Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/96259
4A Daily News – Friday, November 30, 2012 Opinion More flag talk DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U NTY 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 letters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All letters must be signed and provide the writer's home street address and home phone number. 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 submitted will be considered for publication. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong community 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 vehicles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its communities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the residents 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 Editor: The Daily News front page story "Tehama County Election Protest" created a firestorm of comments on your web page. I believe Mr. Raglin unbeknownst to him did our community a big favor even though he was mercilessly pummeled on the web page and no doubt on your editorial page as there were two more letters in today's paper — Nov. 11. Most of the comments accusing Mr. Raglin of abusing the flag were by women, I must say. It is gratifying to know that all the anger was directed at Mr. Raglin and not at the flag. It tells me, at least, those commenting care about the flag even though I disagree with them. Mr. Raglin's protest brings up a discussion long overdue and a discussion no longer brought up in our schools where there is neither a pledge of allegiance to our flag or country. Our schools do not teach patriotism or traditional family values, the virtues of hard work and rugged individualism that are the foundation on which this country was built. Many of the comments claimed the protest dishonored the Memorial Flag Pole and Flag rep- resenting the not forgotten heroes. I couldn't disagree more. Our fallen heroes had sworn to protect our country and uphold our Constitution. Whether you believe it or not our country is in distress and our Constitution is in peril. We are heading for a financial failure with a deficit we are unable to pay and with an administration that refuses to cut spending. The two most cherished Constitutional Amendments, the First and the Second, are under attack. George Washington put it clearly centuries ago: "If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter." Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently announced the Obama Administration will be working hand-in-glove with the UN to pass a new "Small Arms Treaty." Disguised as an "International Arms Control Treaty" to fight against "terrorism," "insurgency" and "international crime syndicates," the UN's Small Arms Treaty is in fact a massive, global gun control scheme. Obama Administration Endorses New U.N. Arms Trade Treaty Negotiations just as the NRA warned would happen fol- lowing the election, the Obama If we want to argue, I'd like to administration has moved forward return to the Civil War Reenactwith its plans to support ment on Dog Island, just a United Nations Arms below my house. Your Trade Treaty. On Has anyone considWednesday, Nov. 7, the ered Death Valley? U.S. Mission to the Think Charge of the U.N. made clear its Light Brigade. support for renewed Or might I suggest ATT negotiations, casting a vote in the name be changed to "the Dog favor of resolution A/C.1/67/L.11. Island Massacre." The resolution calls for a "Final The soldiers on both sides United Nations Conference on the would pretend to die the morning Arms Trade Treaty" to be held in of the first day in a valiant and gloNew York City from March 18-28. rious manner. Everyone could clap What are you going to do when their hands and go home. they come for you? Mark Basseley I have no objection to this proYoussef was arrested because of duction being repeated forever expressing his opinion in an anti- more. Islam film; he was sentenced for a Mary Jane Watkins, probation violation. Red Bluff Thank God for our Constitution that gave Vern Raglin the right to protest. Had Romney won the Editor: election, how many riots would Excessive government jobs in there have been and how many relation to the private sector create flags would have been burned. Remember there were threats to economic problems, government do just that and all you nay-sayers jobs consume tax dollars. Private sector jobs create tax dollars. need to remember just that. Needed now agreement on Les Wolfe, Red Bluff amount of production and consumption of tax dollars necessary in a Christmas and New Year economic stimulus package to avoid Editor: About this flag thing, my eyes fiscal cliff. Steve Kelsey, Corning are glazing over. Turn Fiscal cliff Enough already 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 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) 2240454. Support your local ex-journalist Cliff Larimer wants to publish a book of his writings. One chapter deals with his relationship with me and his opinion of me. An excerpt from said chapter follows herewith with the admonition that, if you agree with it and believe it to be factual, let him know by sending him money for the publishing of same. If you don't agree, or couldn't care less about him and his literary effort, then keep your money. His address is 1510 Derby Lane, Red Bluff. His e-mail address is cliff.larimer@yahoo.com. He adds