Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/511752
As most of the world knows by now, the 65-year-old 1976 Summer Olympics Decath- lon winner of a gold medal is fast becoming transgender. BruceJennerischanging his sex from male to female. Is that a wonder of modern medicine or an abomination? The first time I heard of this it really did not bother me, but America's media is making it big- ger than huge. That kind of story obviously gets the many readers, listeners and view- ers the media looks for each day. I have already discussed Jenner's change with a friend and he joked: "Where was Lorena Bobbitt when Bruce needed her services?" Lorena was a wife who in 1993 sev- ered her husband John's pe- nis with a knife just four years after they married into an abusive relationship. His "man stuff" was later surgi- cally reattached and he be- gan an immoral pornography career. It appears that some cul- tural events in this 21st Cen- tury, like becoming transgen- der, are changing lifestyles faster than I ever anticipated. Whether or not those strides are advances is up to each one of us to decide. A good neighbor of mine, Kansas Simonis of Oak Run, said about Jenner; "Well, it's his body." Her comment was the intelligent common sense that brought me to writing this column. As I reflected, one of the thoughts I had was that our species, human beings, will pretty much do whatever it is capable of doing sooner or later. I remember the late 1970s when the capitol building in Sacramento was being re- stored. Inside the base of that building is a container that is still to be opened in the fu- ture. I was a California Assem- blyman when it was sealed and placed there. All other elected officials were also asked to prepare a letter pre- dicting our future. In the letter I submitted I guessed that cloning would eventually happen. That was lucky. Cloning has now gone from a lucky guess to real- ity. Are humans evolving? Or, as my dad used to tell me: "When you say someone is doing the best they can, that is the worst thing you can say about a person." Like any normal offspring, I hoped he might be wrong. I think now that he was prob- ably onto a natural truth. I think now that one of the best things you can say about a fellow human is that he or she has a great deal of po- tential. Some, of course, have a great deal more potential than others. Barack Obama seems to be an excellent example of that. Donald Trump not so much, unless in the area of his wealth. In this great country, everyone can do as they pretty much please with anyone they pretty much please, basically anywhere they pretty much please. As we all say from time to time, what a country. Mytakeonthemovies Anyway, last Sunday the movie I saw to talk about in today's column was "Hot Pur- suit" starring Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara, the sexy Hispanic ac- tress from the TV series "Mod- ern Family." The movie was mostly lots of gags and laughs. However, I have now de- cided that if you need to put the contents of your world be- hind you for a couple of hours just to clear your mind, do try this film. I promise you will get some genuine laughs from the movie. Don't forget to tell me if it worked on you or give me your opinion on transgen- der people. StanStathamserved1976- 1994 in the California Assembly and was a television news anchor at KHSL-TV in Chico 1965- 1975. He is president of the California Broadcasters Association and can be reached at StanStatham@ gmail.com. Mytake Jenner brings transgender to forefront It appears that some cultural events in this 21st Century, like becoming transgender, are changing lifestyles faster than I ever anticipated. Whether or not those strides are advances is up to each one of us to decide. Outgoing chief makes more than governor Editor: Recent attention to state salary adjustments has re- vealed the fact that Paul Nan- fito, outgoing chief of police of our small and distressed city, is paid a higher annual sal- ary than the Governor of Cal- ifornia. Fellow citizens, what's wrong with this picture? — Barbara McIver, Red Bluff Too many new orchards for water supply Editor: You have to be from another planet to not know that Cali- fornia is suffering from a se- vere drought, yet here in Te- hama County I see more and more new orchards going in and have to wonder why? I have to wonder, are these farmers planting the new or- chards using their existing wells? And if not, in order to drill a new well, a permit would have to be pulled and approval granted. So, with a new well, why hasn't Tehama County pushed for a moratorium on this kind of thing? I live in an unincorporated area outside Corning and am truly amazed at the planting frenzy going on in all direc- tions. We haven't gotten unbeliev- able rainfall, we haven't an un- ending supply of water close by so what gives? Whether planting olives or almonds or plum or walnut trees, they all require water, especially the saplings need- ing even more than mature trees. And here in Tehama County it looks like one farmer and grower is trying to one up the next guy down the street — who can get their orchard planted first? Yet through all this plant- ing frenzy the huge question jumps out and no one in Te- hama County government is willing to take a stance against this threat to water for the families, schools, house- holds. There is only so much of the wet stuff down there in the aquifer and if someone doesn't put the brakes on this rush to plant, where will the tankers come from to provide water to the city of Corning residents? Who is going to compensate the citizens whose wells have been drained dry? I need to say I am not against farmers getting wa- ter for their crops. They have to pay for their water deliver- ies. Without our farmers we would have nothing to eat, sell, freeze, dry, etc. But, I am against farmers trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the residents of Tehama County along with those officials in Tehama County government who can't do what is both morally cor- rect and monetarily necessary to stop the rampant abuse go- ing on. Other nearby counties have instituted a moratorium