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4A Daily News – Friday, December 7, 2012 Opinion 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 Same name, different opinion Editor: I voted for President Obama. The letter from Mary Adams does not represent my opinion; however, I imagine that we share areas of agreement. We might agree that there are many opportunities for volunteering in our town. (See Bobie Hughes' letter, which followed the above mentioned letter.) There are groups and organizations which promote reading, mentor children, help the homeless and sponsor work days for trash removal, to name a few. We can support local merchants by shopping in town rather than driving to Chico or Redding. We can support vendors at the Saturday morning Farmers Market held in Frontier Village. The last paragraph of the letter comes across as being open-minded and hopeful. That makes me confident that we could find common ground. (Another) Mary Adams, Red Bluff Atheists vs. Christmas Editor: It is that time of the year again, where we hear all the reasons why Christmas should not be celebrated from a very small group of individuals in this country. They believe all Christmas themes must be removed from our government buildings, city parks, schools and basically from our daily lives. I never have been able to understand this idea. We are celebrating the birth of a man who has taught the world the true meaning of love. His name just happens to be Jesus Christ. His teachings have had a great impact on the world and how we now live our lives. Jesus Christ taught us to love, have compassion; find peace and tolerance for our fellow man. Does anyone really have a problem with that? It is only right that we celebrate his accomplishments. After all, I was always taught that this country was founded on the Judeo-Christian beliefs. The US government is not celebrating a religious holy day but rather it is a holiday. Yes, because they have to take the Christians throughout the day off for Christmas, but they world will celebrate his birth- don't seem to have the same day as a holy day. We aren't complaint about taking the celebrating the birth of God, other holidays off. I never have been able to understand this but of Jesus Christ. idea. We have federal, Maybe the atheists state and city holiYour should go to one of the days for other great many Muslim counmen who have done tries of the world and great things for this tell them to remove all country, if not the religious themes whole world, such as George Washington, Abraham because it offends them. How Lincoln, Martin Luther King far do you think they would get and Columbus. We have with that idea? In fact, are there parades for these holidays and any atheist living in any Muslin even have great sale days set country? If not, I wonder why? I think it is very important aside marking their birthdays. The parades are on city streets that all people get back to the named after them, so why basics for this holiday. It is to haven't the atheists gone after celebrate the great achievethese holidays and to have their ments one person accomnames removed from the plished in this world and in a very short time. What is wrong streets? Speeches are made by politi- with saying merry Christmas? I cians marking their birthdays will be celebrating Christmas and aren't they government as holy day and as holiday this employees? The US govern- year with my family and ment and other public govern- friends. Merry Christmas everyone ments don't celebrate Hanukkah as a holiday because and have a happy New Year it is about a religion; therefore and make it safe, because I it is a holy day. I want to wish want you to be here next year a happy Hanukkah to my Jew- to celebrate these holidays again. ish friends. Ken Swanson, Red Bluff I hear atheists complain Turn 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. Commentary Uncertainty is the new norm "Life is uncertain. Eat desert first." Ernestine Ulmer. I do not know Ms. Ulmer, but think she has the right idea…and not only is life uncertain, it can be very short. Here it is nearly the end of the year and yet this year has just flown by almost without time to savor it. When one is young, the cessation of life is not high on the list of things to worry about. With age comes wisdom, reflection and the compulsion to stretch out one's life to the max. *** We had some very high water out in Antelope last weekend. The water in Salt Creek and the overflow raced down to the Sacramento River during the night, and by day break we could see the water backing up into our south pasture. By 9 a.m. it almost completely surrounded the house. And although this was the highest water we have seen in 50 years or so, we were not overly concerned. When we bought our little spread from Bob Crowder, he advised us to build on an Indian mound as they never flooded. Fortunately he was right, for in our first year on the ranch, the waters rose all around the mound and not having tested his theory, we elected to take the pregnant missus and two goats and dog out by motor boat. Subsequently we added on to the house and built barns at elevations we knew would be above flood stage. *** To those of a conservative bent, the American Civil Liberties Union has been a thorn in their side for decades. The ACLU seems to espouse unpopular causes. As an example, they are currently suing the military to allow females to engage in armed combat. This was not an issue when I was in the service. Women were allowed to serve as ambulance drivers, nurses and eventually pilots…but active combat? No way. However, things have changed. The distaff side has sought and achieved equality in every venue. A female President of our country is now a possibility that once would have produced a horse laugh in Congress. So, why not arm women and let them kill enemies of our country? I have mixed emotions about this…but I get the feeling that the ladies could not give a tinker's damn about my views on females in combat. Of course I never wanted to get in a fight facts. Of course, as we have learned, everything with a girl…and certainly not an armed one. is jaundice to Clifford's jaundiced eye. *** His Xmas card this year delineates his traSpeaking of combat, take C. Larimer, please! As you may recall, Cliff…he was known as vails over the last few years, and it is a sad tale. While in South Dakota he was Clifford in the old fired as editor of a small newsdays, desires to publish a paper when his investigative book of his writings, and journalism exposing local bigone chapter in same states wigs caused them to threaten to his opinion of me and my cancel their advertising. His work. Although it was not wife Betsy subsequently broke flattering, we agreed that her hip slipping on the ice of a pre publishing an excerpt ferocious winter, and then Cliff from same might stir readsuffered a stroke and nearly ers to send him publishing died. money. On the other hand, That said, as many of you if they did not approve of Robert know, the fellow is a good his take on me, then they writer, has many good tales might abstain from raiding from his years in the newspaper their piggy banks. As to the game to tell and his book headline on my column last should be published. Therefore week referring to him as an I urge readers to send him a few "ex-journalist," I stand corrected. It should have read "... at liberty journal- bucks to get his work in print once again. *** ist." And although I found his tract a rather fair Last week's quiz was first answered correctassessment of yours truly, a few of his assertions ly by S. Rodriquez who knew that Ruth Buzzi's are inaccurate and beg correcting. He asserts that I have a grand opinion of bag lady in "Laugh In" was named Gladys myself and go home for lunch everyday rather Ormphby, Arte Johnson was the dirty old man, than rub elbows with fellow businessmen. This and Goldie Hawn's daughter in real life is is true. At my age I socialize little and find it actress Kate Hudson. This week's quiz: What events are generally usually a waste of time. We have our Minch Property Management business under the aus- considered to be the Big Four of golfing tournapices of Western Real Estate and could not have ments, who determines par for each hole when succeeded in same if we conducted our business new courses are laid out...and who named the stick a "putter"? "in a hermit like fashion" as he states. *** My father paid for his I Say column to Worth a repeat. avoid editing by the editor. I paid for mine until A divorce court judge said to the husband, I proved my worth and have been compensated for my writings, in one form or another, ever "Mr. Jones, I have reviewed the case and I've since. Although he says of me, "I like the man," decided to give your wife $800 a week." "That's very fair, your honor," he replied. that is not the case. He apparently is envious of me and my work to the extent that it colors his "And every now and then I'll try to send her a few bucks myself." assessment. And finally, although I gave him a copy of Robert Minch is a lifelong resident of Red my book, "The Knocking Pen," he either merely scanned it or failed to absorb the details there- Bluff, former columnist for the Corning Daily in regarding the demise of our meat plant. As to Observer and Meat Industry magazine and the "Mafia connection," that was pure conjec- author of the "The Knocking Pen." He can be ture on the parts of those not aware of the reached at rminchandmurray@hotmail.com. Minch I Say