Page 3 - Sanger Herald 8-2-18 E-edition

SANGER HERALD 3A THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2018 EDITORIAL & OPINION
Random thoughts "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with ..."
By Dick Sheppard
The only thing remotely positive I can think of to say aboutthebadairquality we've had in Sanger lately is that it does make for some interesting sunrises and sunsets.
Look at the photo by
Chieko Delgado on the front page. Smoke and soot in the air has scattered away nearly all the light from the setting sun except for deep oranges and reds.
I hope your lungs are getting used to try- ingtofilteralittlebitofoxygenoutofthat nasty, smoky air.
•••
Neither heat nor bad air will keep me from
the food booths and the youth talent show at St. Mary's Summer Festival on Friday eve- ning. Ialwayscomeawaywithenoughhome- made tamales to get me through the rest of the summer, fall and holiday season. It's a Friday, Saturday and Sunday event, starting at 6 p.m. on Friday and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday - with homemade breakfast bur- ritos on sale at 8:30 on Sunday morning.
If you like mariachi and norteño music, you can get your fill on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
The festival has become one of Sanger's
Workshop for dementia family caregivers
Join us for a workshop for family caregiv- ers. You’ll learn what dementia is and strate- gies on how to respond to common dementia- related behavior.
This workshop is free for family caregiv- ers, it is not open to providers, volunteers or for patients.
Pre-registration is required because of limited seating.
Theworkshopwillbeheld from2-4p.m. on Aug. 17 at the Valley Caregiver Resource Center (VCRC), 3845 N. Clark Street, Suite 201, in Fresno.
Call VCRC to reserve your seat (559) 224- 9154.
Gina Torres
Change the name
Although no longer topical, I’ve decided that the forgoing issue needs airing. When I saw the headline concerning a local wrestling
biggest and best social events of the year. •••
After reading through the city staff's more than 1,100 word revised response to one of thegrandjury's"Findings" Iwasreminded of W.C. Fields' sage advice, "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bulls**t."
The city has 90 days from when the grand jury's report was issued on June 15 to come up with an official response to seven "Findings" and eight "Recommendations."
The city council, at its July 19, meeting made very few suggestions for changes in the proposed responses prepared by the city staff. Oneofthechangeswastotheresponse to the grand jury's "Finding 3: The Citizen's Oversight Committee has been bypassed
in its review of proposed Measure S spend- ing including 2017's across-the-board pay increase for public safety employees."
Thestaff'soriginalproposedresponse started out with "The City disagrees wholly with Finding 3." But, mayor pro tem Eli Ontiveros - the only councilmember who appeared to have actually read the grand jury report and done some research - pointed out that the council had indeed considered those raises before the oversight committee knew anything about them. Ontiveros insist- ed on adding a timeline to the city's response to Finding 3, showing when the issue came
camp, I thought, what the (heck). When I read the story, I realized the
headline had written itself. I’m requesting that this be considered as an open letter to the founders of the wrestling camp as to why they would use the W**path name for a camp that, at least according to the article, pro- motes fellowship and making human being to human being connections.
All indications, again according to the article, are that this camp was a tremendous success. I’m very pleased that this camp was held, and I believe the result will cut down on "gratuitous violence." I’m hopeful that the reason for use of the W**path name doesn’t match any of the nefarious reasons swim- ming in my head.
I request that the founders drop/change the name of this camp. Both because it doesn’t match the stated reasons for the camp and because it is offensive (as cur- rently used by the larger society). It is akin to hearing the phrase "left the reservation" in various spy and even business executive movies/stories.
The use of these phrases confuses (at best) and has the potential of hurting Native (American) youth. While my 35 plus years of working with Native youth may not qualify me as an expert. I believe it does qualify me to have an "informed opinion." I am available to discuss this with the camps founders, should they do desire.
Victor White AKA Vic Yellow Hawk White
before the council and when the oversight committee was officially presented with it. The council will consider the new, more
than 1,100 word proposed response at this evening'scitycouncilmeeting,andallthe councilmembers except maybe Ontiveros will likely go along with city manager Tim Chapa's explanation about why it makes sense.
The new response grudgingly admits in very few words what was denied in the first proposed response - the oversight committee was bypassed. Then, in about another 1,000 words, it presents a convoluted, self serving explanation of what happened and why it happenedandimpliesitcouldhappenagain under similar circumstances, even though there is an ordinance prohibiting it. The only relevant point in the new response is that yes, indeed, the committee was bypassed.
