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GregStevens,Publisher Chip Thompson, Editor EDITORIALBOARD 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 By Stan Statham FortyyearsagoImeta good Democrat named Ken Green while I was still reg- istered a good Republican. Now, I am what I hope is a good "Decline to State." In 1976, I had just an- nounced my intention to run for the California State As- sembly to replace retiring As- semblywoman Pauline Da- vis from Portola. One of the things I decided to do during this first run for elective of- fice was to go after my oppo- sition in the Democrat party. The first person I told of my plan was Ray Narbaitz, my former co-anchor on KHSL- TV in Chico. After that I decided to try to meet Mr. Green from Cot- tonwood, who I did not know at the time. Ken Green was the Business Agent for the Operating Engi- neers Union. I really wanted Ken's support. He was what I call a "man's man." He told me personally several times that he was a "cotton pickin' Oakie," but he also empha- sized that strangers better not refer to him in those terms. On the other hand I was a different kind of guy, a slick, blow dried, hair sprayed an- chorman who was still read- ing that nightly news with Ray on channel 12 in Chico. In my first private meet- ing with Ken I asked him for his personal endorsement. I have always remembered that he said; "Partner, I can't help you now. But, you are going to win anyway." I asked him why he thought that was the case. I also asked Ken, if I actu- ally did win the seat, would he meet with me again and introduce me to the political people he knew and also talk about all the union issues that he thinks I should be aware of. He said he would. Little did I know that Ray Narbaitz and Ken Green would become two of the best friends I have ever had. I would like to tell you some- thing personal about each of these two friends of mine. A couple of days after my 57% win I did call Ken and asked if we could follow through on our previous con- versation. In his typical, di- rect style he said; "You're the man. Where and when?" For the next few decades he would drive to my moun- tain cabin in Oak Run east of Redding to talk politics and work with me on my forest land. We became so close that about in 2013 we even prom- ised each other we would take care of the other guy's wife when one of us did eventually pass on. Ray Narbaitz's wife Bette very accurately described him once as "Stan's savvy spokes- man." That was a dead-on bull's eye. Ray can intelli- gently talk about anything. I never wanted to lose either one of these guys, but un- fortunately Ken died in 2013 from COPD. Mrs. Ken Green asked me to officiate at Ken's funeral. It was a very sad honor. In my heart and mind I will always value Ken and Ray's friend- ships. Mytakeonthemovies Now, my movie review. Like any good American I like watching Batman and Super- man, but the new film "Bat- man vs. Superman" did not do it for me. This Batman film was a little too dark and the special effects people also had Superman flying way too fast for me. However, I know this movie will be making big bucks for Hollywood, but I prefer the original movies of both of these super heroes. Thus, I suggest everyone wait and standby for the next sequels. StanStathamserved1976- 1994 in the California Assembly and was a television news anchor at KHSL-TV in Chico 1965- 1975. He is past president of the California Broadcasters Association and can be reached at StanStatham@ gmail.com. Commentary My take on enduring friendship I really wanted Ken's support. He was what I call a "man's man." He told me personally several times that he was a "cotton pickin' Oakie," but he also emphasized that strangers better not refer to him in those terms. CCW permits and school campuses Editor: Recently the Governor signed a bill banning legal CCW per- mittees from carrying concealed handguns on school campuses. Individuals with CCW per- mits are thoroughly vetted by lo- cal law enforcement, have their fingerprints and photo submit- ted to the CA DOJ for a vigorous background check, are required to take and pass a gun handling, safety and self-defense course conducted by a State certified instructor. In short they are up- standing, law abiding citizens. School boards possess the le- gal right to pass a resolution al- lowing teachers, parents and others with valid CCW permits to carry concealed weapons on school grounds. As a grandparent — with chil- dren enrolled at Corning and Red Bluff high schools, and Corning and Richfield elemen- tary schools — I respectfully call upon these school boards to pass resolutions which would al- low CCW permittees to carry concealed on their campuses. If a worst case scenario were ever to happen, teachers and oth- ers with CCW permits would at least have a chance to defend themselves and our kids until law enforcement has time to ar- rive. Thankfully the recent lock- down of Corning High ended well, and as always our police of- ficers from a number of agencies did a fantastic job. The problem revolves around what may pos- sibly occur before law enforce- ment arrives on scene. A completely "gun free zone" is an open invitation for de- mented individuals to choose a school where they can tar- get defenseless children and school staff. Crazies who go on shooting rampages are likely to choose gun free zones be- cause they can at least assume that they can shoot defenseless people; thus explaining why we rarely if ever hear of these kind of attacks occurring at police stations, gun shows and other venues where they might en- counter armed resistance. — Dean Cofer, Corning LaMalfa and money Editor: Folks in the Santa Ynez Val- ley, over 600 miles from Doug LaMalfa's congressional district, can't understand why he spon- sored a bill in congress to take 1,400 acres out of the voters' hands and into the Chumash In- dian gaming reservation? Follow the money. In his current run for con- gress, 10 out of 20 top contribu- tors to LaMalfa's campaign are Indian gambling interests. And, 80 percent of his money comes from outside the 1st district. If you find this hard to believe, go to www.opensecrets.org, which has a complete breakdown of who is funding LaMalfa's cam- paign. Go figure. When you have money, you can buy anything. Even your very own congress- man. Voters in the 1st District take notice. If LaMalfa is okay with eliminating the voters in Santa Barbara