Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/87398
4A Daily News – Friday, October 12, 2012 Opinion Is that the best you've got? 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. 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 effect, closed a letter I received this week from one of the Daily News' most prolific letter writers. This reader has written, as This statement, or words to that many of you have called, ques- tioning why I would run a letter recently that contained accusa- tions about President Obama that were patently false — that he's a socialist, Muslim, Kenyan with a false birth certificate, and the like. The reader, who typically sends me about a half-dozen letters each week knowing that only an occa- sional sample will be published, couldn't understand why I would overlook his rational, reasoned epistles in favor of one that was clearly delusional tripe. A valid question. The short answer is that the let- ters published in any newspaper paint a picture of that paper's com- munity — a free, civil forum in which anyone can express an opinion for all to see. There is a great deal of content in each edition of the Daily News. Some of it comes from the news- room, some from wire services and much of it from readers want- ing to recognize achievements, announce special occasions, gar- ner publicity for events and thank the community for supporting a cause. While we do rely greatly on readers and others to supply announcements and acknowledge- ments, these are items that, given unlimited staff time, we could gather on our own. Not so with letters to the editor, which are the only part of each edition that depend solely on read- ers. If I don't receive them, it's not as though I can make them up. I frequently hear from readers who say they are tired of seeing the same names offering, essen- tially, the same opinions on the same topics week after week. Me too. But the only way that will change is for more readers to sub- mit letters. To answer the headline's ques- tion, on that day, yes, that was the best I had. Those who demand a higher level of discourse had better be ready to provide it, because my only constraint is the letters from which I have to choose. Now here's the long answer about why I published a letter con- taining false accusations. As disturbingly misinformed as the letter in question was, it shows that there are still those in our community who — driven by mis- information, hatred or extreme partisanship — are willing to believe what has been repeatedly proven to be fiction. These people are out there, like it or not, and it's important that we recognize that as a community. I'm sure there are some of you out there saying, "wait a minute, you cut out part of my letter one time because you said it was- n't verifiable or had been proven false, how come this guy got a pass?" Those letters were, for the most part, well- written expressions of opinion. Unfortunately, the writers felt the need to include something they had heard on talk radio or found on the Internet to support their opinions. When that extra information is not true, it invalidates the entire letter in the minds of those who know bet- ter. For example, back in the days of the same-sex marriage brouha- ha, a reader wrote that homosexu- ality was contrary to his religion and nature, marriage was intended to be between one man and one woman and homosexuality was simply a decadent lifestyle choice. Agree or not, the reader had made a solid statement of his beliefs. But then he decided to throw in a tidbit that the entire AIDS epi- demic could be traced to a single bath house in San Francisco in the 1970s. As anyone with even a passing acquaintance with the ori- gins of AIDS knows, this is ridicu- lous. Chip Thompson 545 Diamond Ave. cliff from the get-go and tumbles painfully into a fireball was some- thing of which the community needed to be reminded. For those who have made up their minds on which side of the political fence I sit, I publish just as many, if not more, leftist fire- balls. I told the reader, unless he could present evidence to verify his claim, it would be cut from the letter. More importantly, the letter would be more effec- tive without such a statement. I'm not sure he was in complete agreement with the lat- ter, but he chose to let me run the revised ver- sion in order for the let- ter to be published. The difference? A good letter with one detour over the shoul- der can be salvaged. A letter that jumps off the If you're as tired of reading them as I am, give me the best that you've got. Chip Thompson can be reached at 527-2151, Ext. 112 or by email at editor@redbluffdailynews.com. 