against new wells, new devel- opment and putting their resi- dents on notice they will toler- ate no wasters. What is wrong with our county? — Jeannette Harper, Corning Dedicated woman will be missed Editor: Last week Rose Heibert left this world to be with her Lord. Many has their lives touched by Rose, a Christian women, a volunteer for the Tehama County Gleaners, her years as an outstanding nurse at St. Elizabeth Community Hospi- tal, a dear friend and sister- in-law to Joan Heibert and a sweetheart to all that knew her. Rose would come to the Te- hama County Food Bank and work from her wheelchair for four hours on every third Wednesday of the month. Then Joan would take her to St. Elizabeth and Rose would go through hours of kidney dial- ysis. We never heard her com- plain of her pain or the med- ical trials she had to go through twice a week. Rose inspired so many peo- ple by her example. We will miss this gentle women so much. God bless her. — Cee Dempsey, Red Bluff Anti-Jefferson group's mission is misdirected Editor: On April 15, the Daily News announced the formation of Keep it California — a political action committee led by Red- ding resident Cindy Ellsmore opposing the formation of the State of Jefferson. Ellsmore acknowledges Northern California's need for better representation, but fears losing funding for roads, schools, social services, coun- ties, parks, prisons and police for their support of local econ- omies. Corruption, unions and other inefficiencies are caus- ing Northern California gov- ernments to pay up to almost five times more for the above infrastructure than they should. Accordingly, after a brief transition period, the State of Jefferson should have no trou- ble reinstating these services at far less cost. That is, especially with the huge influx of funds it would receive selling water to the south, which would enable it to thrive even after abolishing state income tax. — Nathan Esplanade, Corning Your opinions Cartoonist's take I had never really thought about such books existing, but the May 8 Newsweek reports that Amish romance novels are big business, accounting for as much as half of the inspirational fiction market and involving dozens of new titles each month. Forgive me, but I've been igno- rant of this genre (affectionately known as "bonnet rippers"), be- cause I've been busy with my day job, where I work hard, getting sweaty and callused and — stay back, ladies! I'm happily mar- ried! And (deal breaker alert) I don't have a beard! *Whew* Only a tiny percentage of Amish novels are written by Amish writers, and the bulk of the audience is non-Amish (mostly evangelical Christians age 40 and up); but a goodly portion of Amish folks do read them, often with a mixture of bemusement and disgust over errors made in the books. Face it, you don't need to be writing Amish romance nov- els if you have scenes of a young Amish farmer kneeling in prayer to give thanks for the apps on his new iSuspenders. Or if you think the Amish divisions in- clude Old Order and Online Or- der. Or if you assume a "pole barn" is one that has been sub- contracted to a builder named Wolczynski. A recurring comment from non-Amish readers of Amish ro- mance novels is that it's nice to have a book that can be left ly- ing around without one's being embarrassed if the kids pick it up. Sure... there's nothing em- barrassing about Little Johnny announcing, "Hey! Mom is fan- tasizing what it would be like if Dad wasn't a lazy &%$# who spends all weekend watching his streaming sporting events." Fans of Amish romance nov- els are ebullient about details be- ing left to the imagination, and about the delayed gratification of the chaste lovers. Too bad the patience doesn't extend to read- ers' own daily lives. ("What do you mean you sold the last copy of my favorite series and won't have any more for a week??? How about I sling you across the clothesline and beat you?") Some casual non-Amish read- ers worry about the conformity of the Amish communities ("Be sure to black-and-white inside the lines, students") and chafe at the lack of privacy in the court- ship rituals of the characters. Then they go on Facebook to re- veal "should'a stayed in Vegas" details of their wild weekend. Some people embrace/respect Amish values and others reject them; but deep down, people have a lot of things in common. Women of Amish or non- Amish background could just as easily be overheard remarking, "I think eight is the perfect, man- ageable number" — although one would probably be talking about children and the other just might be talking about STDs. It's good that mainstream Americans can be exposed to virtues thought long-gone: absti- nence before marriage; lifelong commitment to God, spouse and community; humility; honesty; hard work and the rest. But because of overuse of certain themes and situations, Amish romance novels may one day burn out. That's why writers are starting to widen their hori- zons beyond that genre. Look for a buggy load of books such as "The Fault In Our Jars," "Clear And Present Wood- pile," "The Fall of the Outhouse of Usher," "The Graven Image of Dorian Gray," "It Takes A Vil- lage (To Shun A Child)," "Oh, The Places You'll Not Go" and "A Brief History of —Time To Go Back To Work!" Danny Tyree welcomes email responses at tyreetyrades@ aol.com and visits to his Facebook fan page Tyree's Tyrades. Danny Tyree Amish romance novels: Is that even a thing? Stan Statham GregStevens,Publisher Chip Thompson, Editor EDITORIAL BOARD How to have your say: Letters must be signed and provide the writer's home street address and home phone number. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and no more than two double-spaced pages or 500words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section will be published. Email: editor@ redbluffdailynews.com Fax: 530-527-9251 Mail to: P.O. Box 220, 545 Diamond Ave., Red Bluff, CA 96080 Facebook: Leave comments at FACEBOOK.COM/ RBDAILYNEWS Twitter: Follow and send tweets to @REDBLUFFNEWS OPINION » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, May 14, 2015 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A6 ★