County, what will he do, or has he done, in his own dis- trict for money? — Mike Brady, Los Olivos Easter or spring vacation? Editor: As I was driving into town last Friday, I noticed that the sign at the Antelope School said Spring Break, Mar. 25-Apr. 3. I didn't realize it right away but then I remembered that Fri- day was Mar 25. So why was the school closed on Friday? They are taking the whole week off staring Monday, so why did they need to take an ex- tra day, the kids were going to be away from school for 9 days. When I reached my destina- tion I asked several mothers why their kids were out of school and all they could say was "that is what the school decided." About an hour later I asked a couple of teenagers why they were out of school on Friday. They also didn't know, only to say that the school didn't like them and that is why they had the day off. I mentioned that they were out of school because of Easter. They mumbled a few words, like most teenage kids do. When I mentioned that it was Good Friday, they didn't know what that meant, I told them that is the day that Jesus Christ died on the cross and they said who is Jesus? By now I am really getting worried about the educa- tion of our children. The mother of one of the teen- agers said that she thought that Jesus died on Wednesday. I cor- rected her and she said really. There was another women next to her and she turned to me and asked if I was a teacher. I said no, and she said that I should be and that I should go to the schools and teach about Easter. The mother of the one teen- ager who asked about Jesus, said that the school was teach- ing them about Greek gods. I am hoping that maybe later on in the class they will talk about Jesus, but why not just teach it now, during Easter. Why do the schools always take their spring break at Easter time and by the way, they do the same thing at Christmas when they take off from school for their "holiday vacation?" Why not in the mid- dle of April? So my conclusion is that the kids today know nothing about religion and that schools should go back and call it Easter and Christmas vacations. The teen- agers said they were going to ask their teacher why they had Friday off and I am hoping that they do and that the mother will tell me what the teacher said. Our government declared Christmas a legal holiday to cel- ebrate the birth of Jesus and has acknowledged that Easter cele- brates his resurrection. But, be- cause of the PC folks, now the government calls these precious and historic holidays spring break and happy holidays so as not to offend anyone. As a Christian, I am offended that the government no longer cares about my feelings. Parents, once we lose religion we have lost it all. — Ken Swanson, Red Bluff Your opinions Cartoonist's take By Danny Tyree I'm guessing my late father felt more empathy for me than he let on, back in 1981 when my girlfriend unceremoniously broke up with me. Dad was stoic about the whole thing; but when I was going through some of his be- longings long after his death 19 years later, I discovered that he himself had received a "Dear John" letter from his girlfriend while he was serv- ing his country in the United States Army. Both of our letdowns were handled "Old School" style. But according to the CNN story "Breakup Service Does Lovers' Dirty Work," the paradigm has shifted. A new Canadian business called Breakup Shop sells var- ious package deals for getting rid of your significant other for you, utilizing phone calls, texts and (sometimes gross) vi- sual aids. The main selling point of Breakup Shop seems to be that it's a tad less cruel than "ghost- ing," denying a lover real clo- sure by suddenly and com- pletely ignoring them across all social media and hop- ing they take a hint. I can see this rationalization lead- ing to a whole new cliche cop- out for lawbreakers. Yes, at the scene of 10-car pileups, liquor store heists and mass mur- ders, the police will hear, "Why aren't you out catching the real ghosters?" The target age range for Breakup Shop and its handful (so far) of competitors is under 25, so of course there are re- curring themes in the explana- tions for the breakups: "We no longer see eye-to-eye (although we never have, because of, you know, the omnipresent smart- phones)," "You're too clingy — when are you ever going to toss last year's model of Blue- tooth?" and "The feeling's just not there anymore (although that may just be chronic numb- ness from playing with my tab- let 24-7." Some observers welcome the arrival of services such as Breakup Shop, lamenting that breakup surrogates weren't available earlier in history, like at the beginning of the Civil War. The Confederates could have saved all that bombard- ing-Fort-Sumter jazz and just sent the Union a telegram ex- pressing, "Yaaaaaa-hooooo!" Older folks fear that the tacky new way of ending a re- lationship destroys the learn- ing process that comes from let-it-all-hang-out, face-to-face breakups. In "The Music Man," Professor Harold Hill sang about "the sadder but wiser girl". Our future may be filled with "eh, whatever" girls. Even the old spare-their- feelings "Honest, it's not you, it's me" speech has changed for the worse in the era of im- personal breakups. "Honest, it's not you — it's me, and the other breakup service reps, and the janitor and the board of directors—nah, how could ALL of us be wrong? You're a loser!" I'm worried that breakup services will become an entitle- ment, wrapped up in the fight over civil rights and income in- equality. Bernie Sanders will see to it that poor people don't have to settle for the no-frills breakup package. "A chicken in every pot and a chance to dump Jennifer Lawrence in ev- ery coffee shop!" What if the services be- come a crutch and mankind completely loses the ability to break up on its own? If there is some sort of disaster, the post- apocalyptic population will be flailing about, incapable of sev- ering relationships that need severing. "Yes, yes, I enjoyed your mud pies back in the day, and I still like you like you, but can you just shut up and cash your Social Security check?" Danny Tyree welcomes email responses at tyreetyrades@aol. com and visits to his Facebook fan page Tyree's Tyrades. Commentary Would you hire someone to break up with your lover? OPINION » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, March 31, 2016 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A6