Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/7806
6A – Daily News – Friday, March 12, 2010 A MediaNews Group newspaper 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 Opinion Tonight, I have the extreme honor and privilege to speak some words at the Little League opening ceremonies. The theme is "Family Values." Event coordinators have given me a couple minutes; honestly, I could talk about this all night. My parents have told me my entire life, "There is nothing more important than family." This is a maxim that I not only grew up believing, but living. When I was young, this idea seemed like a no brainer. After all, our family was close. The five of us kids all got along; we rarely fought and Dad made it clear we should all love each other – no matter what. We boys loved our sister so much, we held her down in the front yard and dangled moths and grasshoppers inches from her face. My sister loved us so much, she would tell on us whenever we did something wrong, like not doing our chores. It was easy to love each other when things were going well and we were happy. It was even easier because Mom and Dad were always there. In a family like ours, holding on to our values was as easy as scooping pancakes off the grid- dle every Saturday morning. Then, we started getting older and going our own ways. Our two older brothers graduat- ed, my sister got married, and my other brother became an alcoholic. It was during this time our values were tested more than any other. The once loud voices around the house fell silent. We went from a family of seven down to four in a relatively short period of time. That's only when my other brother decided to come home; he didn't spend much time there. So, for the most part, it was me, Mom and Dad. For the longest time, our family was the model of func- tion; at that moment, we had to learn how to deal with dysfunc- tion. It wasn't easy. I think it was at that point I realized what my parents always told us, that family was the most important thing. It was easy to love our broth- er when he was up; however, it was downright difficult to love him when he was down. Our values were tested when my brother hit rock bottom. What good were our values if we tossed them out the window at the first sign of grief over our broth- er's behavior? Listen, it's easy to talk about family val- ues when life is good and the family is func- tional. It's tougher when it's not so good and the family is completely dysfunctional. I learned this when I began teaching. What I saw were some kids whose home lives were disasters. Whether because of their parents' drug or alcohol abuse or divorce, it was tough to swallow knowing that the best part of their day might come while they were on campus. Then, my students had to go home and face an unknown sit- uation. Here's the deal: family val- ues only work when the parents decide to make them work. What that means is that moms need to be better moms and dads better dads. Parents need to be there to promote the right values to their kids. I'll take it one step further; husbands need to be better hus- bands, and wives bet- ter wives. Family val- ues only work when everyone buys in. That's why the role of adults is so critical to this equation. How can they sell positive values to kids at home when their behavior outside the family is destruc- tive and hypocritical? Simply put, our kids' lives are in our hands. We must draw a circle around our families and vow to do whatever it takes to make them healthy and happy. I call it the inner circle, and it will be the focus of my speech tonight. Have a great Friday. ——— Pat Gleason grew up in Los Angeles and has taught English at Red Bluff High School since 1990. He can be reached at phgleaso@rbuhsd.k12.ca.us. Little league, values, and extended families Commentary N EWS D AILY RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY 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 Pat Gleason Simply Put STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 4164 P.O. Box 942849, Sacramento 94249; (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319- 2102 STATE SENATOR — Sam Aanestad (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 2054, Sacramen- to, CA 95814. (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), 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), 2635 Forest Ave. Ste. 100, Chico, CA 95928; 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; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Your officials Most important munch of the day After the conclusion of 2009's Munch Madness Burger Bracket, I got dozens of calls and e-mails from readers asking if we would do another contest right away. My response was that the theme of the contest is meant to play off the hype surrounding the NCAA's March Madness basketball tournaments, so read- ers would have to be patient and wait for March 2010. And here we are. For those who don't recall the weekly feature, which ran four Saturdays and a Monday in March and early April last year, it was a reader favorite that matched up burgers from local restaurants in win-or-go-home brackets. After each round, half the teams advanced to the next until the championship match up. For the record, M & M Ranch House's Ringer Burger narrow- ly beat out the Belly Buster Burger from the Flournoy Store. But the point of the contest wasn't necessarily to single out one burger as the best. Rather, it introduced readers to burgers at places they may not have thought to try. And on that account, it was pure success. We all have our favorites and nothing we write about the offerings at local restaurants is likely to change your pick. But it might prompt you to take a chance on a new or out-of-the-way place and, who knows, you might just find a new favorite. The Belly Buster is the perfect exam- ple. It was matched up against my favorite local place, Bud's Jolly Kone, in the first round and I was the one doing the reviews. It pained me to see Bud's knocked out so early, but the Belly Buster was a work of art and I had to give it the nod. Would I have ever driven to Flournoy just for a burger if not for the contest? Unlikely at best. But I've been back several times since. I trust the same has been true for many of you — whether it be Flournoy or Los Molinos or just the other side of town. This time around we will be tackling breakfasts — 16 restau- rants in all, culminating in the April 5 Championship. Again, the starting bracket was chosen by you from the top vote-getters in our Best of Tehama County balloting that's taken place in recent months. Numbers of votes go out the window, and all breakfasts start on equal footing in the tourna- ment. Most of the reviews have been done for the first two rounds and we'll have some special guest reviewers for rounds three and four. As it was in 2009, there have been sur- prise upsets, delightful discoveries and excruciating choices when the time came to pick winners — to be published in Sat- urday's edition. While I always appreciate suggestions from readers, the nature of the contest means the bracket must be set in advance so no additions can be made. If you want to let me know about an eatery we left out this year, make sure you and your friends vote for it in the Best of balloting in 2011. Chip Thompson can be reached at 527-2151, Ext. 112 or by e-mail at editor@redbluffdailynews.com. Chip Thompson 545 Diamond Ave. An apology offered Editor: I would like to do what the school dis- trict and the Los Molinos Elementary School refuse to do, apologize to Sarah Flickinger. Yes I feel she is owed an apology from the very people or person she looks up to the most for guidance and moral direc- tion. She deserves an apology because those people have failed and continue to fail to provide a good example. I will offer Miss Flickinger an apology because the one that really owes her one never will. So Sarah, on behalf of your mother, Kimberly, I apologize. I apologize for what must be a substandard upbringing. I am sorry you have been raised to believe that an eighth-grader has the same rights that a grown adult does. I am sorry that your mother has so total- ly failed you, allowing you to believe that rules and standards like dress codes are something to be bent or broken simply because you don't like how they affect you. I am sorry that the best your mother could do was teach you that, "If Mommy complains, the rules don't really apply to us." I am sorry that your mother would say something like, "If it's OK at home, it's OK at school." Finally I would like to apologize to you on behalf of the Los Molinos Elementary School. You see the school also let you down. It had an opportunity to teach one of life's lessons. When your mother went up there raising hell they should have told her to like it or home school you. Instead it folded like a lawn chair. So Miss Flickinger I wish you luck. With such a questionable influence at home I am sure you are going to need it. Scott Hall, Corning Your Turn