Page 4 - Mid Valley Times 11-26-20 E-edition

Serving the Readers of the Reedley Exponent, Dimuba Sentinel and Sanger Herald.
A Mid Valley Publishing Newspaper
Founded March 26, 1891, in a two-story building on the corner of 11th and F streets, by A.S. Jones
Fred Hall — Publisher
In my OPINION Two sets of rules in
handling COVID-19 mess
Thankful for vaccines, medical workers and family
Rick Curiel — Sanger Editor Jon Earnest — Reedley Editor Dick Sheppard — Editor Emeritus
Thursday, November 26, 2020 | A4 | Mid Valley TiMes Editorial & Opinions
How was your Thanksgiving this year? Considering the fact that the government — in this case, we're talk- ing about Gavin Newsom — stepped in with a litany of ridiculous restrictions and regulations concerning so much of that which makes this holiday especial- ly American. We offer a tip of the hat.
Your obedience has helped dimin- ish our constitutional rights one more time.
In spite of a very challeng- ing year, there is a whole lot to be thankful for this holiday season.
Most recently, a slew of new promising COVID-19 vaccines offer us all a light at the end of the tunnel. And though we will still need to remain vigilant for the next few months while medical ex- perts work on distribution of such remedies, the comfort of knowing hope is just around the corner is enough to lift at least some of the fog from what has been a perpetually cloudy forecast.
The fact that pharmaceuti- cal companies were able to de- velop such highly efficacious vaccines in less than a year is a testament to the advance- ments we have seen over the past few decades when it comes to medical science. Such advancements should al- so offer us hope when it comes to finding remedies for other ailments.
I am reminded of St. Jude, a leading warrior in the fight
against cancer. Many years ago, when the medical experts at St. Jude began this fight, they had a success rate of 20 percent. Today, doctors have been able to flip that rate to a success rate of 80 percent.
The other 20 percent is the reason St. Jude continues to fight against cancer, particu- larly in children, and the 80 percent is the reason it shares its medical breakthroughs with the rest of the medical world.
I can say this year that I am truly thankful for all who work in the medical industry. If this pandemic has taught us anything it’s that we are all vulnerable and susceptible to disease. When ailments strike, and they most certainly will sooner or later, we may lose the ability to fight. That’s when the medical experts step in. They fight for us when we can no longer do so ourselves.
So to everyone out there in the medical industry, thank you for your willingness to fight. May God bless you with
the strength to endure these trying times.
But the big-
gest thing I’m
thankful for
this year is the
one thing we of-
ten give thanks for on this day. I am thankful for my family.
This pandemic has forced us to spend more time at home with the ones closest to us. For some, that too has been a chal- lenge. But at the same time, it helps us realize that we are not alone in this. Even in our struggles, we are not alone.
Today, as we safely cele- brate with those who are dear to us, I would hope that we take a moment to give thanks for all things that add value to our life... Yours may be differ- ent or much the same. But it’s important to stop and just give thanks.
Rick Curiel is Sanger editor for The Times.
Fred Hall
QUOTE
“Progress isn't made by early risers. It's made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something.”
— Robert Heinlein (1907-1988)
Rick Curiel
One of the worst things about this COVID-19 mess is that there seems to be two sets of rules: one for the po- litical class making the rules, and everyday citizens who are watching their businesses destroyed and children go uneducated. There is even a disparity in treatment of the retail businesses. Big guys can remain open while the smaller outlets must close. Pot stores are open and churches essentially closed. There can be little doubt about constitutionally when big government impedes the way one practices their religion.
We find it really difficult to believe that the governor has placed a 10 p.m. curfew on all of us. What possibly could be the rationale for that? Does the virus tend to make itself known after 10 o'clock in the evening? We can't attend church, visit friends in the hospital, or have lunch or dinner with friends or family inside at our fa- vorite restaurant. Yet, the marijuana dispensary is open for business. Incidentally, there does seem to be a no- table exception if one is a government official.
It'll be interesting what they do at Christmas, but this has all the markings of this “woke” and “cancel” gen- eration attempting to eliminate one more thing that is so American. The coronavirus has provided detractors such a golden opportunity for denigrating this country that it leaves one to wonder what else these socialistic- leaning folks can come up with in their hatred of Amer- ica and anything American in nature.
