Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/700563
DILBERT ScottAdams PEARLSBEFORESWINE StephanPastis PICKLES BrianCrane BABYBLUES JerryScott&RickKirkman THEDUPLEX GlennMcCoy ZITS JerryScott&JimBorgman SHERMAN'SLAGOON JimToomey ARGYLESWEATER ScottHilburn BIZARRO DanPiraro DEARAMY»Theotherday my 11-year-old daughter "Cristal" came home very upset because her friend's mother won't allow her daughte r t o be Crist al's friend. The other mother happens to be a conserva- tive Christian, and thinks Cristal will be a "bad influence" because she comes from a secular family. My hus- band and I are athe- ists, but we stay relatively neutral about religion when it comes to the children (we don't have any problem with their participating in Christ- mas concerts, Easter egg hunts or bar mitzvahs with their friends and classmates). They will be free to convert to any faith when they are older, should they choose to do so (so far they haven't expressed an interest). I don't know what to say to my daughter. I just never expected, especially in these times — given all the conflicts you hear about between people of different re- ligions — that anybody could have an objection to someone with no religion. —Atheistic,ButNot Amoral DEAR ATHEISTIC » Young adolescents are not always completely reliable reporters, and so if you really want to dive into this, you should contact the parents of the other child, and respectfully ask if they have any objections to the two girls being friends. If you are sure that the situation is as reported, then this presents an op- portunity to educate your daughter about tolerance (and intolerance). She might be interested in learning the basics about religion and different faith practices, and also about your rational un- derstanding of the world and your choice not to believe. You should explain that some people are afraid of others who are different — or have different ideas — than they have. Tell her that it's not personal and that you know it hurts, and that one answer she can give to her classmate is, "I know your parents don't want you to be friends with me, but my parents say I can be friends with everybody." I applaud your own tolerance concerning th e f a i t h p r a c t ic es o f other people. Exposing your daughter to the beliefs and rituals of religions will be an important aspect of her education. Your family's tolerance will be her guiding light. Keep shining. DEAR AMY » "Probably Overprotective Mom" described a scenario where her son's ex-girl- friend suddenly turned up pregnant. My brother faced this. He supported a child for 18 years, who he later learned was not his. DNA testing is a must. — Been There DEAR BEEN THERE » I agree. Child of atheists is ostracized by friend's mother over religion You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@tribpub.com and follow her on Twitter @askingamy. Amy Dickinson Ask Amy Sudoku Instructions:Theobjectistoplacethe numbers1to9intheemptysquaresso thateachrow,eachcolumnandeach 3x3boxcontainsthenumberonlyonce. AnswertoPreviousPuzzle CelebrityCipher ByLuisCampos Instructions:CelebrityCiphercryptogramsarecreatedfromquotationsbyfamouspeople, pastandpresent.Eachletterinthecipherstandsforanother. NEACrossword Cancer(June21-July22)— If you rearrange your surround- ings, it will motivate you to make headway on a project that needs to be finished. Exercise and nutrition will contribute to a better appearance. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Rely on yourself to get things done your way. The personal changes you want to make will not turn out according to plan. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Review what you have left to accomplish. Organization and preparation will help you avoid delays. A discussion with a loved one will resolve a problem. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — If you listen more and talk less, you will avoid getting caught in an uncomfortable situation. Put more effort into helping. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) — Present your ideas in order to get help to expand your plans into something quite special. Take ownership and make all the arrangements necessary to follow through on your goals. Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — Don't let added pressure keep you from doing what's best for you. A change you make will help you cut your costs, leaving more cash for entertainment and personal changes. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Make plans to get together with someone you want to do business with. Joining forces with a person who shares your goals will make the ride to suc- cess easier. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — You'll thrive in situations that motivate you to show what you have to offer. Share your story, express your feelings and form an alliance with someone special. Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20) — Make plans with children, a friend or a loved one. Whatever you experience will help you make choices that will improve your life. Don't be afraid to try something different. Aries (March 21-April 19) — Refuse to get into a dis- agreement at work or home. It's better to make personal changes that will leave you feeling good about your health and finances. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Discuss work-related matters with someone who can help you bring about satisfactory changes. Indulge in something that will improve your insight and appearance. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Make plans to improve your home life. Bring about change, but do the work yourself. De- pending on others will be costly and will not bring the results you want. Horoscope By Eugenia Last WEDNESDAY, JULY 6 | YOURDAILYBREAK | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016 2 B