Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/37418
6A Daily News – Tuesday, July 26, 2011 Opinion PATHVote 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 Editor: I'd like to add my two cents worth on the recent vote against the PATH Shelter. Although 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 everyone has the right to free speech does it mean that this right can be extended to those whose speech would harm others? Calling people names isn't the way to do this, even if those others are calling you names. Rise above it. This was an opportunity to show America that Red Bluff real- ly is a different place, one of true Christian and traditional American values. That opportunity has passed us by on this one. Home- less people will still pee out in pub- lic, loiter, use foul language loudly in public, panhandle, and just be an eyesore; always have, always will. There were several folks who spoke, supposedly in the name of Christianity and the Bible. But what I heard none of them say was the reason why there's a New Tes- tament and what the four Gospels remind us of. I mean, who did Jesus hang out with anyway? It wasn't those people who already had a home, a job, a friend, a place to pee. It was those who felt they had to live off the generosity of the community. "Generosity," now there's a word to learn more about. We read, in the Bible, about those "downtrodden" human beings that Jesus administered love to. Especially to those who were peeing in the streets, those who had no clothing, those who had no one to care about them, foul mouthed "criminals." Yet, society Your Turn is still trying to administer to them but government is in His way, as usual. Now that the city council has presumably spoken for their com- munity will the problems go away? Or will it only get worse? What about the beliefs of this communi- ty? Here's a likely defini- tion of community: "With regard to humans, a 'community' is understood as a group of interacting people, possi- bly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical loca- tion, generally in social units larg- er than a household." I'm not cer- tain that this describes this com- munity on this issue. Words that jump out at me include "humans," "interacting," "close proximity," but most impor- tantly "shares some common val- ues." And then there's "social cohesion," and "shared geographi- cal location." I once heard it said that, "prob- lems are opportunities in work clothes." Sure, there are problems within each community, with and without homeless shelters. But what does a community do any- way? What's its purpose? Part of the word comes from the Latin, "to share." Where is the opportunity to share these problems in this community? Would those who opposed this issue volunteer at least one day with PATH during those colder months? Would you live a day in the life of a homeless person? Live this day with no money, no food, no clothing, no family, no place to pee, everybody despising you for a whole host of reasons, some valid, most not? This would take real courage on the part of anyone who has heat, food, shelter, clothing and love to give it up for only one day. Empathy is the strongest word in the English language. Living "a day in the life" may just bring us a stronger understanding of empa- thy. For those opposed to the issue do you have an understanding of mental illness in your own family? How about an understanding of addiction? Yeah, right, those words are uncomfortable but why hide them then attend your church on Sunday? You can run but you can not hide from the issues or the God you believe in. Now that those three on our city council have made their permanent mark and will leave their own lega- cies of not sharing this opportunity within their own community it's time to keep moving forward for these human beings without much support, love or hope as if Jesus had been in the city council meet- ing Himself, because He was. I hope those who have done all His work for these many years will build strength from this decision. It's not the end, just another weak brake on the wheel of progress. Many, well most, in the communi- ty are with them even if those three council members aren't. Will we not get more involved with them by helping during the winter months? I hope most of us do. The Legacy of PATH will be one written in Heaven, which is where the homeless will end up anyway because of how volunteers like those in PATH got because they gave. The only real way to get something is to give something. They're doing His work. I know I don't have the only answer but together our communi- ty, our society, can arrive at a just solution. "The true test for moral- ity in a society is what that society does for its children." Dietrich Bonnhoeffer, German Priest mur- dered by the Nazis in 1945. John Minton, Red Bluff Education Editor: Most College students must now take high school remedial courses to be eligible to take col- lege courses. Most College stu- dents now require 5 to 6 years to complete their four year degrees because they take a part load of only 12 to 15 credit hours. With state college costs averaging $20,000 yearly for tuition, fees, room, and board, the parent or stu- dent burden is an additional $40,000 for the degree because of poor planning during middle and high school. A majority of students are now avoiding the more rigorous degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) because their parents and school counselors did not advise them of the need to take the need- ed math and science course during middle and high school. Today only 15 percent of women and twenty percent of men take STEM college degrees where there are future jobs. Counsel your child to consider the more rigorous degree fields where there are future jobs such as nursing, science, engineer- ing and mathematics. Joseph J. Neff, Corning 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 Back in the fold Give Congress the benefit of the doubt and say they do work out a compromise on the debt ceiling extension. This country could still slip into default, lead- ing to the worst possible sce- nario imaginable — we have to move back in with England. Who's going to be happy then? Nobody. You think it's embar- rassing slinking home after graduating college, try waiting 235 years. Already dreading the dress- ing down we'll be forced to patiently endure should we make it through the front door. "Well, well, well, look who's back. Seems someone couldn't hack it out on our own, could they, Mister I'm Ready for Inde- pendence? How's it feel to be labeled a fading superpower? Not much bloody fun being mocked by the neighbors, is it boyo? "Notice you didn't rush right over to your good friend China's house. What's the matter, did you have a fight with your new BFF? Or are they wanting their loans back? What about Egypt? Don't they owe you a bit of something? Or did you squander it away like your post 9/11 goodwill? Typical. "So. Here you are. I suppose you'll be wanting your old room back. Well, you can forget it. Pakistan has been renting that room for almost three decades. Very tidy people. And quiet. Too quiet, if you ask me. But they cook. Nice break for your moth- er. Stinks up the kitchen a bit with all those spices, but quite tasty, really. "What in Hades is wrong with you? Why couldn't you manage your money better, like your younger brother Canada? Yes, they're a bit boring, but solid as Gibraltar. You never see Canada in the foyer with their bags around their feet like a homeless person. Nose to the grindstone, that's Canada in a nutshell. Still respect their Roy- als. Nothing like you or that drunken lout Australia, but don't get me started. "Okay. Now, this is totally against my better judgment but your mother says you can crash on the basement couch. Just for a couple of weeks, mind you. But this isn't the Ritz. While you live in this house, you will live by our rules, mister. That means the TV shuts off at 10 p.m. Sharp. And yes, there are only four channels. Stop whining. "No more making fun of the Queen. You hear me? And not a sin- gle, smirking word about Rupert Murdoch. Can't say your hands are altogether clean on that one, now can we? Look at me when I'm talking to you. And get this through your thick skull, health care is free. For everybody. The stitches may be a mite larger than you're accustomed from your fancy Beverly Hills surgeons, but I dare say you'll get used to it. "One last thing, no more wars. If I hear of one more scrape you've gotten yourself into, you'll be back on the street so fast it'll make David Cameron's head spin. Faster. Nobody wants you mucking about with your sticky little fin- gers in their business anymore. Do we understand each other? Good. "Now get yourself Will Durst Raging Moderate downstairs. Unpack and wash up. Put on a tie. Supper's at 5:00. By the looks of you, I'd wager you haven't missed many meals. And straighten up while you're down there. Make sure there's a clean spot under the stairwell; we're setting up a cot. Ireland just called. They're on their way over." The New York Times says Emmy- nominated comedian and writer Will Durst "is quite possibly the best political satirist working in the country today." Check out his website, willdurst.com, to find out more about upcoming stand-up performances or to buy his book, "The All American Sport of Bipartisan Bashing."