that any contributor of more than $30 will receive a book free (when it is published) and all monies received will not be frittered away but will be acknowledged and accounted for. "Ah me, how to delicately describe the thin-skinned Robert (knew him when he was Bob) Minch. A businessman in my adopted hometown of Red Bluff, Bob is a wannabe newspaper columnist, a la Herb Caen or some other three-dot journalism great…or a folksy local pundit who thinks and too often writes down to the masses, the simple folk. Robert doesn't mingle with the hoi polloi. "Over nearly all my newspaper career I've been involved with this man of small physical stature and great opinion of himself, an opinion he wants others to also hold and late in life is still frustrated that few do. "Robert began with a paid column that he took over about the time his father died in the early 1960s. He came to me for help with his writing and we would engage in banter in print from time to time over close to half a century. "I like the man. We are not friends. Acquaintances certainly, but never intimates. "Our relationship is hard to define. It's been cordial, at times adversarial, aggravating, puzzling, frustrating, absurd and a lot of other modifiers. He's been helpful; he's been hurtful. "Robert is owner of a property management firm. He conducts business hermit-like and seldom ventures outside other than to view a property or go home for lunch or after work. The Minch name is well known, sometimes well thought of, sometimes not. He lives in the shadow of his father Dave who came to California from the Midwest in the 1920s, ran a grocery and then a meat processing plant until his death, supporting his family in comfortable fashion and dozens of other families at least decently. Son Robert would take the meat plant and within little more than a decade run it into the ground. "In 2011 he self-published a book, 'The Knocking Pen,' mostly a compilation old columns from newspapers or meat packing magazines. It could have been a worthy effort. It was a chance to openly defend his part in the demise of Minch's Meats and erase the stigma he has borne all these years. Regrettably, he has been reluctant to accept culpability, instead blaming everyone from the union, meat inspectors, certain employees and even Mafia or mob types for costing dozens of employees their jobs. "Bob's never quite figured out column etiquette. You never, never go after a person with printer's ink – seriously or lightheartedly – if the person does not have access to space to fire back in kind. I've been the target of several cheap shots since I returned to California early in 2012 and have pointed it out to him in private correspondence. To no avail." Cliff Larimer. *** The flag show, now known as the "Obama Election Response," soon to be coming to a theater near you, seems to weigh heavily on the two-thirds of the Latino vote and minds of some. However, there is won huge majorities among young local precedent for such activity. In voters, gay and single women. A 1971, on our high school grounds, straight non-partisan male need not old glory was indeed hoisted upside wax wroth over these numbers. *** down to protest Last week's some now long quiz was first forgotten incianswered correctdent. No stuly by S. dent was horse Rodrigues reportwhipped nor ing that frankinexpelled…and cense and myrrh no animals are both strongwere injured in smelling resins the testing of derived from tree the propriety of bark and in same. Robert ancient times *** were used to help Not wanting disguise the scent to inflame senof decay when sibilities further, preparing bodies I am neverthefor burial....and less compelled to report an article supplied by a ambrosia is the food of the gods, reader regarding our flag. At the thought to confer immortality. This week's quiz: Ruth Buzzi time of the Lincoln assassination, Martha Brock Johnson was living played a purse swinging old maid in Red Bluff. She decided to run the on Laugh In. What was her characAmerican flag to the top of a near- ter's name, who portrayed the dirty by flagpole. When a mob of angry old man as her adversary, and what citizens marched up to her house to is Goldie Hawn's actress daughter's protest and demand that the flag be name? *** lowered, her daughter Amanda A doctor put an overweight replied that she would have to ask her mother's permission to remove woman on a diet and instructed her it. She reminded her mother that to "eat regularly for a day, then skip she had 3 sons-in-law in business in a day, then repeat this plan and see town, and that her action might hurt me in a week." The woman returned in a week. them financially. Martha replied, "Did you follow my plan and "Well, alright, you may take it down as long as they know that I did you lose weight?" "Yes I did, doctor...but the skipam glad the Yankee dog is dead!" ping was exhausting!" *** Sources say Republicans still Robert Minch is a lifelong fuming over the recent elections resident of Red Bluff, former should acknowledge their demographic dilemma. The electorate columnist for the Corning Daily keeps getting less white, less rural Observer and Meat Industry and less evangelical...in short, less magazine and author of the "The traditionally Republican. Polls sug- Knocking Pen." He can be reached t gest Obama probably received 90 a percent of the black vote, more than rminchandmurray@hotmail.com. Minch I Say