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6A Daily News – Friday, January 10, 2014 Opinion Bullying and violence 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. 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 Why does it go that we have so much bullying and violence in our schools? Who is to blame? What is the cause and how do we fix this? I don't have all the facts just yet I'll admit, but I did hear that a student in one of our schools was recently beaten up because this student turned in some students who were passing some marijuana brownies around at the school. I also understand that this student belongs to a youth organization that teaches those who are threatened, bullied and beaten up are not to fight back or defend themselves. They'll get in trouble if they do. Is this "zero tolerance" at its finest? I think not. It's teaching victimization and not empowerment. This student did what he was told at this youth organization and didn't fight back. He made a courageous decision to inform the school staff about drugs on the campus. He got his butt whipped because he did not defend himself. Stupid. Not him, but those who told him not to fight back. Stupid for not allowing him to defend himself in fear of retaliation from those who are supposed to protect and defend. What are we teaching our kids about personal safety? From where I stand it isn't anything worthwhile. It's weakness. Weakness in the organization that teaches this and weakness in the schools that don't protect and defend those who are picked on and abused. Eventually, this just turns into workplace violence as they get jobs as adults. I feel that this is the Art of Bullying and Violence at its very finest because it is supported by those who aren't doing their jobs. Where is he courage in that? I call it cowardice and apathy. Apathy is dangerous and could be deadly. The powers that be seem not to be searching for answers but coming up with policies that don't work for the victims. But it looks great on paper. It strengthens the message to the bully that there's no consequences. That they will always get away with it. It appears that only the symptoms are being treated and not the root causes. Band Aid but not cure. It teaches the victim to be a perpetual volunteer. No empowerment. Why does it go that in school violence situations we hear that maybe we should have seen it teaching? Life isn't easy but we coming so now officials will start can make it a little easier; it will looking for potential victims and take some work. So, what's a possible solution? pull them aside and label them as Using the words "solumentally ill? Okay mental health profes- Guest View tion" or "answer" means that a "process" needs to sionals, who's mentally John be in place. That process ill? Is it really those who involves some thinking get picked on or those and trying various techwho allow it? niques. But it's not the I feel it is time to put answer or solution that's a program in place for all students everywhere about self- important. I feel it's those processempowerment. It should be es involved in finding the solutions required. Defending yourself does- or answers. I'm no math genius or rocket n't mean that we're fighting violence with violence. A few parents scientist but I have "field tested" are teaching their kids that if their some of the processes involved. kid gets punched in the nose to It's taken years of constant "study." punch the other kid back in the Hey, I had three older brothers, one nose. Really? Yes, there needs to who was extremely physically be zero tolerance for that. Let's get mean and violent to me and the other two never really stopped down to ground zero on this. There are several ways to "dis- him. I had to learn how to stop him arm" a bully or potentially violent but it was great "training" in the person and almost none of them works. Start the New Year out by makinclude a violent looking motion (only as a last resort). As a society ing a resolution towards empowerdo we know how to speak to each ment. There's a saying: "Pain is other? That's where it starts. Com- weakness leaving the body." It's munication comes from the Latin, hard to let go of being the victim "to share." It won't be easy but if and volunteer. It takes empowerit's easy is it worth learning or ment. Minton 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) 558-3160; 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) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 2868537. Fax (202) 224-0454. Commentary Frozen tundra and turf Last Sunday's pro football game in subzero Green Bay, Wisconsin was a dilly. I didn't think football could top the tension of a GiantsDodgers baseball game, but this baby did. I wanted to relive the game by reading the sports section of the S.F. Chronicle, so the next morning I made the rounds of newspaper coin operated vending machines. One after another failed to accept my four quarters and allow their glass doors to open. Then I canvassed grocery stores, such as Raley's, which sells the Chron inside the store. None were available. After a 50-minute search I finally resorted to purchasing the Sacramento Bee, and thereby found