Page 4 - Mid Valley Times 10-17-19 E-edition

Thursday, October 17, 2019 | A4 | Mid Valley TiMes Editorial & Opinions
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 A dichotomy of values in
today's America
One begins every day facing the
dichotomy that is today's America.
On one hand, there are the optimistic,
traditional value treasuring individu-
als who make up the small cities here
in the Valley in which we have been
blessed to live. Those folks realize that
there has been an improvement in the
country against some big obstacles.
Wars are being ended; more people are
working; wages are trending upward;
unemployment rates among all ethic groups is down; and fewer are looking to the government for support checks.
The other side seems to be fraught with angry young people who are unable to cogently define the cause of their angst. They seem to be the product of our uni- versities which have somehow instilled the idea that socialism is the answer when it subscribes to the lowest possible threshold being acceptable.
The second group usually makes their presence known whenever a dissenting opinion is offered by a conservative voice. Somehow, these people want to re- write the Constitution to make freedom of speech only acceptable when it agrees with their rather limited point of view. Their preferred methods include bully- ing, intimidation, and the destruction of public and pri- vate property all while hiding behind black masks and ninja type clothing to identify themselves as Antifa. One has to wonder if they are endowed with enough rational thought to realize the great similarity between cowardly hiding behind their masks and the hoods employed by the Ku Klux Klan.
They do, however, seemed to have slowed down their mindless attack on statues of famous Americans.
When one reaches the point where there is real doubt about where America is headed, we are blessed with community events which begin in earnest in the small cities throughout the Valley this time of year. A couple of weeks ago, we were honored with the opportunity to drive a vehicle in the Dinuba Raisin Days Parade. That was followed this past Saturday by being asked to pro- vide proper transportation for the grand marshal of the Reedley Fiesta, Susan Lusk and her family. In a couple of weeks, Sanger will honor veterans with a special day and a parade in their honor. There's no way to define the feelings that well up inside one while observing the happiness and sense of well-being that springs from citizens who pack these venues.
There can be no doubt, as people gather with their friends in these cities, that they share disparate views on the politics of the land but they unify behind the un- derlying meaning of such public gatherings. In doing so, they honor the accomplishments to those who traveled these streets before us and declare their optimism in the strength of rural America. There were no statues toppled, MAGA hats burned, people bullied and blocked from their cars nor people being assaulted with body fluid from demonstrators. We may be small town Amer- ica, but thank heavens there is still basic human civility!
That wasn't the case last week when President Don- ald Trump gave a speech before a packed house at the Target Arena in Minneapolis, Minn.
A rousing speech to about 25,000 Trump supporters ran on for about two hours and seemed to be thoroughly enjoyed by the sea of supporters who prominently dis- played red caps and red shirts. These people, many who had traveled great distances, had quietly waited in line in a steady rain. Only one protestor was identified and quickly and quietly removed from the venue before any real disturbance arose.
Outside the arena, that quickly changed when the speech was over and people began to exit. A group of grubby looking folks, dressed in black and wearing masks, snatched red caps and burned them. Assaulting officers, blocking traffic and being a general infantile nuisance became the norm. We're better than that — this country is better than that. Don't surrender!
Mid Valley region not just a small world, but a large community
Rick Curiel — Sanger Editor Jon Earnest — Reedley Editor Dick Sheppard — Editor Emeritus
Fred Hall
We’ve all said it at some point in our lives. Some of us may have even said it recently.
“It’s a small world,” we may say from time to time.
It happens more times than we may realize. And to realize the meaning of these words, you need only do one thing. Go outside your given community and talk to other people.
I’ve learned this firsthand over the past few weeks. Taking over for Dick Sheppard, a living legend in the Mid Valley Com- munity, having grown up in Di- nuba and spending many years in radio broadcasting and, just recently, as editor of the Sanger Herald, I’ve come to realize this one dynamic truth.
We are all connected more than we might think.
In my first weeks in Sanger, I have met people who have only verified the incredible con- nections we share here in the Mid Valley. In one of my first assignments, I met with Sanger Rotary member, and former president, Ray McCann.
The longtime Sanger Rotary member was sharing with me his club’s longtime standing re- lationship with the Sanger High FFA program. During our con- versation, he mentioned how his niece is currently raising two steers through the program and is anticipating the construc- tion of the new FFA facility at Sanger High School.
