Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/41578
6A Daily News – Thursday, September 8, 2011 Opinion Loud radios 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: In regards to the column from Carolyn Barber. I live just down the street from her and hear that same mother's idiot child go by. It blasts so much that my house also rocks. 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 Do not our local boys in blue hear that same noise when patrolling our streets? I think not. Maybe their supervisors should be aware of Vehicle Code 27007, which states that any noise coming from a vehicle that can be heard from 50 feet away is an infraction punishable by a fine. Gosh, how I wish I were an officer on patrol in Red Bluff. I would make our coffers bulge and hear much deserved silence. Jim Davis, Red Bluff SB 48 Editor: Don Polson, employing his usual scare tactics, has said that he is supporting a voter initiative to revoke California Senate Bill 48. I thought the readers might benefit from reading the actual text of SB48. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 51204.5 of the Education Code is amended to read: 51204.5 Instruction in Social Sciences shall include the early history of California and a study of the role and contributions of both men and women, Native Ameri- cans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, European Amer- icans, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans, persons with disabilities, and members of other ethnic and cultural groups to the economic, political, and social development of California and the United States of America, with particular emphasis on portraying the role of these groups in contem- porary society. SECTION 2. Section 51500 of the Education Code is amended to read: 51500. A teacher shall not give instruction and a school district shall not sponsor any activity that promotes a discriminatory bias on the basis of race or ethnicity, gen- der, religion, disability, nationality, sexual orientation, or because of a characteristic listed in Section 220. SECTION 3. Section 51501 of the Education Code is amended to read: 51501. The state board and any governing board shall not adopt any textbooks or other instruction- al materials for use in the public schools that contain any matter reflecting adversely upon persons on the basis of race or ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, nation- ality, sexual orientation, or because of a characteristic listed in Section 220. SECTION 4. Section 60040 of the Education Code is amended to read: 60040. When adopting instruc- tional materials for use in the schools, governing boards shall include only instructional materi- als which, in their determination, accurately portray the cultural and racial diversity of our society, including: (a) The contributions of both men and women in all types of roles, including professional, vocational and executive roles. (b) The role and contributions of Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, European Americans, lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans- gender Americans, per- sons with disabilities, and members of other ethnic and cultural groups to the total devel- opment of California and the United States. (c) the role and contributions of the entrepreneur and labor in the total development of California and the United States. SECTION 5. Section 60044 of the Education Code is amended to read: 60044. A governing board shall not adopt any instructional materi- als for use in the schools that, in its determination, contain: (a) Any matter reflecting adversely upon persons on the basis of race or ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, nationality, sex- ual orientation, occupation, or because of a characteristic listed in Section 220. And so on. Larry Gray, Red Bluff Indians Editor: I have been reading the Daily News long enough that I should expect the liberal left wing slant of the paper, but the recent col- umn by Richard Mazzucchi was enough to gag me. His article on how we Euro- pean types mistreated the Indi- ans showed a total ignorance of the historical facts. Were the Indians living in peace and har- mony before Columbus? Only to the uninformed as Mazzuc- chi. Your Turn They robbed and murdered neighboring tribes and even par- ticipated in head hunting and cannibalism before we arrived on the scene. Not the hippy image of Eden of Mr Mazzucchi. The new European arrivals tried to be good neighbors but were subjected to the same thieving practices that were common among the Indi- ans. The Indians also excelled in brutal torture of captives that make one sick to read about it, but it is documented historical fact. We Americans fought back against barbarians attacking us then as we do now, and justly so. In spite of the doom predict- ed by the hippy generation, and left wing, aka socialist or com- munists, doomsayers, America is still the strongest, and look out anyone that doesn't think so. Just look back at how Amer- ican heroes responded to aggressors. The Minute Men at Bunker Hill; The Rough Riders at San Juan Hill; The GIs at Normandy; Korea; Vietnam. Let's not forget how sneaky and cowardly the enemy can be either. As a day of remembrance approaches let's remember Sept. 11 2001; Let's remember Pearl Harbor; finally let's remember the Alamo as we sing a verse or two of America The Beautiful. Phillip Southern, 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; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Never forget September 11, 2001 Commentary Recently, I was reminded of the value of freedom while attending a military retirement ceremony in Washington D.C. Driving down the hill after the ceremony, my soul was stirred as my eyes caught a glimpse of the late-summer sun reflecting across the sea of white- washed stones at the adjacent Arlington National Cemetery -- and wondered what it is that defines a person who is willing to give his or her life in exchange for freedom. As I wrote in an article, "Obama Standing on Bush's Shoulders," written just after Osama bin Laden's death, it seems like only yesterday when the eyes of the world were fixed on television screens filled with ghastly scenes of fellow Americans forced to make the decision as to how they would die that dreadful September 11, 2001 morning. Some chose skull-splitting skyscraper-to-side- walk jumps, while others chose to be charred-alive in a steel-melting inferno. On airplanes, some decid- ed to sit in their seats and silently pray, while others shouted "Let's roll," and took matters into their own hands. As the stench and smoke from human infirmaries colored the skies gray, a cloud of grief descended over the country – and America's enemy celebrated. Pic- tures of Old Glory intermingled with homemade signs displaying the words "Never Forget" sprang up on street corners and front yards throughout America. And, for a brief moment, it appeared that the patriotism of yesteryear was awak- ened from its long slumber as Americans chose to cross racial, political and religious barriers to join hands and hearts to celebrate our commonality. The nasty parti- san divide resulting from the 2000 presidential election seemed to be temporarily patched with the ban- dage of brotherhood, as our nation swallowed a bitter pill of truth: We were at war with Islamic extrem- ists seeking to destroy our free- doms. These extremists strategical- ly attacked when we were distract- ed and weak from political divi- siveness. Time seemed to stop for most Americans who found themselves caught up in grief. Nevertheless, the sun continued to rise and fall, and the seasons changed. We ban- daged our wounds the best we could, and were forced to move forward, although it seemed inap- propriate. Ten years-removed, and amidst wars on three fronts, war- weary Americans have fallen into a regimen of "normalcy" and have adapted to a necessary post-9/11 mentality. Great strides have been taken to weaken our self-avowed enemy, but we are still at risk. Only months into President Obama's presidency, Americans grew to understand that having an American president with Muslim heritage makes little dif- ference to a terrorist. Attacks and attempts continue; just last week, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a five-page bulletin, warn- ing of potential homeland al Qaeda attacks via small air- craft. than George W. Bush's second term and lower than Iranian Presi- dent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's, with the exception of Saudi Ara- bia. Susan Brown Nor does a president possess- ing a Middle-Eastern name improve America's standing in the Middle East. A July 13, 2011 poll conducted in six Middle East- ern countries by Arab American Institute found Obama's approval rating never got above 10 percent. Ninety-nine percent of Lebanese, 90 percent of Egyptians, 88 per- cent of Moroccans and 77 percent of Saudis believe Obama did not meet his 2009 Cairo speech expectations. The survey found Obama's approval ratings lower Be it war-weariness, human nature, the divi- siveness of the current administration, or a lit- tle of each, patriotism has paled, and our unity, diminished. This writer included, many have forgotten who the real enemy is, and have for- gotten to remember those who willingly pledged our freedom with their blood. We are eternally indebted to those who satisfied the yearning for freedom within their souls by running headlong into the face of death, realizing they would never fully taste the freedom for which they were dying. And, most certainly, in that moment of self-denial, their souls inhaled freedom in its purest form. May we never forget. Susan Stamper Brown is an op- ed columnist, motivational speaker, military family advocate and grief counselor. She can be reached at susan@susanstamperbrown.com.