very good coverage of the game. Finally sated with sports news, I decided to fire off a warning to the Chron circulation department to wit: "As you don't deliver door to door anymore, you can at least make your vending machines operable. Failing that the Sacammena Bee gets my vote and my dough". That should shake them up until the DN gets back to Monday publishing. *** And speaking of the DN, in their recent makeover of the paper, they reduced in size wire service items such as cartoons, crossroad puzzles and the like. In so doing, they made the font smaller and harder to read for the elderly. At the behest of the missus, I registered our complaint to the editor. He replied the paper had received surprisingly few complaints and our letter is the first about the crossword, the current font size is pretty standard….and that whereas the DN previously had the luxury of running the puzzle in Classified, it is no longer the case that the DN can run it larger than the other papers. I retorted that he should drop the daily horoscopes because nobody believes that nonsense anyhow. He countered and reminded me I had recently commented about a work shop at one of the churches regarding angels, and so I should not be quick to judge the followers of horoscopes and the like. Point taken. I attempted to reinforce the missus' request for larger crossword font by adding that her sister also deplored the tiny print, thus making a total of 2 in favor which constitutes a ground swell in the making. *** The Arizona Republic newspaper ran the following clarifying note: "The Jumble puzzle, which appeared on page D1 of Thursday's edi- green, able to nourish themselves on light. " I don't understand this, but will tion, actually was the puzzle schedask Ms. Bonham to digest uled to appear today. The the article and report her conJumble originally scheduled clusions. to appear Thursday as well as *** the answers to Wednesday's Last week's column sugpuzzle are on page E1 today. gested that we resolve, in the The answers to the puzzle New Year, to replace our published today appeared male leaders with females, Thursday, and the answers to but it has fallen on deaf ears the puzzle published Thursin at least one instance. A day will appear Saturday." local businessman dropped Clarification by the news by to say he did not agree media is always welcomed Robert with my plan...that all of the by readers, regardless of how ills of this country began maddening they may be. when women gained the *** right to vote and consequentAn Internet photo of a bus ly to hold office. I said he stop in Montreal depicts was a misogynist and he elderly people sitting on individual swings such as found in playgrounds. It agreed. I said, "You believe women should be shows a series of covered swings and one won- kept barefoot and pregnant?," and he nodded ders why this would not be a good idea for Red in the affirmative. However, he did ask that if I Bluff. We are currently in a "branding" phase wrote about our talk that I not use his name as of convincing tourists this is a good town and he has female relatives in the area. I agreed. No county to visit. Why not a place to "swing" as sense causing undue unrest with the distaff side. well? *** The first thing that comes to the conservaLast week's quiz was promptly and correcttive mind is, what about the liability aspect of this set up? What happens if somebody falls off ly answered by L. Brown who knew that Axes is the plural of both Axe and Axis, that Bases is and injures themselves? I'm thinking of presenting the swing thing plural of both Base and Basis and that Taxes is concept to the City Council. But first I shall the plural of both Tax Taxis. This week's quiz: Name 3 of the 5 most contact the Montreal Planning Department and see how they handle this potential threat to cit- recorded popular Xmas songs. A proliferate writer of mysteries writes as P.D. James. What izen safety. But it does sound fun, doesn't it? do the initials stand for? And what is mislead*** Red Bluff Garden Club take note: The New ing about "Boston Cream Pie"? *** Yorker ran a long article titled "The Intelligent With the recent passing of actor Peter Plant" by Michael Ollan which cites a growing consensus amongst the garden set, and others, O'Toole, and remembrance of his great role in that plants have feelings and should be nurtured "Lawrence of Arabia," clever Noel Coward in a like manner to humans. The article is much remarked of the handsome actor, "If he had too long to fully report his findings, but I shall been any more beautiful the film would have forward a copy to L. Bonham, my Garden Club been called 'Florence of Arabia.'" contact, for her comment. Ollan concludes Robert Minch is a lifelong resident of with, "When most of us think of plants, we think of them as old…holdovers from a sim- Red Bluff, former columnist for the Corning pler, pre-human evolutionary past. But for Daily Observer and Meat Industry some plant experts, they hold the key to a future magazine and author of the "The Knocking that will be organized around technologies that Pen." He can be reached at are networked, decentralized, modular…and rminchandmurray@hotmail.com. Minch I Say