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4A Daily News – Friday, August 26, 2011 Opinion Don't taint good lessons with bad 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 The Red Bluff Little League All-Stars give us all reason to be proud, having come just three outs away from the Little League World Series in the Regional Cham- pionship game. In fact, I dare say, we have more reason to be proud of the players than they of us based on some murmurings coming my way in the last week or so. The prevailing character of the team was one that played hard, stayed loose, had fun and came home with memo- ries that will be etched for a lifetime – win or lose. What more could we ask? Seems there are too many in our community for which winning is everything. The natural response for these folks is to be a sore loser. That's sad. In the days following the loss in the regional tourna- ment, the newsroom has heard numerous times that the Ocean View team, which dominated through the regional and, until recently, the national tournaments, is made up of players hand- picked to form a year-round traveling team that has been playing together for years. We've heard the Ocean View squad was arrogant and underestimated Red Bluff's team. Are these things true? I can't say that I know for sure, but I do know, for sure, they don't matter. If they are true, and I have no reason to believe they are not, did not the Red Bluff team have the same opportu- nities to form a year-round traveling team of 8-year-olds to someday tear through 11- and 12-year-old tournaments? But we taught our boys that's not what Little League should be. Did not the Red Bluff team have the same opportunity to boast before the cameras and take the whole tournament far too seriously? Instead, our team goofed around and challenged opponents to Whiffle Ball scrimmages – because that's what kids do. Too much of what passes for discourse these days amounts to nothing more than tearing down one's opponents. The Red Bluff All-Stars deserve better. They deserve to be lauded for their accomplish- ments – not only on the diamond, but in life. Think back to being 11 or 12 years old and the lessons you had learned by that tender age – even on the smallest of stages. These players learned to work hard for something in which they believe, not take them- selves too seriously and be gracious and proud even in defeat – on a nationally tele- vised stage. As a community, Chip Thompson 545 Diamond Ave. of you. Chip Thompson can be reached at 527-2151, Ext. 112 or by e-mail at editor@redbluffdailynews.co m. 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; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224- 0454. The Chicken Little Syndrome Commentary Murray Clyde was sitting on the front porch and gazing skyward. "What are you looking up there for?," I asked the big dog. "Little Bert told me the sky was falling," he moaned. I looked about and said, "Where is that little devil? I can't have him getting you upset. Just because he is older than you doesn't mean he is smarter." Murray Clyde continued his fretful stare upwards and so I asked, "What lead him to that conclusion?" "Bert said the stock market and the home foreclosures and the unemployment rate have all contributed to his doomsday forecast." Hmmm. I could see where an old dog could come to that conclusion and pass it on to a younger dog if for nothing more than misery loves company. "Well, the next time you see that little rascal, tell him that I said 'nuts' to his forecast. He has no more insight into the direc- tion this great country is headed than a barn full of cats." "He said he got all his information from lis- tening to the barn cats." I laughed, "Well, there you have it. Are you going to believe a bunch of barn cats or an old codger like me who has gone through many recessions and has come out smelling like a rose?" "An old codger like you, Papa." I was pleased with his response, but won- dered to myself if my bravado was well placed. The indicators are out there and they are not reassuring; the politicians continue to posture and partisan politics is rampant throughout the land. Perhaps what we are lacking to right our ship is a leader with enough brains and brawn to carry the day and lead us out of our fiscal morass. But who could that be? Is there anyone in politics of such stature today? Or has the Internet made it nearly impossible to find such a leader and to render him intact to the voters without the pundits destroying his credibility before he is off and running? Sometimes I think that man, or woman, must walk on water to get the job done. Too bad the late Peter Sellers is not around to reprise his role in "Being There." * * * So you think you know the English lan- guage, eh? How about this paragraph from one of our favorite magazines, The New Yorker: "William has taken his time choosing a mate, but he is, some respects, a glorified stud. The fixation on Kate's background had an almost eugenicist tinge: when people talk about her infusing the Royal Family with fresh blood, it is not a metonymy." What is a "metonymy" and what is a "eugenicist tinge" you ask? I had to look it up. "Metonymy "is a figure of speech in which an idea is evoked or named by means of a term designating some asso- ciated notion. And "eugeni- cist" apparently refers to the study of hereditary improve- ment. Is that clear? Could the writer have made the article more clear to pedestrian taste such as our own? Some writ- ers just like to use big words. Present company excluded, of course. * * * I received an invitation via the Internet to meet "big beautiful women." I believe the invi- tation was mis-directed because 1) I am spoken for, and 2) I am only of average height. I was once close to 5'10" but have shrunk like the witch in the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy threw water on her, to about 5' 8". If I met a big beau- tiful woman coming down our road in the mid- dle of the night I would be nonplused. You could look it up but that's the way I would feel...confused and a loss for words. But as this meeting is not likely, we should move along to the quiz. * * * Last week's quiz was answered most promptly by L. Brown and J. Angelo who knew that Absolute Zero is the hypothetical point at which all molecular activity ceases. They also knew the service academies' locations: Army at West Point, Navy at Annapolis, Air Force at Colorado Springs, Coast Guard at New Lon- don, Conn. and the Merchant Marine at Kings Point, N.Y. This week's quiz: How many of our guys died at the Alamo defending against what num- ber of Mexicans, and what was Walt Kelly's alligator in the Pogo strip named? * * * Robert Minch I Say For those who knew the late great Helen Flournoy Coates, a dedication is scheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday at the Bend Bridge boat launch. Thereon you will note a monument and also a photo of her standing beside a green pickup with her name on it. This was when she was a cow buyer for Minch's Wholesale Meats back in the late '30s and early '40s. I remember it well. * * * Lee Pitts in his column in the Farm Bureau News is not an early riser and says he knows many cowboys who used to get up before the roosters and are now living on beans and Social Security. Well, sir, I am an early riser and I am living on steaks. True, I am on Social Security, but so is everybody else my age. * * * The teacher asked her 5th grade class, "Who said, 'Give me liberty or….'" and before she could finish, little Johnny said, "Patrick Henry ,1775." The teacher was impressed and contin- ued, "…and who said, 'Government of the peo- ple, by the…'" and once again Johnny shouted "Abe Lincoln, 1863." Bursting with pride for her star pupil she said, "It appears Johnny knows more about our history than the rest of the class." From the back of the class came the retort, "I'm gonna puke!" Johnny responded, "George Bush to the Japanese Prime Minister 1991." The teacher was shocked and promptly fainted. As the class gathered around her on the floor, someone said, "Oh boy, now we're in trouble," and Johnny quickly responded, "The American people, November 4, 2008." Robert Minch is a lifelong resident of Red Bluff and former columnist for the Corning Daily Observer and Meat Industry magazine. He can be reached at rminchandmurray@hotmail.com. we have given these boys a terrific foun- dation for success. Let's not shake it with excuses and accusations. Sometimes falling short of the ultimate prize is the true prize. Let's not ruin that for these boys and their families and community. Echoing the senti- ment I've seen and heard around town for weeks: Red Bluff Little League All- Stars, we're so proud