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"Everythingischanging.Peoplearetaking comedians seriously and politicians as a joke." — Will Rogers The world around us erupts with violence, vitriol, and simple answers to complex is- sues. Ithasbeendisconcert- ing to consider the loss of life in the recent San Ber- nardino shoot- ing particularly in the wake of the Paris massa- cre, but it is al- most laughable to listen to the programmed re- sponses from public figures about the event. With so called "social media" these days, everyone has a pul- pit from which to pontifi- cate his or her version of the "truth" of the matter and to tell us whatever next steps might be needed. Sometimes the bombardment of opinions is almost as upsetting as the events they respond to. I feel like I am under at- tack. The fact that we are in "spring training" for the Pres- idential primaries adds to the cacophony of discord that echoes like thunder through- out the swirling atmosphere of our lives. We cringe at the parade of exaggerated claims and the distorted history the candidates proffer to us, and we are angry that they be- lieve that we will actually ac- cept the drivel they try to feed us. I feel insulted. With so much negativ- ity and blather it is difficult to maintain sanity; while we hear about guns, walls, regis- tration of people, the inade- quacy of our government, and the need to feel paranoid, we wonder what normal used to be before "social" media, in- stant news, and no respite from the constant blaring. We hear about the massive numbers of mass shootings as well as their infrequency; random data are used to back opposite points of view. We learn the fact that Exxon ac- knowledges climate change but some of the all-knowing candidates do not. We hear about the huge number of guns in America, and we ar- gue over which statistics to accept; we grow numb. I am reminded of the re- mark that Adlai Stevenson made about Eleanor Roos- evelt during his memorial for her: "She would rather light a candle than curse the dark- ness…" If we would light more can- dles and fewer fires, we might calm down enough to sort our way through the complex- ities we have created. Some- one once said if you have been complaining for three minutes, you should have stopped two minutes ago and done something. Each of us needs to be about doing something. When we look at a lit can- dle we can focus on a sin- gle light source, we can con- template, and think more clearly. In Christianity we lis- ten to Jesus who said to seek the kingdom of God and live righteously, and then all else will be added to you. Once we have focused on the candle of righteousness and tried to live accordingly we are ready to enter into dialogue with others. Dialogue is not argu- ment, it is not ranting, it is not convincing, it is seeking understanding. At this point we are ready for next steps. Kierkegaard emphasized this when he said: "Life can only be under- stood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Each of us can take the time to put things into per- spective, bury our anger and hurt, and try to understand rather than react. As Dale Carnegie said not too long ago:" Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain but it takes character and self-con- trol to be understanding and forgiving." So what do we do here in little old Red Bluff? Where do we fit into this puzzle we call life? How do we prepare for the future? How can we im- pact that future? Does each of us have a role to play? We have some local issues that have become polariz- ing; the expansion of the jail is one. If we start with the premise the jail is inadequate and that funding is limited, we can go forth to develop plans that make sense given the limitations we face. Sim- ilarly, we can take our ball and go home to the "State of Jefferson" or we can use our existing political system to meet our reasonable con- cerns. As the year winds down and we look forward to 2016, let's take time to see what we can do individually to make a positive difference. ••• I find myself humming Ru- dolph the Red Nosed Rein- deer morphing into Frosty the Snowman and then the Christmas Song; these seem to be automatic reflexes for this special time of the year. This is the season for intro- spection and perhaps melan- choly; the waning of the cal- endar year, the holidays, the events in our individual lives, and the events around us all conspire to encourage us to stop and think, to take stock, to consider who we are and how we fit into this puzzle we call life. In our family we each have a birthday, a son's birthday, and two grandsons' birth- days, a fiftieth wedding anni- versary this year, and various holiday visits and celebra- tions, all starting just before Thanksgiving and continuing through the New Year. It is a time for many happy tears. Last night we put our first fire in the fireplace and re- laxed in its glow in our safe retreat from the world. It was refreshing. Enjoy the season. JoeHarropisaretired educator with more than 30 years of service to the North State. He can be reached at JoeHarrop Candlelight vigils are becoming far too common Cartoonist's take ConcernsoverWalnuttraffic Editor: I am a resident of Red Bluff and do enjoy my neighborhood. Coming soon to my area will be the new courthouse on Walnut Street. I reside on Dumosa Drive and fell that it will become un- safe with all the new traffic if we don't get a traffic light. The inter- section of Walnut and Dumosa will be heavy with traffic go- ing to school, work and this new courthouse. I am writing you to look into this safety issue. I will completely support the idea of a new traffic light for cars and foot traffic. Thank you for your consider- ation. — Catheryn Gonzalez, Red Bluff Trafficdangerloomson Walnut Editor: I am employed five days a week as a housekeeper in the Bidwell Oaks subdivision. I have noticed that the traffic is becom- ing more congested and many of the crosswalks are unprotected. Many drivers speed through town like the law does not ap- ply to them. I have come close to being hit plus I have witnessed many close calls of accidents from speeders cutting in front of other vehicles. Not too long ago there was a wreck out on Paskenta and Walnut. Once the new courthouse is finished and running, there will be more congestion. I have two concerns. My first is for our chil- dren