Whenever the Pied Piper [Chapa] is called outbyanyonebutOntiverosandappears
to believe he may be pressing too hard he falls back on his usual, apparently very well rehearsed Alan Greenspan kind of response,
In my OPINION
"I know you think you understand what you thought I said but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."
The majority of the councilmembers nod andsmileandshaketheirheadsasifthat made total sense and then do whatever Chapa tells them to - even if it results in an embar- rassing grand jury investigation and an even more embarrassing more than 1,100 word self-serving response to a finding that is the very essence of the whole report.
•••
I hope you'll stop by the National Night
Out next Tuesday evening in Sanger Park and say hello to the shelter dogs hoping for a for- everhome.
One of them could be your new best friend.
"We have met the enemy and he is us."
- Pogo
Comments, complaints and suggestions may be emailed to sangerherald@gmail.com or may be made by calling 875-2511.
Dick Sheppard
It's time for spoiled athletes to man up
By Fred Hall
It was almost as if a
breath of fresh air swept
over me while watching
Major League Baseball
showcase its annual All-Star
baseball game about two
weeksago. Thestadium
and the players were awash
in the national colors.
Service members who were medal winners were recognized and honored during the pre-game ceremonies and the players stood proudly with hands or caps over their hearts during the playing of the National Anthem. Pride of who we are and where we live was on display everywhere.
Contrast that, if you will, with the sorry state of affairs being displayed by the spoiled young players—and the league itself—of theNationalFootballLeague. Theflap
over participants being allowed to show
their disrespect and even contempt for the American way will apparently be allowed tocontinue. It'sasafebetthat thiscoming seasontherewillbe continuedsitting, kneeling or other forms of disrespect for
the American Flag during all pre-game ceremonies.
Strange thing about these overpaid and as I said earlier, spoiled players, is that I managed to get through last season without watching a single down of professional football and I survived, quite well!
Television ratings continue to plummet and attendance is sharply off, but they don't seemtocare. Oneofthesedaystheleague will discover that the very folks they are busy turning off each and every week with their antics are the very individuals who help pay their bloated salaries for playing a kids' game! Theyclaimtheirprotestsarebecause of perceived inequities in the way police deal with members of the black community.
The standard condemnation of police brutality is always used by the soft-on-crime liberals when any physical force is required tosubduethebadguys. Inevitablythere are rare occasions when extreme prejudice (having to use one's service weapon) is unavoidable with today's entitled criminal element. Justtakealookatthehavocwhich California has wrought with the infamous Propositions 47 and 57!
Please don't resort to the cliched and time- worn arguments that take into consideration “the plantation” because I don't believe
that. Americastillhasseriouslydeep-seated problems, although some are occasionally whipped up by “race pimps.” America, as a rule,hasmovedbeyondthat. Anyway,there is certainly no indication that America's past problems with slavery involved pay rates
Fred Hall
NFL PLAYERS PUT ON YOUR BIG BOY PANTS AND
GET OVER IT
thatranintothemillionsannually. National Football League players are, in no way, disrespectedormistreated. Theirwounds are self inflicted.
The National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball have no problems with presenting a proud patriotic front far more in line with the feelings of their fans. Why,thenistheNFLsoopposed? Perhaps if they lived more exemplary lives there would be less negative contact with police departments.
I see it, quite simply, as being symptomatic of the problems that face today's divided America. Ourpoliticalclassandtheir number one supporter, the media, have succeeded far beyond their expectations of being able to divide the United States along politicalandethnicbiases. Whenonestops
to think for a moment, it becomes abundantly clear that all of which is totally unacceptable under Donald Trump was considered the norm under president Obama.
To the spoiled athletes of the NFL, I would suggest that you take some of those millions of dollars earned from inflated contracts
for having special skills at a kids' game
and invest it in providing better quality education and economic opportunities in
the neighborhoods from which many of youcame. Putsomeofyourlargesseback intothecommunity! Ibelievethecorrect, although currently questionably politically correct term would be to “man up!” The preseasonbeginsinaboutoneweek. We'll be watching to see if these people can act
as if they are grown-ups or will continue to flaunt their position which is, on its face, un-American.
But, as always, that's only one man's opinion.
In addition to the Sanger Herald, Publisher Fred Hall oversees two other Mid Valley Publishing newspapers - Reedley Exponent, and Dinuba Sentinel. He can be contacted by phone at (559) 638-2244 or by email at fred@ midvalleypublishing.com.
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