Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/55077
4A Daily News – Friday, February 10, 2012 Opinion When race becomes an issue 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 I try not to lose too much sleep 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 over whether the Daily News is politically correct — a phrase that has taken on something of a neg- ative connotation over the years. Covering the news is about reporting the facts, so political correctness doesn't come up often. When it does, it typically involves race. We published two crime sto- ries in Wednesday's edition that involved black men being threat- ened and stabbed. The first was about a man crossing the Antelope Bridge and being confronted by 6 or 7 men holding knives. They used vari- ous racial slurs before a fight broke out and the man was stabbed. In this case, the crime itself was prompted, at least in part, by the man's race so it was important to identify it in the story. The second crime was not overtly due to the man's race. The man walked past a woman who turned and placed a handgun against his head and warned him to stop bothering certain people. A reader questioned why we identified the man's race in the second article. A fair question. Normally we would not have identified the man's race. In fact, the reporter didn't when she wrote it. I added it during editing because of the stabbing incident. There is nothing to suggest the incidents were related, except for the fact that two black men were threatened in Red Bluff within a couple of hours of each other. Having seen both reports, I thought this was worth noting. Would I have made the same news judgment had two Hispanic men been threatened and attacked during the same time period? Or Asian men? Yes, provided one of the incidents was racially moti- vated. Now we get to the part about political correctness. Our standard policy is to not mention the race of a victim unless it specifically relates to the story. Same goes for sus- pects when we're not certain of the race. For example, if a report says a dark- skinned man with brown eyes and black hair robbed a liquor store, should we report that a Hispanic man is a suspect? What if he's Indian, Native Ameri- can, Middle Eastern? Better to report what we know — the physi- cal description. Chip Race is one of those subjects that gets people revved up and I expect this column will do just that. But I would rather take on the subject directly than dance around it for fear of offending anyone. *** Thompson 545 Diamond Ave. item. A completely unrelated item in Wednesday's edition was the Chip Thompson can be reached at 527-2151, Ext. 112 or by email at editor@redbluffdailynews.com. 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), 2595 Cean- othus Ave., Ste. 182, Chico, CA 95973; 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. We could have been a contender Commentary The Super Bowl played to a satisfactory conclusion. It was a close game determined by a desperation (Hail Mary) pass into the end zone which, if caught by the Patriots, would have won the game. They didn't, so the Giants won. And now 49ers fans will wonder if they had won the playoff game with the Giants, whether they would have beaten the Patriots. The answer is, yes they would…but we will have to wait till next year. A year goes by quickly when one is long in the tooth. Too quickly. But we will enjoy the wait as the S.F. Giants begin their quest for another World Series win. North- ern California is a good place for the sports minded. *** Speaking of the Super Bowl, an acquain- tance put on a party for the event and invit- ed a dozen friends over for food and drink. The missus and I were asked to drop by and meet their guests. In so doing, several remarked they enjoyed the column...but con- fessed they were mainly tuned in for the jokes. I was pleased, of course, but thought they might also have appreciated my good natured barbs regarding the City Council and other opponents of a shelter for the homeless. One good looker did say she liked my penchant for irreverent and not-political- ly-correct topics, so that was rewarding. And no one asked about C. Larimer, so that was encouraging. *** I regret to inform readers that the "Fight- ing Sioux" did not fare as well as the "Fight- ing New York Giants." The former was the mascot of the University of North Dakota. The National Collegiate Athletic Associa- tion had urged the Uof ND to drop their American Indian imagery and mascots. The U of ND sued and won, but to prevail, would need the blessings of the two Indian Reser- vations in the area...and only one agreed. So the "Fighting Sioux" mascot is no more. I mention this unfortunate turn because our Red Bluff High School adopted the innocu- ous name "The Spartans" years ago even though ancient Sparta had little in common with our Cow Town. As no one has yet to come forth and challenge it, I wonder if it might have been prudent for the trustees to change from the "The Spartans" to the "Fighting Nomlakis." In this manner, the school might receive a percentage of the casino take. However, it probably would not be worth the...well, the gamble. *** Who said "Friends are God's apology for rela- tives"? I certainly didn't. *** J. Angelo, buyer of my book, found it just the tick- et for bath room reading. He said one chapter at a sit- ting is just right. And A. Muller loaned me a little witty book that might also be considered for "stall" reading. It is titled, "Plato And A Platypus Walk Into A Bar..." and sub titled, "Understanding philoso- phy through jokes," by Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein. Under the heading of "Reason versus Divine Revela- tion: A man falls into a deep well and tum- bles 100 feet before he can grab a tree root, looks upward and cries out, "Help! Is any- body up there?" The clouds part and a deep voice booms out, "I, the Lord, am here. Let go of the root and I will save you." The guy thinks for a moment and then shouts, "Any- body else up there?" *** Police Log in DN: "Corning police reported a goose on the loose on Meadow Brook and later on Fifth Street." Report goes on to say that the goose is no longer on the loose, which provoked this inane limerick: In Corning, there once was a goose, Who was truant and, without question, loose. The cops nabbed the fellow, whose bot- tom was yellow, And were thankful the droppings weren't from a moose." Anon *** Last week's quiz was answered by J. Angelo who spelled "that" without any "r's" (refer to quiz for the question), the War of 1812 was fought between 1812 and 1815, and that fast dogs run in a greyhound race. This week's quiz...and think carefully and literally: If you throw a red stone in blue water, what will it become, where was the Declaration of Independence signed, and what looks like half an apple? *** Robert Minch I Say According to the Wall Street Journal, makers of meat substitutes such as vegetarian turkey and fake sausages are working more closely to mimic the taste and texture of the real thing. To entice consumers, fake meat manufacturers are experimenting with vegetable based fat for marbling and extruded soy proteins to mimic muscle fibers, all because con- sumers want to feel their teeth tearing into real meat. Sigh. Such an unnecessary end run when all one has to do is pick up a steak at the supermarket. We do at least twice a week and appear none the worse for our selection. *** A reader writes of a harrowing experi- ence: Several days ago I left a meeting at the church and could not locate my car keys. I looked everywhere for them and finally fig- ured I had left them in my car while recall- ing, with embarrassment, my wife warning me not to do so. Frantically I raced to the parking lot only to discover the parking lot was empty! I immediately called the police and confessed I had left my keys in my car and it had been stolen. I then called my wife and told her what I had done and that my car had been stolen. There was a moment of silence and then she said, "You car was not stolen. I dropped you off at the church, remember?" Now it was my turn to be silent and then I finally said I was sorry and to please come and get me. She replied, "I will, as soon as I convince this policeman I have not stolen your car." Robert Minch is a lifelong resident of Red Bluff, former columnist for the Corning Daily Observer and Meat Industry magazine and author of the "The Knocking Pen." He can be reached at rminchandmurray@hotmail.com. "90 Years Ago..." selection on page 2A — it reported the success of rehearsals for a min- strel show in Red Bluff back in 1921. When I was gather- ing items for the fea- ture a week or two back, I thought this was an interesting, though somewhat trou- blesome, peek into the community's past. I considered not using it for fear of offending readers, but decided the uglier parts of our past are just as important to remember as our treasured her- itage. So far, not a peep about the