Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/95074
6A Daily News – Saturday, November 24, 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. 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 Giving thanks Commentary greatest of virtues, but the par- ent of all the others. — Cicero Now is a good time to remember that the phrase "tak- ing it for granted" is a dangerous one, a phrase that can open us to the smug and even blasé attitude that we deserve both what it is that we want to have as well as what we already have. Gratitude is not only the favorite atheist, Bertrand Russell once said, "In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted." My we take some time to count our blessings. We gather with our family and friends at the table for our Thanksgiving dinner and try to understand just how blessed we are. It may be a little strange to single out this partic- ular time to be thankful when those things and people we count as blessings are with us all year long and when we are on the threshold of winter's harsh- ness; but we have a tradition established by those who came even before our Founding Fathers were on the scene. Our list of blessings is always longer than we think. My favorite Thanksgiving sermon was delivered by Dr. George M. Docherty at the New This is the time of year when York Avenue Presbyterian Church back in the early 1960's when I was stationed near Wash- ington D.C. Dr. Docherty main- tained his Scottish accent as he preached, and it often got thick- er when he became swept up in the illustrative stories he told during his sermons. On this par- ticular Sunday before Thanks- giving he was talking about a small congregation in his native Scotland, and about how opti- mistic and thankful their minis- ter there was. It was a particular- ly stormy Sunday morning in this remote Scottish village, the roads were muddy, the wind turned umbrellas inside out, attendance was down, and the congregation was wet, cold, and a bit cranky. Just before the prayer of thanksgiving, one parishioner turned to another and queried, "Just what will he find to be thankful for on a day like this?" The preacher bowed his head and began his prayer: "Lord we give thanks that not all days are like today." When we were house hunting in Red Bluff 40 years ago we stopped at the Texaco gas station near where the Bank of America is now. When we mentioned we were thinking of moving here, the owner literally grabbed me by the arm and almost forced me to drink the water that came out of his drinking fountain. He was eager to point out that the city water here is particularly good, and we would never find better water any- where. We have never taken the quality of our tap water for granted in the time we have lived here. We still count Red Bluff water as one of our blessings. Sometimes we take for granted much of what we have here in Red Bluff. We com- plain about "Dead Bluff," we grump about heat spells; we worry in a more serious fash- ion about the future of our community, and in doing so we overlook the many blessings we have here. Unlike in big cities, you can improve our future; and we are truly blessed. Joe What a contrast to 1621. Consider the Pilgrims who gave us Thanks- giving; as H.U. West- ermayer pointed out so clearly, "The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impover- ished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving. " Harrop walk down the street, look peo- ple in the eye, and greet them; you are recognized when you go to the store or a local restaurant; we have the almost Daily News that provides a source for conti- nuity and identity for our com- munity; we follow our local high school activities; we recognize both academic and athletic achievement; we have parades; the Round Up brings excitement and energy to town; there are groups actively working to discovered family secrets, or just the chance to relax with those you love, Thanksgiving is always a special time. I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiv- ing. family meal, the full stomach, the football games, the aroma of cooking, the newly Whether it is the perspective Editor: Several days ago I wrote a letter that was published in the Daily News on Nov. 15, regarding Vern Raglin's protest using the flag of the United States. On that same day there was a commentary by Rich Greene that sought to put the flag protest in "per- spective." Different According to Mr. Greene, "As it turns out it's not our flag we hold so dear, it's what it represents." Really? Now why didn't I think of that? Well, the particular flag in question is raised daily as a memorial and tribute to local citizens who gave their lives in the service of our country. I wonder what the reaction would have been if Vern Raglin pulled his little "stunt" at the Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, or at our local Veteran's Ceme- tery in Igo? I can guarantee you that the reactions would have been swift and severe. These are not the places for people to air their petty griev- ances and irrational ideas against the reelection of a president, they are places where this nation's war dead are buried with honor, respect and reverence. Do our own local military heroes deserve any less respect? And I might add, that Chip Thompson referred to Vern Raglin as "an Army veteran," which means he should have known better. Chip Thompson referred to ing it to half-staff. anyone who objected to Mr. Raglin's "protest" as "Sore winners." It is interesting that he chose those particular words when defending a man who is the living definition of a "sore loser." But, Chip was- n't done yet, he described the possible "motive" behind Vern Raglin's actions by say- ing that, "his chosen protest "was thoughtful, temporary, caused no real harm and fell within his rights of free speech." He is right, we all have the right to disrespect, dishonor and even to burn the flag of the United States of America, but does that mean that we should? Chip goes on to say that the actions of Vern Raglin were "clever and harmless." I did not find Vern Raglin's actions to be "clever" or "thoughtful," I found them repugnant and disrespectful to the military members who are commemorated with the same flag that Mr. Raglin used in his "thoughtful" action that day. He showed an absolute ignorance of what that flag represents, the same flag that he has raised for years, which means he also should have known better. Not only did he raise the national flag upside down, he even completed the act of disrespect by only rais- Chip Thompson also referred to those people who wrote to express their dismay and anger about this incident as "folks who suddenly become experts on flag etiquette when they perceive it to be mistreated." No, Chip, I am not a "flag expert," I am just a U.S. military vet- eran who believes that the flag of my country should never to be used to represent a cheap, politically inspired "protest" by anyone, includ- ing Mr. Raglin, an "Army vet- eran." And this applies even more to these "protest" actions using a flag that repre- sents local military heroes who died in the service of their country, a flag that does not belong to him personally but represents all Red Bluff and Tehama County residents and should be, because of these points, handled with extra care, respect and rever- ence. But he did not handle it that way on that day. It was doubly disturbing that his cheap and disrespectful little tantrum occurred just before Veteran's Day, how sad and pathetic. Chip Thompson got one point right when he wrote, "The flag is nothing to be tri- fled with..." Distress Your Turn Editor: In Nov. 13 issue, by colum- nist Richard Mazzuc- chi, he and many other readers got after Vern Raglin for his presen- tation of the flag Nov. 7. should be flown in the distress signal once a month just to remind Americans that Obama has shown in his first term, that he is out to bring us to become a third world country. Now that he has a free reign to do more destruction with not being able to be re-elected, stand by and watch folks. If you want to see America brought into socialism, he is going to show you how it works. Cutting back on our military, and continuing to raise the national debt is another of his priorities, and don't forget the health are for older people will be history. I think the flag A plan that even the politi- cians don't want for their cover- age. Looks like once he gets our guns, he will become the dicta- tor he is out to be. Remember Hitler. Obama is following his lead I couldn't agree more. Larry Gray, Red Bluff in every way, and is now waiting to make deals with Russia. America is in distress, so fly- ing the flag in distress makes sense to me. 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: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2595 Cean- othus 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 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Bud Johnson, Tehama We can maintain that feeling all year long; as G.K. Chesterton said, "When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude." Joe Harrop is a retired educator with more than 30 years of service to the North State. He can be reached at DrJoeHarrop@sbcglobal.net.