Page 4 - Mid Valley Times 5-27-21 E-edition

Thursday, May 27, 2021 | 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 Don't allow the bad actors
to destroy our country
It seems counter-intuitive when
everyone hears the media, Democrat
politicians and special interest groups
— including Antifa and Black Lives
Matter — complain of “systemic rac-
ism” and inequity which team up to
make America such a terrible place to
live. Why, then, does one see hundred
of thousands of “people of color” work-
ing so hard to illegally enter such a
horrible, racist country? I know it sounds trite, but those people who hate America so much should be allowed to move to one of those Marxist countries they so admire.
Years ago, when the “Cold War” was in its full throes, a friend of mine commented on the wall which sepa- rated East Berlin from its western sector. Although our American college professors were busy telling us how wonderful it was living under communism, this friend asked if I had noticed that all the people coming over that wall were headed west and not east.
That thought alone, as succinct as it is, pretty well frames the argument against all those little socialists and Marxists who currently are being given free reign over our cities and states. It's particularly obvious that there are two forms of justice in America at this time, and the police are being handcuffed in their fight against crime. The anti-police position taken by what appears to be college aged trust fund babies is so wrong-headed as to make life more tenuous for whites and minorities alike.
California state government seems to be leading the way in the very worst of political/criminal data. In addi- tion to making it more difficult to arrest, hold and con- vict a “perp,” our governor has decided to release 76,000 bad guys from our prisons. The only analogy that imme- diately comes to mind is the seven-year re-emergence of locusts on our east coast. The only things that those insects know is make noise, eat and reproduce. Judging from past performances, the recidivism rate is going to be quite high for this group of criminals which repre- sents a special surprise gift to taxpaying citizens from Gavin Newsom.
Having grown up in the 1950s, racism was bad but it seemed to begin improving from the 1960s through the first part of this century. Blacks flourished in sports and entertainment. This “racist nation” elected its first black President — twice! Later, voters rallied in sup- port of the first black female vice president. Minorities began to show income improvements under the Trump Administration. Job opportunities for minority workers rose by record numbers. Give all Americans an equal chance and get the hell out of the way!
Today, in the name of “equity” we see our own gov- ernment practicing a reverse form of racism and our school system instituting a program designed to teach youngsters that they are “sinners” because they were born “white.”
What the hell ever happened to equality? Who be- lieves that the best we can provide is equal opportuni- ties. Outcomes depend on education, training, abilities and God-given talent. Government has no right to place its finger on the scale.
Who truly believes that the public would pay good money to see a National Football League team, a Major League Baseball team or a National Basketball Associa- tion team whose members were selected by the govern- ment on a quota system. These current players were selected by size and skill. Probably both, and that's as it should be!
Our government, itself, is effectively practicing rac- ism with the plantation mentality of low expectations. There always are going to be bad actors. We can't allow them to destroy things for all the others.
Remembering our fallen and our rising (graduates) in the next week
Jon Earnest — Reedley Editor Dick Sheppard — Editor Emeritus
Fred Hall
A solemn tradition is return- ing next week for the Memorial Day holiday. We're getting back our live commemoration events in Reedley and Sanger after last year's COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent slowdown/shutdown of businesses and organizations.
We lost the Memorial Day events for the year in 2020, al- though people still were able to visit their loved ones in the region's three large cemeter- ies: Reedley, Sanger and Smith Mountain in Dinuba. It was a noticeable loss in Reedley; the moving annual tribute of a military veteran sharing his or her emotions about their mili- tary service and the meaning of Memorial Day and honor- ing those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. The stirring music of each branch of the military also was absent, along with the placement of wreaths and the somber playing of "Taps" at the end of the ceremony.
There still were flags placed at military veterans' gravesites by dedicated volunteers, but it just wasn't the same. That's why it's great to hear that Reedley is returning to the cer- emony for 2021. It's especially heartwarming for the aging se- niors, both veterans and civil- ians, to experience the memo- ries of remembrance of family members, friends and acquain- tances who gave their lives to their country. Once again, we'll hear experiences and stories from a veteran — this year it will be Melissa Bautista from Reedley's Hillcrest Tree Farms speaking — and we'll again bond as a community.
The same will take place in Sanger (where I will be on Mon- day) and Dinuba; even though
the Avenue of the Flags cer- emony won't be a live event for a second straight year. Organiz- ers have said that a virtual re- cording of the Flags ceremony will be recorded in advance and played online during Memorial Day. Also, the beautiful flags will be on display up until 2:30 p.m. on Memorial Day, when dedicated Dinuba High foot- ball players and wrestlers will help take down and remove the flags, completing a project they began days earlier.
But there's more. For the first time in months, the public will get to visit and see up close the completed construction and renovation of the Vietnam Vet- erans Memorial Wall in front of the Dinuba Veterans Memorial Building. It's the largest memo- rial monument to the Vietnam conflict west of the Mississippi River, and is modeled after the original Vietnam Veterans Me- morial in Washington D.C. Not only can you pay tribute to the 58,000 who lost their lives — including those who grew up and lived in the Central Valley — you also can get a direct feel of the Memorial Day emotions. The public is invited to the event, and officials said food will be available on site.
We should remember our fallen military every day, but especially this Monday. This is more than just a day off.
•••
While we remember our fall-
en, it's also the time of year to congratulate and pay tribute to our "rising" young people — the Class of 2021 high school and college/university graduates. Fresno State, Fresno Pacific, and community colleges includ- ing Reedley College already
have presented
diplomas, asso-
ciate's degrees
and certificates
of achievement
to hard-work-
ing, dedicated
young men and
women. This
week, the run of high school honors begin.
Starting Thursday, May 27, Dinuba High School in the Di- nuba Unified School District and Orange Cove High School in the Kings Canyon Unified School District will honor their Class of 2021 graduates. That will be followed on Friday, May 28, by Reedley High School's graduating seniors, who again return outdoors after a little more than two months back on campus.
It's a unique class of gradu- ates, who have seen more than a quarter of their high school ed- ucation experience relegated to distance learning via computer. That included no extracurricu- lar and athletic activities for close to a year, and some sea- sons completely lost.
While it's something those graduates can never get back, it's an unprecedented experi- ence that they'll never forget and likely forge determination into their personalities. It's been great to see school events and sports return in the past couple of months, especially to given the seniors a taste of what they missed out on.
In advance, congratulations to all graduates! Please be safe out there on your big night, and best wishes for success in your future endeavors in life.
Jon Earnest is news-sports editor for The Times.
Jon Earnest
Letters from readers
But, as always, that's only one man's opinion.
Another wonderful surprise in Reedley
Well locals, I want to share another wonderful, happy ex- perience.
I was totally amazed by the car show in Reedley on May 1. There was a 1939 gray Ford pick-up that looked ex- actly like the one that used to be in the barn on our fam- ily farm. Then I saw and blue
and white 1950 Buick like the one my mother drove me to kindergarten in (it was no big problem for her. She was the school secretary).
After a while, I was ready for dinner. There were lots of people around (yeah, Reedley!). I saw only one empty chair by a couple. I asked if I could sit there and they said "sure, join us." Of course, I told them about the Reedley Museum.
We had a wonderful chat about old things and they gave me big waves when they left. About 10 minutes later, I was ready to leave and asked for my bill. There server said the couple had paid for me.
What a surprise! Again, an- other wonderful surprise. It makes me very happy to share happiness.
Vicky Andersen Reedley
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QUOTE
“In times like these, it helps to recall that there have always been times like these.”
— Paul Harvey (1918-2009)