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4A Daily News – Thursday, March 1, 2012 Opinion How can I spot 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 the liberals Editor: In the Opinion section of this paper, I notice that a few con- tributors write about Liberals and how these Liberals and their institutions and organizations should be avoided. I address this question to a 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 Mr. Les Wolfe because he writes a lot about these Liberals and how bad they are, so hope- fully he can help me. Please tell me how I can spot them. In a room full of people, what should I look for? What should I look for in bumper stickers, logos on shirts, ball caps, jack- ets., etc.? What restaurants, gas sta- tions, local stores, banks do they frequent? I've tried spotting one around town, but need help. I even found myself distracted in Church wondering if Liberals were in attendance. This is not good and it is why I decided to write this letter. As if that weren't scary enough, Mr. Wolfe described Yale as being Liberal because their professors produce Liberal attorneys who support Liberal things,or words to that effect. I didn't go to Yale for my college degree, but I thought it was a pretty good university. How did it get on the Liberal list? What did the University do? More important, how do I spot the graduates? Are they all Liberal or just those with law degrees? What other colleges and universities, in Mr. Wolfe's opinion, are Lib- eral and where should I go to spot and avoid one of their grad- uates? Can someone be a little bit Liberal or are they always entirely that way? I got a little confused in one letter by Mr. Wolfe when he went on about horned beetles and spotted owls in the midst of determining whose a Liberal or not. Heck, I ramble too and can relate. Still, I am hoping he can define a Liberal for me. I really hope to be enlightened because right now when I walk down Main Street, I just see people and they smile at me and say hello. Jan Petersen, Red Bluff Community service Editor: "An obligation is a require- ment to take some course of action, whether legal or moral." "Etymologically a privilege (privilegium) means a "private law," or rule relating to a specif- ic individual or institution." I recently conducted a little research, for myself, on these two words so that I might understand them better as they relate to how I might serve my community better. "Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions." For me to be able to serve my community it is "required" that I make an obligation and to con- sider this service a privilege. I take this service as my own pri- vate law or rule to myself in order to benefit the place where I live and the people I serve and organizations that I am a mem- ber of. There are many volunteers in each community who consider community service an obligation and a privi- lege because each vol- unteer or group of vol- unteers realizes that in rough economic times like these our govern- ment agencies (law enforce- ment, councils and boards) and many other service organiza- tions need the extra help. Many volunteers consider helping an honor. "Honor is adherence to what is right. To some people it is also standing by or for some- one." Most volunteers volun- teer because they know about what is right for the agency or service group that they wish to help in the name of their service or other organization. In over thirteen years of vol- unteering in Tehama County I have had the wonderful privi- lege of meeting a lot of people who really meet all the mean- ings of these definitions. When one lives in a smaller commu- nity like Tehama County the feeling of meeting and know- ing many of these people (adults, teens and younger chil- dren alike) well, there's no feeling like it. describe it because there's such a rich mixture and blend of kindness and empathy for oth- ers. But even with this it's probably not enough. More volunteers are "required" in order to meet some needs of others. What's also important is Your Turn how we treat these volunteers. They make mistakes but they are "in the arena," doing what very few will do. Treat volun- teers kindly. They are all priceless. Many of these vol- unteers are in so many groups that I can't men- tion them all here. But it does give me a feeling of warmth to know that so many people in Tehama County care about children, the elderly and veter- ans as much as they do. Children are our future and as the Police Activities League states, "The future is now!" Another quote of fact: "Every child needs another healthy adult in their life," and the Young Marines national motto, "Strengthening the lives of America's youth." What is your organization's I can't really motto? Every volunteer orga- nization in Tehama County that I know of affects a child, an elderly person or a veteran in some way. Whatever your motto or organization's vision is, believe in it by following it. It's not only a privilege and honor it is an obligation of citi- zenship. John Minton, 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. Obama owes the military an apology Commentary Forgiveness is a discipline that transcends cultures and bridges many divides when words fail. Without it, the world would look like the chaotic mess that is Afghanistan these days, where an alleged Quran burning by the U.S. military supposedly inspired deadly riots and the murder of U.S. troops. The more the Obama admin- istration apologizes for the burn- ing, the more it fuels the swel- tering rage within those who would much rather watch the world burn than to live in peace. Ahem. So, why are we apologiz- ing, yet again? Because we have an administration that would rather bow to Saudi kings or to political pressure than stand up for the men and women who stand in harm's way. What was the Obama admin- istration thinking when it sent senior Pentagon official Peter Lavoy to apologize to a group of D.C. area Muslims during their prayer services at ADAMS Cen- ter in Sterling, Virginia on Feb- ruary 24, 2012? Reports say Lavoy apologized numerous times during his brief speech at the Adams Center, which, inci- dentally, is one of the largest mosques in America. According to a February 25 Fox News report, Lavoy told the group, the books were burned "unknowingly and improperly" and said our military "neglected, out of ignorance, long-estab- lished, correct procedures for handling religious materials." The Defense Department pro- cedures he was most likely referring to instructs our mili- tary to handle the Quran using "clean gloves" that must be "put on in full view of the detainees prior to handling," using two hands "at all times...in manner signaling respect and rever- ence," and handling it "as if it were a fragile piece of delicate art." Lavoy reminded listeners that a string of Obama administra- tion apologies to the Muslim world had already been lifted up by way of ISAF Commander General John Allen and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta as well as a personal letter written by President Obama and personally delivered to Afghan President Hamid Karzai via U.S. Ambas- sador Ryan Crocker. Lavoy reiterated "that apolo- gies are never enough and do not erase this incident," and then really stepped in it when he promised "We will hold people appropriately accountable." Sounds good. But, there are two sides to every story. Promis- ing that people will be held "appropriately accountable" without full disclosure as to the circumstances surrounding the incident is disingenuous con- sidering that the people to be held "accountable" may very well be scapegoats. I'll admit I'm a bit defen- sive, because I have family members who faithfully serve. Here's the skinny: CBS News reported February 21, 2012 that an anonymous "mili- tary official with knowledge of the inci- dent" said it appeared the Qurans and "other Islamic readings were being used to fuel extremism, and that detainees at Parwan Detention Facility were writing on the documents to exchange extremist messages." Representative Allen West (R-FL) who was appointed to both the House Armed Services Committee and Emerging Threats and Capabilities Sub- committee concurs with the CBS report. In his February 26, 2012 newsletter, West said the Parwan detainees "used the Koran [Quran] to write jihadist messages." Based on this information, the detainees, and not the mili- tary, are to blame for the inci- dent because they defiled their own sacred books, hence vio- lating both Islamic cultural practices and the Parwan Detention facility contraband rules. Susan Brown According to the same CBS report, Islamic teaching mandates that defiled Qurans be "burned or buried" meaning there is much ado about nothing because the military followed Islamic teaching as well as their own procedures for disposal of con- traband. I just put my boots on because it's get- ting quite deep around here; shoveling manure is dirty business. As I see it, the only apology needed is to the U.S. military, which once again did their duty and are being blamed for it. Susan Stamper Brown is an op-ed columnist, motivational speaker, military family advocate and grief counselor who writes about politics, the military, the economy and culture. she can be reached at susan@susanstamperbrown.co m.