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6A Daily News – Wednesday, February 15, 2012 Opinion Afather's love for his son 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 Ah, the middle of February. We all know what that means: Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue has arrived. And that means some folks, such as those in the American Decency Association (ADA), will voice concerns about exploitation of women. "Sports Illustrated DISRE- SPECTS women by displaying demeaning stereotypes of female sexuality," says the ADA's website. "The swimsuit issue features women models posed not as athletes of strength, skill, and endurance but as play- things ... ." That may be true, but here's what is also true: We men are also being exploited here. Look, it's the middle of win- ter. We men have suffered a week without football. With free time on our hands, we find our- selves lost in self-examination. We fret over our winter flab. We wish we'd chosen different career paths. We fear we'll never amount to anything worthy. The Sports Illustrated people understand our woes all too well. They know we're down in the dumps. They know we're vul- nerable. They know we'll cough What America needs now is? I hear that question asked a lot these days by our trusted politi- cians. They spout various answers that make for good sound bites; but what they fail to realize is that their plans don't work well in Anytown, U.S.A. I know what our coun- try needs now: real men and women, fathers, mothers, husbands and wives. We need more willing male and female role models who are absolutely unafraid of picking up the rock and shouldering the responsi- bilities of positive family values. In that vein, I don't mind telling this story for it represents what I'm talking about. Matthew Fox has a great cheering section this season. He plays basketball on the junior varsity team at Red Bluff High School. His father, Mike, used to coach hoops at the freshman level. Father coached the son during Matthew's first year on campus, but was faced with a dilemma this year. How could dad watch the son play if he was coaching one team and the son was playing on another? Mike Fox did what seemed the natural thing to do: he quit coach- ing. way of spending more time with them, I wrote. Mike wanted to do the same thing. So, he stopped coaching to watch Matthew play not just some of his games, but all of them. When I heard this story, I thought it was pretty amazing. A father giving up something he loved in order to spend more time watching his son. less. To me, it seemed self- To Mike Fox - not so much. "For me, it seemed like an easy choice," he said. "My kids come first so it was a natural decision." C'mon, I thought. Pat Gleason Face Time What would be the big deal if dad missed a game here or there? After all, they ride to school together each and every day; they see each other all the time. My inquiring mind had to know, so I asked. Dad said, "Matthew's not going to play for- ever. In a couple years, he'll grad- uate and I'll never get that chance to see him play high school ball again." As for coaching: "It will always be there. My kids won't always be this age; that's why I don't want to miss any of it." Mike emphasized the word I heard this story some months ago; I recalled it as I wrote my bus stop piece recently. Taking my kids there each morning was my "any." As our conversation contin- ued, he said something that made complete sense to me. "Some don't believe my rea- sons for quitting. But, it was a no- brainer for me. It really wasn't that big a deal," he said. What a concept, I thought: par- ents who put their kids first as if it's no big deal? In an instant, my existence became clear: I live for my kids – and so does my wife. There is no other way to say it. Mike Fox demonstrates what it means for parents to plan their agenda around their kids. For those like him, it's as natural as breathing. I wish more parents would fol- low the same path. Imagine an America where the well-being of our kids was actually a matter of social conscience. To me, it just seems natural. Like the father who walks his daughter in a stroller down the street… Like the mom who holds her son's hand before he gets a shot from the doctor… Like the father who takes his daughter to every dance practice before the recital… Like the mom who takes time off of work to volunteer in her son's class… Like the father who sets the sports page aside to help his own son read… Like the mom who watches her kids sleep in the early morning and acts as their human alarm clock. Simply put, our country needs more of this – right now. Have a great day. ——— Your Turn Nation needs Newt now Editor: I predict Newt Gin- grich may well prove to be America's version of England's World War II, chubby, cigar smoking Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. America badly needs Newt's long political and real world life experi- ences, ASAP. Clyde Muir, Red Bluff Money, not religion prompts pill Editor: Pat Gleason grew up in Los Angeles and has taught English at Red Bluff High School since 1990. He can be reached at phgleaso@rbuhsd.k12.ca.us. Once these institu- tions start hiring people and pay them wages, that takes them away from being a religious entity and puts them in the category of employ- er under the same rules and regulations as any other business. They took away the birth control pill, and make no mistake about it it was not religious but monetary. Is cancer drug next? Bob Hogan, 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), 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. The swimsuit issue Commentary up our hard-earned dough for a momentary escape to exotic beaches, where we can pretend to prance about with bikini-clad babes. Every year, the swimsuit issue uses the same simple formula to exploit us: stunning babes who roll around in the sand, dance on the beach and cling to their skimpy duds and curvy parts as they are hit by waves. Sure, in our overly sexualized culture, these female models may be suffering exploitation. But aren't they exploiting us men, too? Many of the women who pose for the magazine are thrust into supermodel status. The ones who make it onto the cover earn a fortune in endorsements. And many of them go on to date and marry some of the world's rich- est men. But what do we average fel- lows get out of the deal? We get the satisfaction of knowing that we'll never marry, let alone talk to, such world-class knockout beauties. That makes us even more depressed. So we go to cheesy restaurant chains where waitresses wear short shorts and low-cut shirts and exploit us all the more. The coy lasses touch our arms delicately. They give us flirtatious glances. They talk softly and sensuously, the way women do when they know men are about to hand them gobs of money. One of my poor, baldheaded friends falls for this ruse at least four times a month. Despite being coat- ed in hot-wing sauce and stale beer, he is convinced his waitress digs him. His waitress encourages this fiction and is rewarded with a 50 percent tip. Tom Purcell I think I speak for average fellows everywhere when I say I resent that. I resent that some women deliberately target us for our money and are so good at part- ing us from it. I resent that some waitresses can so easily take advantage of hapless, simple-minded men by plying us with a few beers. I resent that Sports Illustrated packs its swimsuit issue with photos of some of the most physically beautiful women in the world, knowing that's all the magazine has to do to get us to buy it. Yeah, our culture places way too much emphasis on physical beauty and sexiness. Young girls are taught by the media that the chief way to win a male's attention is through provocative clothing. None of this is good. And neither is it good for my middle- aged, hair-challenged friends to be taken advantage of by big media outlets and big restaurant chains. It's no wonder I am so dis- gusted when I purchase the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue every year. ——— Tom Purcell, a humor columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, is nationally syndicated exclusively by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate. Visit Tom on the Web at www.TomPurcell.com or e- mail him at Purcell@caglecartoons.com.