Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/36875
6A Daily News – Tuesday, July 19, 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 Islam Editor: If Muslims are our enemy as Mr. Southern wrote on July 12, they are a strange enemy. They have bled and died for this country since it's inception. As a matter of fact, Nathon 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 Badeen was the first Muslim to die for this country on May 23, 1776. Historically Islam is one of if not the most tolerant of religions. In the Middle Ages while Jews were persecuted by Christian soci- ety, they were well treated by Mus- lim society. I can not say all Muslims do toe the line, nor do all Christians. To say bin Laden represents all Muslims is like saying Jim Jones represents all Christians. Orval Strong, Gerber Casting blame Editor: Richard Mazzucchi asks the question,” when will I grow up and stop casting blame upon progres- sive liberals for all our ills?” Admittedly, I grew up the hard way and graduated from the school of hard knocks. Hard work is all I have ever known; my birthstone is the grindstone. The amusing thing about the question is that it obviously comes from a senior citizen (or a young man with a lot of mileage) with a classic case of arrested adoles- cence. Richard just can’t accept the fact that government is just too big. There are more Americans work- ing for the government than work in construction, manufacturing, farming, fishing, forestry, mining and utilities combined. Today, in America, almost twice as many are working for the government (22.5 million) as opposed to all manufac- turing (11.5 million). In 1960 there were 15 million workers in manu- facturing and only 8.7 million on the government payroll. California has one of the high- est, if not the highest, budget deficit of all the states. Why is that? Because it has a whopping 2.4 mil- lion people on the payroll, twice as many as there is in manufacturing. We, as a nation, have trans- formed from a nation of producers to a nation with a government that devours jobs in the private sector with taxes, fees and excessive reg- ulations. The blue collar working middle class is disappearing except for those working for the govern- ment at one level or another. So, Richard, with all of those government employees paying union dues to such unions as SEIU, the Teamsters and whatever others there are that spend millions pro- moting and buying the best pro- gressive liberals to run for political office, add welfare crowd and all the undocumented Democrats, oops I mean illegal immigrants, and you call that an opportunity for me and my cohorts to vote change in Sacramento or Washington D.C. We have representation with Jim Nielsen and Doug LaMalfa, however, they are the minority in Sacramento. So, Richard, who else can I blame for the mess we are in but the progressive liberals — socialists and communists. Les Wolfe, Red Bluff Ink and paper Editor: I couldn't help but laugh reading your opinion on credit card paper and ball point pens. I have the solu- tion. The problem is the hard sur- face below the tape. At Rosser's Bakery I have the customers write on the tape on top of the plastic grocery bags we have by the register. I've seen other establishments tape a transparency sheet with several pieces of paper below the top piece says "write here." Kevin Rosser, Red Bluff Closing Editor: I would first like to say thank you to all who sup- ported us at EJ’s Place over the past 2 years. We were going to close in September, but unfortunately we have declined in business dramatically and can no longer support this business ven- ture. Instead you suggest Hess Rd. or Minch Rd. Ever consider why Minch's slaughterhouse was way out there? Your Turn Could you find another place more inconvenient for the home- less, wheel less people? How about out at the air- port? How'd you miss that gem? Where are these people staying now since their winter shel- ters are shut down? In It is with great sadness that we will be closing at the end of July. We have enjoyed serving you and wish to continue to the end. Thanks again. Eugene Jenkins, Red Bluff Email ID puzzles Editor: When sending emails one needs to decode letters that are very bleary and hard to read even for a person with good vision. I have been finding this more and more with a number of sites. This would make it virtually impossible for someone with low vision problems who can still see to read but with difficulty. There must be another solution. Brenda Hellekson, Red Bluff PATH shelter Editor: The actions of the city council in denying the Breckenridge St. site for the PATH shelter are total- ly supportive of the NIMBY atti- tude of the neighborhood around Breckenridge. For shame on you people! Ayers park? Under bridges? In your back yard? What’s to prevent them from continuing to do so? You had a chance to do a good thing and you listened to a small group of people in a section of town that is among the most downtrodden and uncared for in the city. Sidewalks? Curbs? Paint? Lawnmowers? I drove through the area yesterday and I didn't see many signs of caring citizens. Douglas St. behind the pro- posed, rejected site is not even paved. In any other city this would be called a slum. I did see a few architectural gems a few blocks away. But they are not the neighborhood. I have a good idea for you to reject. PG&E just demoed a motel at Rio and Antelope Blvd. That's convenient to downtown. Actual- ly has a little park next to it. Butts up to the river and is across the street on two sides from business- es. Hey! It's none of my business. I don't live in Red Bluff. Howev- er, I do hope that Forrest Flynn, Wayne Brown and Rob Schmid don't have further political hopes because I will campaign against any and all of them. They're just not my kind of people and I don't want them IMBY. Fred Boest, Red Bluff 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. Commentary Asad account of the human condition I was once accused by a former columnist of preaching my columns from a certain "lofty perch." I guess he thought that I thought I was somehow better than others because of my social situation. Maybe. I was a little taken back by his comment, but realized later on that I should be more careful about try- ing to legislate my moral beliefs upon others through my words. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, is that it’s extreme- ly difficult to change people, espe- cially when it comes to their per- sonal opinions. I have thoughtfully read all the recent responses to the PATH deci- sion. And rather than relive all that – why it was wrong and naming names – I have chosen to focus on just why opponents to the home- less shelter on Breckenridge think the way they think. Well, I’ll at least speculate. Some might think it childish, but I believe that’s exactly where this issue begins – in the third grade. I call it the "coagulation" of society. Simply put, it’s the forces that bring certain groups of humanity together and separates the rest. Its premise states that some truly believe that they’re "in" and the rest are "out." This is mostly based on social status. grade. And, yes, it starts in the third I remember my elementary school’s cafeteria. Most of the tables were inside the building, but a few were on the outside under- neath a group of lovely trees. At the start of the year, anyone could sit there. However, gradually, certain groups of kids began to take over, not so much because of their physical superiority, but because they somehow saw themselves as better than the rest. So, these kids would claim their space – I guess because they thought they were entitled or something – and retain it for the rest of the year. The funny thing was, I remem- ber, no one could crack this secret society unless invited by a mem- ber. Occasionally, I was lucky enough to be included. Gradually, though, I began to despise these kids for their arrogance. Sadly, as the years passed, I per- ceived some inherent value in act- ing that way, so I would weave in and out of these cliques. Even though my par- ents taught me to respect everyone, I found it sport to neglect and ignore the less fortunate. Now that I’m much older, I hate myself for it. I can understand why the opposition believes the way it does. Like those third- graders, they want to protect what’s theirs and feel no remorse in doing so. In a certain sense, I applaud their passion for doing what they think is "right" for Red Bluff. But is it? I’ve heard and read just about every argument against this pro- posed site. But the one I heard the other day really got me thinking. I was talking with someone who said: "Do we want Red Bluff to have those two bookends on Pat Gleason Simply Put both sides of town?" What this per- son was referring to was a home- less site on the north side and a Social Services build- ing on the south. "Why would we want to frame our prime business district with that?" In a nut- shell, that was their argu- ment. I listened. I considered. I understood. But, today, I don’t agree. Finally, it hit me. This fight isn’t about location. It’s about perception. If we put a homeless shelter somewhere close to down- town, what will people think of us? Will tourists take their almighty dollars some- place else? Will outsiders with money look down their col- lective noses at us because we’re helping "them," the less fortunate? For goodness sakes, what will people think? "Oh, my gawd, we can’t let ‘them’ sit at our lunch table." You know, it’s hard haggling with-third graders. Have a great day.