It is completely a natural feeling to ask oneself “where the hell did all of these twisted individuals come from, who burn and loot stores that represent nothing over which they are demonstrating? One would be re- miss were one not to begin with our educational sys- tem. Those teachers and professors who tend to vote and support Democrat causes persist in carrying a left-wing agenda to their class rooms rather than concentrating on basics that will help young people acquire those skills required to earn a living in a society that is becoming more and more difficult. Teaching a strong curriculum, and leaving politics at the schoolhouse door, would be a great starting point. How really difficult could that be?
Speaking of coronavirus, as we were, those teach- ers who prefer to stay at home and instruct students remotely will deliver a student body that is ill-prepared to face the real world. One can thank COVID-19 becom- ing so politicized that there, indeed, is a very real and present danger.
Couldn't help but notice that Joe Biden is in the pro- cess of picking those he wishes to serve in his cabinet. Philosophically, we're looking at a pretty scary bunch with discussions that Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Robert Francis O'Rourke, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are having their names bandied about as possible high level advisers.
With that mess one can expect a major tax increase to pay for all of the social programs, gun control, depen- dence on foreign oil, free college tuition, student loan forgiveness, millions of illegals being granted citizen- ship, the Green New Deal, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. becoming states and a dramatic overhaul of the Supreme Court. We seem to have such a secular gover- nance that there can be little doubt that this will repre- sent this administration's priorities.
But, as always, that's only one man's opinion.
Letters from readers
A tribute to Gail Hutchinson
When Gail Stancato Hutchinson traveled to Bos- ton last December to see her beloved grandsons and family, she passed away in January 2020. Due to the distant loca- tion, there were no local trib- utes. Many know that Dec. 1, 2020 would have been her 74th birthday.
In 1965-66, Gail won the year-long scholarship for CSUF International Studies to Aix-en- Provence, France. There, she met David Hutchinson, and the couple married in 1968. They became award-winning teach- ers at Reedley High School for more than 40 years, influencing thousands of lives through a va- riety of clubs and classes.
Gail possessed a unique style of teaching, which includ- ed ageless wisdom, humor, and love. Many students cited her motivation for their successes in college and in their chosen careers. Affectionately known as “Frau,” she not only taught French and German, but also inspired a lifelong love of all learning in those who were fortunate enough to know her. Frau continued to stay in close contact with hundreds of for- mer students — remembering their birthdays and other life events — and to write success-
ful letters of recommendation for them. She and David, aka “Monsieur,” coached award- winning Reedley High School Academic Decathlon Teams. Students recalled them as mentors, and the heart and soul of their high school edu- cations.
Frau was born in Detroit, Mich., where she determined she would become a foreign language teacher after her first day in a seventh-grade French middle school class. She left the world a better place. In the words of a former student who is now a school principal, “It is amazing how one great teacher can change a whole town!”
Len and Bonnie Heifetz Fresno Editor's Note: Len Heifetz would love to hear and share more stories of Gail Hutchinson. He can be reached by email at
lheifetz33@comcast.net.
A sore loser
President Trump's refusal to concede the presidential election won by Joe Biden demonstrates his inability to accept defeat. He is not used to losing, and he cannot buy his way out of this situation. The American people have spoken, and chosen another person to lead our country.
Trump's claims of election fraud have proven to be un- true. Even his own Homeland Security Chief stated that this election was the safest elec- tion ever. His court challenges have been thrown out of court by judges for lack of evidence. His inability to accept defeat and provide a smooth transi- tion is interfering with our na- tional security. His selfish act puts our country and every American at risk.
We need only to think back to the 2000 election and the events that happened in New York on 9/11. Having a pres- ent who thinks only of himself versus the American people that he pledged to protect is worse than having a dictator in office. And the Republi- can leadership (senators and congressmen) who have gone along with his false rhetoric rather than making him face reality are no better.
It is time for Donald Trump to quit telling lies, stop inciting his base with false allegations, accept his defeat, concede the 2020 election and start work- ing with President-elect Biden and his team. The sooner he does this will allow him to save whatever dignity he has left, and the better off we all will be.
Pilar Samoulian Sanger