As I listened to his story, I couldn’t help realize that the story seemed awfully familiar.
“Wait,” I said. “Is your niece’s last name Bensen, by chance?”
“Actually, yes it is,” McCann responded.
Turns out his niece is the daughter of a former co-worker. I had heard the story from her father just the prior week while serving as a trainer and consul- tant for Fresno Distributing.
While there, I also ran into a Michael Montelongo, who serves as campus police at Sanger High School. As I spoke with him and told him where I was from he asked if I knew a Roland Rico.
“Of course I do,” I ex- pressed. “I know the Rico fam- ily well.”
The Ricos are fellow parish- ioners of mine and I have had the pleasure of working for Roland’s wife, Laura, for many years as a Catechist at St. Cath- erine’s Catholic Church in Dinu- ba. Laura Rico is the Director of Religious Education at the Parish.
She has told me how she and Roland met — at Sanger High School, in a tennis class. (Side note: Roland does not play ten- nis.)
Roland Rico is also known by many in the community, es- pecially many of the young foot- ball players who have built up the Emperor’s program, as ‘Pa- pa Rico’. For many years now, Roland Rico has been the head coach for Dinuba High School’s junior varsity program, at one point collecting over 30 wins
without a loss. That same week, as I cov- ered the Sanger Apache’s first home victory at Tom Flores Sta-
dium, I heard Rick Curiel my name called
as I was walking the home side- line.
As I looked up, I was sur- prised and pleased to see none other than Coach Rico waving back at me. Alongside him was his wife Laura, holding their granddaughter. Their daughter and son-in-law live in Sanger.
The following week I met the assistant to Sanger City Manager Tim Chapa, Corina Tamez, at a Sanger Job Fair. As we engaged in small talk, I was again reminded of the Mid Val- ley connection. In a full trifecta, Corina took the cake. She lives in Reedley, works in Sanger and her daughter works in Dinuba (at Lincoln Elementary School – my alma mater to boot).
I’ve written before how a regional paper makes sense to our readers because of our Mid Valley connection. Having worked in Sanger for the past few weeks has only verified the premise.
Our community is larger than the city limits we reside in. We are all connected in this area.
Is it a ‘small world’?
Perhaps, but when you look closer you may realize – it’s a large community.
Republic, not democracy
What is the meaning of the American values? First, "E Plu- ribus Unum.” Second, “Liberty.” And finally, “In God we trust.”
The first means: “out of one man, many people from ma- ny backgrounds.” The second means you are a fully American when you become a U.S. citi- zen. The third speaks for itself. Which means rights come from God. If rights are given by men, men can take them away such in a socialist progressive state.
This is the reason why these three “American values” be- came the world’s most free and prosperous country. But many progressive Americans want
to, in the words of President Barack Obama, “fundamentally transform” America. They wish to replace American values with “liberal European values.” If you want equality, you will tell people how much they can earn, that means the end of liberty. The word “equality” means to be equal. It does not exist in the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, or the Consti- tution. In a democracy, the indi- vidual is not sovereign; rather, the collective majority is sover- eign.
As individual citizens are at the mercy of the collective ma- jority or potentially the mob. In a pure democracy, 50 percent + 1 determines the law. The 49
percent is swallowed by the 51 percent, the mob. The saying... “democracy form of govern- ment,” is constantly in usage: in schools, state, federal govern- ments, and liberal news media, without knowing what it really means.
Article 4, Section 4, in the U.S. Constitution reads: “The united states shall guarantee to every state in this union a ‘re- publican form of government.” It does not say: a democracy form of government. We are a “republic.” One nation under God. Please read it for future reference. “Laus Deo”. (Praise be to God)
Manuel Madrid Reedley
Letters from readers
But, as always, that's only one man's opinion.
Letters Policy
MID VALLEY TIMES invites letters from the public on any topic of local relevance. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity or brevity, and we reserve the right to NOT publish them if they could be deemed libelous or profane. Letters should be 350 words or less, and bear the author's name, address, and phone number. Letters can be mailed, emailed, submitted via our website, or personally delivered to: Editor, Reedley Exponent, 1130 G St, Reedley CA 93654.
QUOTE
“The third-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the majority. The second-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the minority. The first-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking.”
— A. A. Milne (1882-1956)
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