Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/5650
4A – Daily News – Wednesday, December 30, 2009 A MediaNews Group newspaper 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. 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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 Opinion Ah, the new year is upon us. The media has been featuring stories of rich, famous people who died in 2009. Let me share the story of one of the wealthiest fellows I ever met. His name was John Swiatek. He died a week ago, just shy of his 84th birthday. John was born in 1925, the only son in a family with six daughters. His family lived in a row house on Pittsburgh's North Side. He was barely 5 when the Depression hit. His family strug- gled for years. He didn't know the joy of indoor plumbing until he was in his teens. By financial measures, his family was poor, but John didn't know it. They had a roof over their heads, enough food to eat — they had laughter and caring neighbors. He graduated from high school in 1942 at age 17 and passed on a college basketball scholarship to enlist in the Navy. World War II was under way. He was on a ship in the South Pacific when a typhoon hit. The ship sank in enemy territory. John hid in a cave and scav- enged for food at night. He survived the ordeal. One day, while walking down the streets of Iwo Jima, he bumped into his brother-in-law, who was also serving in the Navy. They enjoyed a brief reunion. His brother-in-law was killed the next day, when the Japanese sank the ship on which he served. John made it home, though. He went on a blind date with Anna Mae O'Toole. He was of 100-percent Polish heritage, she of 100-percent Irish heritage. It was a match made in heav- en. They would have four chil- dren and 12 grandchildren. John took work as a fireman. His first fire was in a warehouse on Pittsburgh's South Side. He and the veteran fireman who was training him were fighting the blaze when a high-voltage wire broke loose. The wire whipped about vio- lently. It just missed John but hit the fireman next to him, killing the other fireman instantly. John worked as a fireman the next 23 years. He always had at least two jobs — sometimes three. He set aside every penny to provide for his family -- he sent his kids to pri- vate schools and saved for their college educa- tions. Material things never impressed him. He had a modest home, a basic car. All he cared about was his family. John never became famous or financially well-to-do. He never got embroiled in sala- cious scandals that put his mug all over the tube. He was an honest man who paid his bills on time. He was a firm but loving father, his oldest son said, and his example had a powerful impact on his children and grandchildren. He was a good neighbor. He became the surrogate father to a young man living next door, whose father had been taken early. Our civilization was built on the shoulders of such fellows — men who toil, sacrifice and pro- vide in silence. John had no way of knowing it but the decisions he made in his life would benefit total strangers. His honesty and goodness would take root in his children and his children's children — character traits that are benefit- ing my family now. My sister married John's youngest son, a good man like his father. As this year winds down and the media dwell on the rich and famous, I thought it important to share the story of a genuine American hero. As I said, John Swiatek was one of the wealthiest fellows I ever met. 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. John Swiatek — A truly wealthy man Commentary N EWS D AILY RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY 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 Tom Purcell STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 4164 P.O. Box 942849, Sacramento 94249; (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319- 2102 STATE SENATOR — Sam Aanestad (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 2054, Sacramen- to, CA 95814. (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), 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; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Your officials Inexcusable Editor: During this past year, I have taken three trips with three dif- ferent airlines. Having had a knee replacement, I expect each time to be subjected to a body search and, even though at 88 years of age I am an unlikely threat, I am never disappointed. I get the works. How could a 23-year-old who is already listed as a poten- tial terrorist, walk into an air- port without luggage and buy a ticket with cash and not be sub- jected to a body search? Then after he attempted to bring down an aircraft with 278 people on board, he stated that he has had ties with Islamic fanatics in Yemen, and our pres- ident and our Homeland Securi- ty Secretary have both stated that this is an isolated incident. Now he is being treated as if he held up a 7-Eleven instead of being a war criminal and no doubt will be provided with a public defender and come under the protection of our Constitu- tion. Pretty scary. Kay Haley, Red Bluff Fire safety Editor: I like the articles by the Red Bluff policeman. They are informative and have answered my questions about the Califor- nia Vehicle Code. In particular, was the clarifi- cation about the school zone speed restriction law. If kids are anywhere at school, not neces- sarily out by the front road, the law applies. Now what prompts me to write you is a concern about something I heard at the market: the clerk told me a lady regular- ly buys propane cylinders to heat her house. These are those small green tanks people use for Coleman stoves and camping lanterns. I believe there is an attachment with a heat-reflect- ing dish that is used with them, but they are intended for garages or areas that are vented. This is dangerous both from the perspective of fire and asphyxi- ation. As long as people are going to do stupid things, I guess we need experts to advise them. This might be the case of some- one so poor, they are desperate. Nonetheless, I am wondering if you might see the value in hav- ing a reporter interview a fire- man with the idea of addressing this topic, including seasonal tips about tree lights, flue clean- ing, etc. It is my hope that such guid- ance might save lives. Than you so much for the great communi- ty service your newspaper per- forms. Paul Quinn, Los Molinos Kindness, not stupidity Editor: Hello, My Name is Katie McFadyen. I am the girl that gave Rodney (the deer) to Thora (Adcock) when I was 14. We used to be neighbors. One day I was out riding with my cousin and found Rodney. We didn't take him right on the spot, but when two hours had past I went went back and saved him. I then took him to my house at the time in Los Moli- nos. He slept with me in my bed. He's potty trained and is just like a puppy. When I had to leave my home it was bad enough for me to have to leave my horses, but the only thing that seemed right at the time was to give Rodney to Thora. She had watched him before and already knew what he was like and how he acted. I feel just as responsible for this deer as she does. Not too long ago there was a doe named Dilly that was all over the news. Nothing happened to her. Why? I know it's already too late but it would make me feel so much better if people knew that Thora was doing this out of the kindness of her heart not out of stupidity. Katie McFadyen, Red Bluff Don't reward foolish behavior Editor: Weekly there is another reward from Obama or his par- tisan Congress for foolish behavior. The latest planned reward is forgiving part of the mortgage loan for those who foolishly borrowed a home for nothing down, at below prime interest, at double the home's historic value. In August, gas-guzzler owners were rewarded with $4,500 for buying a new vehi- cle, an offer not available to those who bought fuel-eco- nomical cars these past 40 years. Those who temporarily bor- rowed a home using sub-prime loans are offered modified tax- payer subsidized low interest loans to avoid foreclosure. Those loans aren't available for responsible borrowers. Those who bought luxuries such as gas-guzzling vehicles, cell phones, large screen TVs, restaurant meals, and vaca- tions instead of health insur- ance, will soon receive ObamaCare subsidies for their foolish behavior. UAW union mem- bers who caused the bankruptcy of GM and Chrysler with their pay and benefits double that of non-union manufacturing workers, are rewarded with lifetime pensions and health insurance. Responsible non- union workers and the millions of stockholders are the losers; who must pay for the foolish behavior of UAW members. Government sponsored sci- entists who committed fraud by ignoring evidence opposing humans as a global warming factor, are rewarded with full employment grants for their foolish behavior. The respon- sible scientists who found evi- dence that global warming and cooling is primarily sun caused must bear the carbon tax burden of this political scandal. It is time to put a stop to the government redistribution of hard-earned wealth and social- ization of our former democra- cy. Those who for decades had responsible behavior are being punished by the liberal gov- ernment support of foolish behavior. Joseph Neff, Corning Your Turn