, as Faith jean had been in forced labor for many years because he might say. Last night we witnessed parhad stolen bread to feed his family; upon release, of course, it ents reminding their children to was difficult to find any work or be polite while asking "Trick or have any reasonable references; Treat?" It was refreshing to see his record stayed with him. A so many young children on priest let him stay the night, but their best behavior. It is not easy to maintain a Valjean tried to steal silver and gold objects and was caught. focus on community, particuWhen he was brought before larly in difficult times. As the priest to confront his vic- Stephen Covey says, the hightim; the priest forgives him and est form of development is offers a cover story, including interdependence, that is the giving him some more items to understanding that we are all in take. Valjean is thereafter this together and commitment empowered to become a com- to working together to make munity leader and the benefac- this world a good place. As we enter the Holiday Season, let's tor of an orphaned girl. The story of Valjean takes think and act on our commitplace in the middle of a student ment to community. A wise man once said, "One uprising that turns violent, and he works to rescue a young can acquire everything in solirebel leader who marries his tude except character." orphaned charge. The music of Joe Harrop is a retired the revolutionaries is powerful and echoes throughout the educator with more than 30 musical, reminding us of the years of service to the North uniting power of ideas to create State. He can be reached at change. (In this case the revolt DrJoeHarrop@sbcglobal.net. Harrop