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6A Daily News – Tuesday, June 12, 2012 Opinion DAILYNEWS 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. 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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 Day, a celebration of fathers inau- gurated in the early 20th century to complement Mother's Day in cele- brating fatherhood and male par- enting. After the success obtained by Anna Jarvis with the promotion of Mother's Day in the US, some wanted to create similar holidays for other family members, and Father's Day was the choice most likely to succeed. Although there were other persons who indepen- dently thought of "Father's Day" the credit for the modern holiday is given to Sonora Dodd. Its first celebration was in Spokane, Washington on June 19, 1910. Sonora Dodd's father, the Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, was a single parent who reared his six children. After hear- ing a sermon about Mother's Day in 1909, Sonora told her pastor that fathers should have a similar holi- day honoring them. She initially suggested June 5, her father's birthday, but the pastors hadn't enough time to prepare their ser- mons so the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday of June. In the 1920s, Dodd stopped promoting the celebration because she was studying in the Art Insti- tute of Chicago, and it faded into relative obscurity, even in Spokane. She returned to Spokane in the 30's and started promoting the celebration again, raising Fatherhood — a destiny of unknowable proportion This coming Sunday is Father's awareness at a national level. This time she had the help of trade groups that would benefit most from the holiday, for example the manufacturers of ties, tobacco pipes, and any traditional present to fathers. Since 1938 she also had the help of the Father's Day Coun- cil, founded by the New York Associated Men's Wear Retailers to consolidate and systematize the commercial promotion. perceiving it as just an attempt by merchants to replicate the com- mercial success of Mother's Day, and newspapers frequently fea- tured cynical and sarcastic attacks and jokes. But the trade groups didn't give up -- they kept promot- ing it and even incorporated the jokes into their ads, and they eventually succeeded. By the mid 1980s the Father's Council wrote that "[Father's Day] has become a 'Second Christmas' for all the men's gift-oriented industries." A bill to accord national recog- nition of the holiday was intro- duced in Congress in 1913 and in 1916 but Congress resisted, fear- ing that it would become com- mercialized. US President Calvin Coolidge recommended in 1924 that the day be observed by the nation, but stopped short of issu- ing a national proclamation because the two earlier attempts to formally recognize the holiday had been defeated by Congress. Americans resisted the holiday In 1957, Maine Senator Mar- garet Chase Smith wrote a pro- posal accusing Con- gress of ignoring fathers for 40 years while hon- oring mothers, thus "[singling] out just one of our two parents". Finally in 1966, Presi- dent Lyndon B. John- son issued the first pres- idential proclamation honoring fathers, desig- nating the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. Six years later, the day was made a permanent national holiday when President Richard Nixon signed it into law in 1972. Many other countries host Fathers Day celebrations in June and International Men's Day is celebrated internationally on November 19 for men and boys who are fathers. I would be remiss if I failed to acknowledge the selfless dedica- tion of my father, Colonel Reno Augustus Mazzucchi who passed some three years ago leaving his high school sweetheart and their four children to continue his good works. A stern disciplinarian on the surface, this remarkable man had a heart of gold, and cared deeply about his family, his coun- try, and his world. service in the U.S. Army Air His steadfast Richard Mazzucchi Positive Point Defense Artillery helped keep our soldiers safe and our nation secure in time of war and peace. I am proud to be his son and the brother to Major Gen- eral (retired) Michael Reno Mazzucchi who also made a career pro- tecting the freedoms that this engineer and liberal opinion colum- nist holds so dear. Having five grand- children I appreciate the toils, virtues, and importance of father- ing, and the pride of rearing children able to exceed my every expectation in a world of boundless opportu- nity. Please let your father know that you appreciate him this Father's Day if for no other reason than giving you the gift of life. It is in communities like ours and by the grace of God that most of us are blessed with fathers that protect and care for their families with diligent father- hood -- a destiny of unknowable proportion. Richard Mazzucchi is a retired research engineer specializing in energy efficiency and renewable energy. He makes his home in Los Molinos and can be reached at living-green@att.net. 