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6A Daily News – Tuesday, May 31, 2011 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 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. 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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 was little more than a year ago that letters signed respectively by three quarters of the House of Representa- tives and the Senate were delivered to the President. These letters reiterated the commitment of Congress to see the safety and well being of Israel as synonymous with our own. Similar numbers of Ameri- cans – every time we are polled – identify with Israel and declare their faith that Israel’s cause with the Arab world is the just side of the controversy. This is not to say that Americans agree with everything the Israelis do – their own border fence was a bone of division for us – but it is to say that when push comes to shove we always have their backs – no matter what. This is because when we say, "With liberty and justice for all," in our Pledge of Alle- giance we have always under- stood ourselves as standing for all mankind. And so the recent speech by President Obama on our new foreign policy toward Israel and the Palestinians is as shocking as it is out of touch with the American mainstream. The President, guarantee- ing Israel’s safety and justice for all, stated that any peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians will be based on borders that reflect pre- 1967 maps. He adds that the status of And justice for all Jerusalem will be decided later in the process. It is not possible to make both sides of the equation work. Israel fought a defensive war in 1967. Yes, she fired the first shots. But to lean on that is to say that if gangsters enter my home I will still be thought the aggressor unless I wait for them to open fire on my fami- ly. Israel was surrounded by multiple armies, embargoed and blocked in her ports, and promised imminent destruc- tion from enemies who had already made multiple attempts. Included in the territory she took are the Golan Heights (just one case in point) from which an enemy can overlook her with mis- siles and artillery. To surrender this territory won in a war she did not pro- voke to an unrepentant enemy would be suicidal. To ask it of them spits in the face of "liberty and justice for all." Nazi Germany did all in her power to eliminate the Jews from the face of the earth in the nineteen forties. Among other things, the Nazis hosted, trained and indoctrinated the leaders of the Arab nations that attacked Israel after the war. The current president of Iran expresses his admiration for those same Nazis today. It is true that many Arabs and many Muslims (regard- less of ethnicity) have been placed by their leaders in con- ditions of desperation, but that does not change the fact that we are all still dealing with the original authors of the Holocaust by extension and by proxy. And what about the legitimate aspira- tions of the Palestini- ans? Reality is that there has never in history been a Pales- tinian state. That does not mean they should not have their own home- land – they should – but why would jus- tice-pursuing people steal from one sover- eign nation to create another? The Palestinians are for the most part refugees from Jor- dan and Syria. Even so they are welcome to live where they are, or to return home, or to create a state out of land to which they have a legitimate claim. Jerusalem, by the way, has never belonged to the Pales- tinians. It was arbitrarily divided by the British and the United Nations in 1947. When the Israelis fought off their attackers in 1967 they recov- ered their capitol. How would we receive it if a foreign people entered Washington and asked the United Nations to decide what part of it belongs to us and what part to them? ing. Not so much, I am think- There is a shadow of war over the Middle East – and has been for two thirds of a century just in our own time. It will be resolved when and if both sides want peace more than they want the annihilation of the other; yet the Palestinian charter continues to call for the elimination of Israel. James Wilson It will be resolved when the rest of the world recognizes the sovereignty of both sides; that means Israel does not exist at the pleasure of the United Nations and that body has no right to draw unilateral boundaries as it now threatens to do in September. It will be resolved when both sides make concessions; to date only Israel has ever conceded anything. In the meantime, we Amer- icans need to remember the part about "liberty and justice for all." Our president needs to lead in that remembering. James A. Wilson is the author of Living As Ambassadors of Relationships and The Holy Spirit and the End Times – available at local bookstores or by e-mailing him at praynorthstate@charter.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 3070 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, 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. Writer returns to roots and lauds recliners Commentary So, I decided to come back to my roots. My column originally appeared every other week over five years ago. I’ve had nine months to think about things. Here I am again. Please, don’t get emotional. Today, I’m writing about my father. He’s at that age, 83, that each day is just another notch in his cap relative to time. So, let’s begin here. There is nothing more special than an old man and his recliner. My father spent a weekend in the hospital last month. He went in the wee early morning hours on a Friday and came home that Monday. When I went to see him, he looked okay; just tired and cold. You know those hospitals; they like to keep them cold, for some reason. We watched a little golf in his room and talked about this and that. His hearing isn’t the great- est, so I had to speak up a little bit. I stayed an hour; I came with a heavy heart, worried about his health. My heart weighed a little less knowing he would be okay when I left. St. E’s isn’t number one for nothing. I felt badly, though, as I walked the long hallway out to my truck. Why is it we forget just how special another person is? Why do we need reminding? Seeing my dad resting there in a cold, lonely hospital bed brought everything back. I realized how lucky I was to have him reach up with his tired arms, hold me close in a hug and whisper, "I love you; I love you a lot." Yet, I get emotional as I real- ize how much time I don’t spend with my father. Walking down that hallway, it hit me how I can’t get that time back. I put on my seat belt and jammed my truck into reverse; I vowed I’d be there Monday when he got home. I was – almost. He beat me there. It seems like dad has always been a step ahead of me. At 12:30, the bell sounded the end of my day at school. I pulled into my parent’s driveway not five minutes after that. I couldn’t wait to see my dad at home, all warm and cozy in his favorite pajamas and chair. He loves his reclin- er. It sits in the living room in front of the television. I walked through the door and saw him there, arms crossed, staring straight ahead. He looked up, saw me and smiled. "How ya doin’, buddy?" We hugged and it seemed as if he wouldn’t let go. I almost didn’t mind feeling nine years old again. "I’m doing fine," I said. "I’m just glad you’re home." Pat Gleason Simply Put At that moment, I realized there was something special about an old man and his reclin- er. It’s hard to put into words, to capture the exact feeling know- ing your father is still there where he’s supposed to be. Hasn’t he always been? I’m one of the lucky ones. My dad has supported me in just about everything I ever did. I don’t know why, but sometimes it’s hard to say thanks. Or maybe I just plain forget. I won’t now. That’s why I wrote this – to say "thanks" to my dad for showing me how to love my own kids because he loved me first. It’s good to be back. ——— Pat Gleason grew up in Los Angeles and has taught English at Red Bluff High School since 1990. He can be reached at phgleaso@rbuhsd.k12.ca.us.