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4A Daily News – Saturday, December 1, 2012 Opinion Outraged 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. Editor: Veterans Day? Bull. I'm a Vietnam disabled veteran and when I read the Daily News and saw my American flag hanging upside down and at half mast I was outraged. This is the biggest disrespectful act of our flag and democratic system I've ever seen in my life. Communism obviously exists in Red Bluff, especially with Vern Raglin. He should be prosecuted to the utmost by our law. This is far beyond the First Amendment. If this is your Republican answer to our democratic process, shame on you. You suckers want to accuse and blame the Democrats of losing this country and becoming a dictatorship. You Republicans are the reason this country is so (messed) up. The rich get richer and let the rest eat cake. You don't have a clue what the Bible you people preach means. Read what's going to happen to the rich bastards. But I tell you, the meek will inherit the Earth. Vern, you've disgraced this county and it (ticks) me off because I'll be you get Social Security, Medicare and a publicly paid pension. If I had my way you'd lose your Social Security, your Medicare and your pension and spend the rest of your lousy life in prison for treason. I served this country, did you? Shame on you sore losers. And shame on our local media for not showing this travesty on our news. Hello channel 7, 12 and 24. DA, do what's right and jail this man. You would me. Every veteran and Democrat should be appalled and let Vern know it. And to make matters worse, editor Chip Thompson condoned this "statement" in his column. I will write his corporation to see what they think. Personally I hope they fire that commie bastard. Makes me think of the Merle Haggard song "You're walkin' on the fightin' side of me." Bobbie Jones,Red Bluff Agree 100% Editor: After reading all the letters to the editor about our flag and Vern Raglin, I have to agree 100 percent with Bud Johnson's letter "Distress" in the paper Nov. 24. If you haven't read it as yet, be sure to do so. Wake up Americans. Obama caught a very large number of Americans sleeping on Election Day. Hopefully it is not too late for our country. With our prayers and a lot of faith, Obama could change and lead our country like a president should. Mary Adams, Red Bluff also help the public make selections of remaining plants. Fall is Editor: the perfect time of year to plant I am thankful for November native, drought tolerant and deer and the changes fall brings to resistant plants in your gardens. the Sacramento River DiscovThe same day we held the ery Center. The SRDC has been Plant Sale, we had our Fall Fest the beneficiary of the efforts of Walk-Run event, and both a number of individuevents operated als and groups over the smoothly because of a Your last few months. Even group of Red Bluff Mother Nature is High School Key cooperating and proClub members under viding some much the guidance of Fred needed rain for our Null Jr., Key Club new garden plantings. advisor. These students are a The Red Bluff High School great asset to our Community, WorkAbility I students have by providing support for nonbeen assisting with our project profit organizations such as the to reduce the number of weeds SRDC. growing under to oak tree by There are still opportunities placing layers of cardboard on available for those wishing to the ground then covering it with contribute the beauty of the Diswood chips. The wood chips covery Garden by helping prewere donated by Davey Tree pare it for winter and especially Service and North State Tree for spring. This year we are service. Several projects, such focusing on the planting of wildas re-rocking the many gravel flower seeds. Last summer and trails through the garden and fall we gathered seeds for our removing rocks from the wild- plants and have supplemented flower planting area, have been them with area wildflowers. We completed by members of are looking for volunteers to Tehama County Juvenile Proba- help us spread the seeds. We are tion department. also starting to do propagation The Discovery Garden is of our plant stock in preparation showing off its fall colors and for the 2013 fall plant sale. new plants are going into the Working with the soil is very grounds thanks to the help of therapeutic and volunteers can people like Randy Baker, work for an hour or more. I Bruce, Gray, Nancy Freire and thank all the community volunLarry Ridgel. These people teers for the support of the activwere instrumental in preparing ities of the Discovery Center. for the Fall Plant Sale. They can Bobie Hughes, Red Bluff Thankful Turn Your officials 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 resiLife can be full of surprises. dents and businesses of Surprises can be good. This column is about the surprises of gift Tehama County. giving and receiving. Many of us remember Gomer Pyle, in wide eyed wonder, exclaiming "Surprise, surprise, How to reach us surprise" when something trigMain office: 527-2151 gered the synapses of wonder in Classified: 527-2151 his mind. His expression could be interpreted as simple minded Circulation: 527-2151 foolishness or as unadorned News tips: 527-2153 astonishment. His overly simple character was misleading, howSports: 527-2153 ever, because there was a lot of Obituaries: 527-2151 truth in his naïve observations. Photo: 527-2153 Sometimes it is easy to be closed to the wonders of the surprises in this world. On the Web This is truly the season of surwww.redbluffdailynews.com prises, but it is easy to forget about that. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and extended retail Fax hours invade our daily lives, tempting us to satisfy a list of Newsroom: 527-9251 "wants" that in many cases far Classified: 527-5774 exceeds our real "needs." We spent Thanksgiving in the Los Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Angeles area and witnessed an Legal Adv.: 527-5774 untold number of dead trees sacBusiness Office: 527-3719 rificed to proclaim the importance of unique opportunities to acquire the latest and greatest Address thing at unheralded low prices. There were lines at big box retail 545 Diamond Ave. stores over 24 hours before they Red Bluff, CA 96080, or were opened, and the news P.O. Box 220 reported uncivil behavior in those stores. It was hard, but I Red Bluff, CA 96080 was able to control my retail genes. With all of the hype of 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. Commentary Surprise, surprise, surprise! "retailmania" stirring up a buying frenzy, the avalanche of advertizing targeted to children, and the children's mounting anticipation about gifts, it is often difficult to provide surprises for children at Christmas. One of our sons, as young child, was obsessed with knowing just what he might get for Christmas. He became adept at unwrapping and rewrapping packages; when we discovered his deception, we found hiding places where we were sure our son would not look. We had not anticipated we were raising not only a nimble fingered boy but also a young Sherlock Holmes; and finally, after we realized that clever hiding had failed, we locked presents in suitcases and/or stored them at neighbors' homes. I remember, as a young boy, early on Christmas morning I was told to answer the doorbell, and there to my surprise was the scooter I had secretly wished for; no one was at the doorstep, and to this day I do not know who delivered that gift. For me it was a true surprise, and a lasting mystery I have never been able to solve. My parents' lips were sealed even through grandparenthood. Of course, all of this is trivial in the context of the real mystery that is Christmas. Tomorrow, the fourth Sunday before Christmas, marks the start of the season of Advent on many Christian calendars. The word "advent" means "coming" received. There is also the true joy the or "arrival." In many Western giver receives, knowChristian churches it is ing the gift was loved, the time that worthat the recipient was shipers prepare for the surprised, and that the celebration of the first gift meant something. arrival of Jesus over Christians imagine the two millennia ago. It is smile on God's face also the season when when people respond many Christians to God's gift to all, his remember the promise Son. of a second "advent" There are many when Jesus will come opportunities to give in again. During this time Red Bluff. Churches, many Christians preJoe non profits, and others pare themselves anew are about doing good for the joy to the world things for those in need that the first Christmas here in our community. brought to mankind. Your gift to them will For some this is a season of reawakening, for others it spread the joy and perhaps increase the number of surprises is a celebration. About this time of year, I here in Red Bluff. My hope is more of us can begin to hum and whistle Christmas carols; I also hear a truly exclaim "Surprise, sursong from the musical God- prise, surprise!" in excitement spell that won't quit. In that and joy this season. I hope that musical John the Baptist asks we can all live with the joy that us to "Prepare Ye the Way of surprise brings, and that the the Lord." From the perspec- changes within us which come tive of the 21st century it is dif- with that joy will become infecficult to understand how one tious, spreading to all of those can be prepared for the true around us, and throughout the surprise that Christmas repre- creation. So enjoy this season, sents to Christians. Even Jesus' and take its blessings with you own disciples were unclear for all lifelong. a long time about just who Joe Harrop is a retired Jesus was or what His ministry educator with more than 30 was. Perhaps it is a deep truth that we are never prepared for years of service to the North life's surprises, particularly State. He can be reached at those undeserved gifts we have DrJoeHarrop@sbcglobal.net. Harrop