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: governor@gover- nor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2595 Ceanothus 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 Mont- gomery St., Suite 240, San Fran- cisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224-0454. Intimidation as a tactic, method of left Commentary Last week, we witnessed the culmination of a year and a half long parade of intimidation direct- ed at Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, elected Republicans, even judges, by union, student and activist masses in Madison. Voters repudi- ated the mobs and their threats, violence and property destruction. Numerous leftists harass and intimidate conservatives by faking a call from their house reporting violence, prompting a SWAT-team response, aka "SWATing." The Democrats have, since President Obama took office, sought to intimidate critics with phony accu- sations of "racism." And so we come to consider the tactics, methods and words of Mr. Mazzucchi, which I have described as bullying in nature, a characteri- zation to which I now must add intimidating. That's my opinion; but set aside my opinion and decide for yourself based on the words of commenters and the columnist (RM) himself in the public and digital record. with a differing point of view. Hav- ing also been a target of his threat of libel myself, I can personally state it is very effective. Had it not been for Mr. Polson advising me that Mr. Mazzucchi didn't have a legal leg to stand on I would have retired from making any further comments on the RBDL (sic) forum." (DP: "threats…intimi- date…silence…Bullying" in her own words, readers) Mr. Mazzucchi, on March 25: On May 31, a commenter wrote, addressing another com- menter, "Thank you for referenc- ing the threats of libel that our esteemed liberal opinion writer uses to intimidate and silence opposition of those that have a dif- fering viewpoint than his own. Bullying tactics that are used against those with a different opin- ion should not be tolerated. I doubt very seriously that he will see the underhanded tactics that he uses as a means to avoid accepting respon- sibility for his unseemly behavior and rather vicious attacks on folks "Any post that libels me by claim- ing I am a liar does not dignify a response other than a categorical statement to the contrary … I would suggest you cease posting libelous comments or you may be faced with criminal prosecution." Then, on March 28: (directed at another commenter) ""Blah, blah, blah—I have had it up to here with your predictable condemnations of my positions. I am being neither duplicitous nor disingenuous and your assertions to the contrary rise to the level of libel. Please cease and desist such behavior immedi- ately." (DP: Or what?) The commenter's take on RM's statements: "Mr. Mazzucchi just days ago threatened me with 'criminal prosecution' for engag- ing him on these forums and now hints at another…" RM had previ- ously written, "I have a thick skin but will not sit by idly as my char- acter is assassinated or my inten- tions misconstrued." (DP: Sure seems to imply his intention to take action of some sort) Mr. Mazzucchi stated categori- cally, on May 23, "For the record I have never 'threatened' anyone, I have only admonished them for making statements that are libelous." Does that pass the reason test, read- ers? He referred to a com- menter as "Polson's apparent shill" and proba- bly thought that he settled the entire matter with a quote from anonymous left wing writers: "I don't have an attitude problem, you have a perception problem!" He has sug- gested I pay no attention to what he writes – a remarkable statement from a writer and com- menter in the public sphere. He does seem to feel he is perpetuating this controversy when he wrote, "At the risk of adding more fodder to Mr. Pol- son's apparent obsession …" Mr. Mazzucchi, I am obsessed Don Polson The way I see it with the fact that you are unwilling to let go of your obsession with intimidating those that fit your subjective definitions with threats of legal action. I am appalled at your disrespect for your critics' First Amendment Freedom of Speech. I challenge your baseless and toothless threats in the only manner at my disposal – on this page – so that readers may consid- er exactly whose attitudes and per- ceptions are in question, or even delusional. I further state for the record that should any reader or commenter find themselves actually being legally pursued over criticism of Mr. Mazzucchi's opinion column or comments, either on this page or in the online section, I will publicly and financially support not only their defense, but also their right to a cross complaint against him. This is not a threat, but a promise that arises from my determination to stand up for critics every- where, expressing their free speech rights; the First Amendment was designed not to protect bland, innocuous or inoffensive speech, but speech that others may find controversial, questionable or, in this case, subject to falla- cious charges of libel or slander. If someone makes up things about Mazzucchi's business or personal life that cross the line, I will defend him against such lies but I don't hesitate to call intimi- dation and threats the way I see them. Mr. Mazzucchi, the minute you admit to the wrongheaded nature of your ill-advised and shamefully pursued campaign against your critics. I have had to apologize for many things in my life; this is the time for a sincere "mea culpa" on your part. It would be good for your soul, believe me. This controversy goes away, Don Polson has called Red Bluff home since 1988. He can be reached by e-mail at donplsn@yahoo.com.