who go to Bidwell School. A lot of parents walk their chil- dren to school or let them walk with friends. Without a traf- fic light and crosswalk signal, their chances of being hit will in- crease. My second concern is our bus drivers. They are responsible for the lives of their passengers and making sure they get to their destination safe and sound. But who will look after the drivers? So in conclusion we need a traffic signal and crosswalk sig- nal so traffic can flow easily and people are safe. We don't need to plan any unnecessary funerals. — Tammy Hunt, Red Bluff Inresponsetocolumnist Editor: In response to Robert Minch's column on Dec. 4. Bob says "The NRA says guns don't kill people, people kill peo- ple. However, in the case of all random senseless killings the weapons of choice do not appear to be pitchforks." I certainly do not want to downplay the horrific slaughter and maiming of innocent people — Christians — by a Muslim hus- band and wife committing Jihad. This was not a random act of ter- ror, it was an intended target. It is just an example of what has happened and what we can ex- pect by like-minded radical Mus- lims in the future and gun con- trol will not solve the problem. These Muslims had plenty of bombs and plans for other tar- gets. The gun doesn't function unless someone pulls the trigger and honest citizens don't point a gun and pull the trigger on inno- cent people. However, there may come a day when you see an honest citi- zen who is there to pull the trig- ger on some nut case, as I am sure these poor innocent people in San Bernardino would like to have seen. There is a saying that is proof positive "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to re- peat it." What happens when govern- ments pass laws that deny their citizens the right to keep and bear arms? These are some of the countries that passed strict gun laws denying ownership of guns and what happens afterward. Ottoman Turkey, 1915-1917, ci- vilians killed: 1-1.5 million. Soviet Union 1929-1945, political op- ponents, farming communities, killed: 20 million. Nazi Germany and occupied Europe, 1933-1945 killed: 20million political oppo- nents, Jews, Gypsies and critics. Red China 1949-1976 killed: 20- 35 million political opponents, rural populations and enemies of the state. These are the worst of the worst; there are many smaller countries in Central and South America, Africa and more. Don't be so eager to give up our Second Amendment right, it may just come in handy. — Les Wolfe, Red Bluff HappySolsticeeveryone Editor: Don't you know that is what this celebration is actually all about? What makes you think it has anything to do with Jesus Christ? First of all the New Testament never identifies the date of His birth. Secondly, it no where de- mands or even recommends we celebrate it. For you Biblically il- literates let me break it down for you. Jesus' cousin John was 6 months older than Him. John was conceived around Passover which coincides with Easter. This year Passover fell around April 30th of course the date changes from year to year but it's usu- ally around April. So we go six month ahead to see Christ must have been conceived around Oc- tober of that year. Another nine months brings us to June or July the most probable time of his birth. And a time when shep- herds were more likely to be in the fields watching their flock. And by the way, any Biblical scholar will tell you that the vir- gin birth thing was a mistransla- tion not an actuality. Where and when did the Christmas customs originate? Well you'd have a hard time find- ing any of them commanded by God in the scriptures. Look at what Jeremiah says about a Christmas tree in the 10th chap- ter of that book Christians are supposed to live by. Now I'm not saying you shouldn't celebrate this Decem- ber 25th in anyway you please. I'm just suggesting you call it what the ancient Romans did, which was Saturnalia or call it what it is, which is the winter Solstice. Now you all have a merry Sat- urnalia and a happy new Year. — Orville Strong, Gerber It'stimetobeginputting Americafirst Editor: Plenty of controversy these days regarding whether or not the US should accept refugees from Syria. US intelligence and law en- forcement agencies have ad- vised they lack, in many cases, the information necessary to properly vet each refugee. Hidden among them may very well be terrorists aligned with ISIS, intent upon doing se- rious harm to American citi- zens. So, what is the best course of action you ask? Consider this. You have in your posses- sion a bunch of 100 delicious grapes. Two grapes are deadly if eaten. Do you take a chance and feed the grapes to your family, hoping you can avoid the two deadly grapes? Or, do you reject the entire bunch? Dare I say, it's time to be- gin putting America and all her families first. — Pete Stiglich, Cottonwood Letters to the editor We have some local issues that have become polarizing; the expansion of the jail is one. If we start with the premise the jail is inadequate and that funding is limited, we can go forth to develop plans that make sense given the limitations we face. 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 Joe Harrop State and National Assemblyman James Gallagher, 2060 Talbert Drive, Ste. 110, Chico 95928, 530 895- 4217, http://ad03.asmrc.org/ Senator Jim Nielsen, 2634 Forest Ave., Ste. 110, Chico 95928, 530 879-7424, senator. nielsen@senate.ca.gov Governor Jerry Brown, State Capital Building, Sacramento 95814, 916 445-2841, fax 916 558-3160, governor@governor. ca.gov U.S. Representative Doug La- Malfa, 507 Cannon House Of- fice Building, Washington D.C. 20515, 202 225-3076 U.S. Senator Dianne Fein- stein, One Post St., Ste. 2450, San Francisco 94104, 415 393- 0707, fax 415 393-0710 U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, 1700 Montgomery St., San Fran- cisco 94111, 510 286-8537, fax 202 224-0454 Local Tehama County Supervisors, 527-4655 District 1, Steve Chamblin, Ext. 3015 District 2, Candy Carlson, Ext. 3014 District 3, Dennis Garton, Ext. 3017 District 4, Bob Williams, Ext. 3018 District 5, Burt Bundy, Ext. 3016 Red Bluff City Manager, Rich- ard Crabtree, 527-2605, Ext. 3061 Corning City Manager, John Brewer, 824-7033 Your officials OPINION » redbluffdailynews.com Saturday, December 12, 2015 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A4