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4A – Daily News – Monday, December 20, 2010 Opinion What do you want for Christmas? 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 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 It’s a simple question that any child will answer without delay but for those that concern them- selves with sustainability, spiritual- ity, and social justice it may take considerably longer to respond due to the implications of any material items and the idealism of altruistic selections like world peace, an end to hunger, abuse, or poverty. Having written columns here for over a year now, my wish- es are best expressed in the sereni- ty prayer made popular by organi- zations like Alcoholics and Nar- cotics Anonymous, to wit: God, grant me the... Serenity to accept things I can- not change, Courage to change the things I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference Patience for the things that take time and Appreciation for all that I have, Tolerance for those with differ- ent struggles Freedom to live beyond the limitations of my past ways, the Ability to feel your love for me and our love for each other and the Strength to get up and try again even when I feel it is hopeless. Foremost to me is the gift of humility, knowing that all I have the power and responsibility to control is me, that is my thoughts, words, and deeds. Anything else I might accomplish comes only if my presence brings about a tem- porarily change in another’s course or a lasting change in their con- sciousness. The Serenity prayer gives me courage to keep writing in spite of dissonance from readers that blame liberal sentiments for destroying our country by beseeching our government to pro- tect the environment and providing basic health, housing, education, and nutritional assistance to those in need. The prayer helps me find peace in the wisdom I can’t always change people’s minds to my lik- ing, the tolerance to seriously con- sider all points of view, and the patience to await any positive out- comes I might affect. Finally, and much to the chagrin of my detrac- tors I am sure, the serenity prayer gives me the strength to keep try- ing to get my "positive point" across. For those that wonder why I tirelessly give voice to the less for- tunate and support progressive tax- ation and compassionate public assistance I can offer only the fol- lowing observations for what they are worth: 1) as the youngest of four gifted siblings I struggled to be on par with them, 2) my favorite childhood hero was Underdog, 3) like many children of the 60’s I came to believe that "all we need is love," 4) while attend- ing high school in Italy I saw America’s richness and potential from afar, and 5) since obtaining a degree in Chemical Engineering I have been inspired to solve an emerging world energy crisis. After much analysis, reflection, and personal soul searching I came to believe that a lasting solution to the crisis involves the three underpinnings of sus- tainability: economics, environment, and social equity. Richard Mazzucchi Positive Point While the study of economics is a largely theoretical exercise, and with the study of the environ- ment is extremely complex and controversial, the pursuit of social equity seems to be the most tractable and critical endeavor to pursue. I believe this to be true because without social equity there will always be distress among the rich and the poor, the educated and the ignorant, the enti- tled and those left out. I do not promote a socialist society as some might believe but suggest that cap- italism must be tempered to ensure fairness in opportunity, assistance for those that struggle to compete, and compassion for the less fortunate among us. To do otherwise is to support a government that aggrandizes the wealthy at the expense of those that don’t also benefit from the bounty of our land and resources. Ours should not be a dog eat dog nation where only the fittest survive. Instead I believe it is everyone’s birthright to live beyond their limitations with opportunities and assis- tance to be healthy and prosperous members of society. This is made possible in our coun- try by progressively taxing those that prosper to provide assistance to those that do not. I hope that what you want for Christmas is that it be merry for everyone and ring in a healthy, prosperous, and joyous New Year for all. Richard Mazzucchi makes his home in Los Molinos. He can be reached at living-green@att.net. 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. God entwined in Christmas and America Commentary The core of Christmas is the birth of the baby Jesus – the inauspicious infant who arrived on Earth to bring hope for eternal life through faith, the inspiration for all that is good and pure about the season. Even the most secular of activities, shared gifts and meals among loved ones and friends, have a warmer sentiment than at other times of the year. The glee of children for presents, and the gratitude of the less for- tunate for the generosity of oth- ers, all raise our spirits, even without religious sentiment. The most important message, the most profound gift of Christ- mas, is the hope represented by Jesus’ birth. Who among us and what people on this earth, no matter their beliefs, do not need and yearn for hope at some time? That which is hoped for is as unique as the challenges con- fronting each individual life, as well as groups and nations. Hope alone solves nothing but can be the first step toward something better, more fulfilling, rewarding or joyful. We can all share in our hope for America’s economy to return to prosperity, which will answer many prayers and hopes among our citizens. Any individual can hope, and if that hope goes beyond this temporal life, then the birth of Christ can have the most sublime of religious meaning. To many people, belief in God is essential to genuine hope for freedom, for an end to hunger, disease, con- flict, war or persecution. Do we actually believe that our own physical birth and death mark the beginning and end of our existence? If so, it is then philos- ophy or some other man-made rules that govern our actions. It’s certainly one’s choice in life: deny God and reject His guidance, gifts, Son and bless- ings. America, however, was not so founded nor historically based. This is the time of year that atheists and deniers or haters of God inexplicably insist on proclaiming that we should all accede to their wishes and scrub God from the season. I wish them failure in that regard, just as I wish failure upon those who campaign to remove God from the civic and political reality of America. Their efforts and beliefs contradict the plain words of our documents and leaders. Americans, being "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights …" as the Declaration of Independence states, can and must agree that "Governments are instituted …" as the Constitution clearly states, to "secure the Blessings of Lib- erty to ourselves and our Poster- ity …" Blessings require One who Blesses, in other words, God. Man does not bless others with anything but the good will and fruits of one’s labor. Indeed, in establishing Thanksgiving, President Lin- coln’s Proclamation referred to "… the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. They (Ameri- ca’s abundance) are the gracious gifts of the Most High God … (for which Lincoln proclaimed) a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who Dwelleth in the Heavens." Not only did Franklin D. Roo- sevelt lead the entire nation in prayer for our brave troops on D- Day in World War II, but "FDR talked pub- licly about God as much as any president. Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Churchill and other leaders delivered public prayers … Nearly every major public building and monument in Washington has at least one reference to God" (David Waters). Article 3 of the Northwest Ordinance stated: "Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good gov- ernment and the happi- ness of mankind …" Article 7 of the Consti- tution refers to "the year of our Lord (1787) …" Eisenhower’s D-Day message sought "the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertak- ing." From James Madison: "We Don Polson The way I see it have staked the future of govern- ment not upon the power of gov- ernment … (but) on the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves according to the ten command- ments of God." From Andrew Jackson: "The Bible is the rock on which our Republic rests." John Adams wrote, "Our Constitu- tion was made only for a moral and religious people." Ulysses S. Grant admonished Americans to "Hold fast to the Bible as the sheet-anchor of your liberties …" Finally, from George Washington: "No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible Thomas Jefferson referred to God in his inauguration address: "And may that Infinite Power which rules the destinies of the universe lead our councils to what is best, and give them a favorable issue for your peace and prosperity." John Quincy Adams: "The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: that it connected in one indissoluble bond civil govern- ment with the principles of Christianity." hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States. … Heaven’s (blessings) can never be expect- ed on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained. … Of all the disposi- tions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable sup- ports … Morality (cannot) be maintained without religion." On my 60th birthday, I wish you all a Merry Christmas. Don Polson has called Red Bluff home since 1988. He can be reached by donplsn@yahoo.com. e-mail at