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@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2595 Ceanothus Ave., Ste. 182, Chico, CA 95973; 893-8363. U.S. SENATORS — Dianne Fein- stein (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 Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224-0454. A rose by any other name Commentary "I note a change in horse manure allocation, "said Murray Clyde. His remark took me by surprise, and I was frankly amazed at our big dog's acumen regarding current events. "Yes," I agreed. "I'm glad to see you are keeping up with the unfold- ing political drama. We are less than a month away from the elections and there seems to be a shift in tactics and rhetoric." "No, I don't mean the race for the presiden- cy, I mean the real stuff…the horse manure right here in the barn," said Murray pointedly. "Look at the distribution pattern. When nights were very warm, the horses chose to do their business out in the paddocks. Now that there is a nip in the air, they are keeping to the stalls and therefore they go right on the shavings." He had a point…about the real stuff, that is, which I fork up and haul away to the compost area near the old barn every afternoon after a stint in the office. Good exercise, you know…and I am geared for it since my early days at the meat plant. The only thing that has changed is the effluent from bovine to equine. "So," I replied to the big dog, "You're not com- menting metaphorically. You're just observing a change in the weather and how it affects sta- ble management, right?" Murray Clyde sat in the middle of the pad- dock and scratched his ear with his big back foot. He looked pensive for a moment, and then said, "Funny how political speak is so akin to horse droppings. The candidates lie, distort the truth and get downright mean when on the campaign trail. However, I thought the recent debate between the challenger and the incumbent was fairly civil. In any case, I think now that I will change my 'none of above' bal- lot and vote for the best candidate." "Need I remind you that dogs don't vote?" Murray Clyde smiled and replied, "That is true, but the horses and I can make a statement in our own way. The season…and the times, they are a-changing." Such an astute fellow with a good large head on his shoulders. *** jousters and lute soloists? To answer that ques- tion, try to remember the guys from high school who could juggle." mixed company or in job interviews. Keep thy Sab- bath. Six days shall thou labor, but the 7th day is the Sabbath. Golf is good. Hon- our thy mother and father…especially when thou are still living with them and eating their food. Thou shall not commit adultery. Get a divorce first. Thou will just make yourself miserable cov- eting thy neighbor's wife." *** That lets me out. I could not juggle. I could lead a yell as yell leader, but I was no more adept at juggling than catching a football or baseball. But I do know "funny" when I see it. Here are a few variations on the 10 commandments: "Thou shall not swear in pull the plug on a possible terminal illness, we find ourselves unable to fulfill this request when we are hale and hearty, I am reminded of Jon Carroll's words on the subject: "Are you worried about too little care or too much care? Do you want to live as long as possi- ble, or is the quality of life more important than quanti- ty? There are no wrong answers; people just want clarity from you. Someone is going to pick up the pieces; do them a favor. Have a con- versation." Robert Minch I Say The stunning performance of the S.F. 49ers and their dominance over the Buffalo Bills last Sunday (45 - 3) was quickly overshadowed later in the day by the collapse of the S.F. Giants when confronted by the Cincinnati Reds during the Giant's two home stand games. Of course the sentiment favored the Red's manag- er Dusty Baker who came back from an irreg- ular heart beat and mild heart attack to stand in the chill of A & T Park and direct his team to a 2 game lead. However, the Giants came storm- ing back and took the next two games at Cincinnati's own park...and then followed that up with a 5th game win to set the stage for the National League Championship. Go Giants! *** TIME's Joel Stein weighs in on humor:"For all of history, humor has been wielded by unat- tractive, skilless men in their desperate effort to reproduce. Do you think there were any handsome court jesters who were also good The C.T.G.K.S.N. (Committee To Give Kids Sensible Names) frowns on the names bestowed by Nicole Richie, star of the reality show "The Simple Life," who encumbered her daughter with the name of "Harlow Winter Kate" and her son with "Sparrow James Mid- night." We think just plain Kate and James are the way to a successful life. *** As our children encourage the missus and me to enact a document indicating when to Last week's quiz was correctly first answered by N. Ricks who knew The Chicago Tribune indicated that Dewey won the presi- dential election over Truman, Digger O'Dell was a character in "The Life of Riley" radio show and that Joe DiMaggio hit safely in 56 consecutive baseball games in 1941. This week's quiz: Identify the following fictional doctors: Zarkoff, Strangelove, Richard Kimble and Kildare. *** Worth a repeat: With the plane running out of fuel and about to plunge into the sea, a female passen- ger stood up and shouted, "If I'm going to die, I want to die feeling like a woman!" Then she took off her top and cried, "Is there someone on this plane who is man enough to make me feel like a woman?" *** Hearing this, a man stood up, removed his shirt and said, "Iron this." Robert Minch is a lifelong resident of Red Bluff, former columnist for the Corning Daily Observer and Meat Industry magazine and author of the "The Knocking Pen." He can be reached at rminchandmurray@hotmail.com. Maybe so. To paraphrase writer J.K. Rowling, "And it is death! The casual vacancy, the casualness with which death comes down. You expect a fanfare, you expect some sort of pathos or grandeur to it. And yet, when it happens...the person is just gone!"