Page 4 - Mid Valley Times 8-29-19 E-edition

Thursday, August 29, 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 It's time we thank, not
hamstring, law enforcement
Do any of you out there have some- one in law enforcement in your fam- ily? Do you know someone in law en- forcement? Have you ever had con- tact with anyone in law enforcement?
Random thoughts about tradition and a first partner
Rick Curiel — Dinuba Editor Jon Earnest — Reedley Editor Dick Sheppard — Sanger Editor
If you are a traditional law-abiding,
police-obeying citizen, now would
probably be a good time to stop a law
enforcement professional and thank
him or her for their service because
the state of California has just succeeded in making their lives more difficult and dangerous. If this were still the old, wild west, California would be synonymous with a remote pass in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyo- ming, known as the "Hole in the Wall" where outlaws could gather in complete safety in the late 1800s.
Seemingly unsatisfied with “free the crooks” actions compelledbyAssemblyBill109,Proposition47, Proposi- tion 57, and vowing not to work with immigration officials in detaining illegal alien criminals, our vote-hungry public officials in Sacramento have given the police another de- cision to make before defending their own lives or those of innocents. The law has been hardened on the rules of engagement when an officer may use deadly force to de- fend himself or herself. Thank you for AB 392, authored by Shirley Weber, Democrat from San Diego.
The governor seemed to dwell on the fact that the original law was written in 1882 as part of his rationale for a new one. It seems to me that the law, as originally penned, served California reasonably well until this re- cent crop of “get the cops” legislators or it would have been changed before this.
That split second required to determine whether the use of force is “reasonable” or “necessary” places the officer in even greater danger. The thought process, when faced with a potential weapon, requires more than the average citizen can even imagine. What's next? Will it soon be necessary to bring a lawyer or judge to the scene to make a determination that it's OK to defend oneself? Sadly, it's reached that point with the military where, in the middle of a firefight, clearance by a judge advocate is called upon. Come to think of it, maybe it's not a bad idea to have an attorney at the scene where there might be shooting. That, of course, is said tongue-in-cheek. It's sad I have to throw in the disclaimer because everyone is so sensitive nowadays.
No member of law enforcement leaves their home in the morning with the idea that, perhaps, is the day they get to use deadly force. In reality, their greatest single goal is to return safely to their family and loved ones at the end of their shifts. Contrary to the common urban belief, it's the criminal class which intentionally kills people. The police do not! We've got to get politics out of law enforcement and return to common sense.
It's gotten so bad that the city of San Francisco Board of Supervisors has mandated an alteration in the official language of dealing with criminal acts.
A “convicted felon” will no longer have to carry the stigma of being correctly identified by his true station in life. In the “culturally superior” Bay area, that individual will be a “justice involved person.” It shouldn't surprise anyone that San Francisco is experiencing the worst crime epidemic in the country. I may have cultural supe- riors living in the big city, but I do know that a convicted felon is a criminal creep and should be incarcerated.
California is the most criminal friendly state in America although New York City, under the leadership of Bill de Blasio, is doing its best to keep up! Welcome to modern day version of America's Hole In The Wall! Politicians always seem to be open to the latest “psycho babble” in our effort to create a welcoming environ- ment for even the absolute worst among us. Just an- other example of the those politicians treating us, the people who just elected them, as if were were cattle!
“Say it ain’t so ...”
Depending on your age, that's a 1920 Shoeless Joe Jackson related sports quote, a 1975 Dick Nixon related song by Murray Head, a 1995 rock single by Weezer or a 2019 la- ment about the end – at least for awhile – of a local football tradition.
I hadn’t heard anything about calling a halt to the more than a century-old string of Sanger and Reedley high school football games. So it caught me by surprise when I bumped into Mary Henry at the grocery store and she told me that last Friday’s game, the 99th in a row, between the two schools was the last for awhile. (The games actually started 106 years ago, but there was a break somewhere along the way.)
If I’d heard that from any- one else I would have disre- garded it. But Mary and Pat Henry and their Kings River Casting business have been involved with Apache football for a long time. In addition, Pat and Mary have the coolest red Apache backpack stadium seats, with their own names on them, I have ever seen. So Mary’s comment had enough credibility to preoccupy me so much I forgot to get ice cream before hurrying home to send a “Say it ain’t so ...” email to high school athletic director Brian Penner.
Unfortunately, as far as I’m
concerned, it’s so.
“This hiatus will give
both schools an opportunity to schedule a game that will better help develop their [football] programs,” said Penner.
In my lifetime, there has al- ways been a Sanger vs. Reed- ley game every year and I’m going to miss it.
Can't help wonder what will happen to the Pirate chest the Apaches have claimed with consecutive wins over the Pi- rates the past dozen years.
•••
I have been thinking that
when I retire — again — I would take a few classes at Reedley College, my alma ma- ter from many years ago, and maybe learn another language.
Then I read a press release from the governor's office and decided all I need to do is to stay in California.
The release referred to the governor's "first partner" and it took awhile for me to realize that here in California we no longer have a first lady. The governor's wife is now a "first partner."
Gov. Gavin Newsom is a Democrat and a former mayor of San Francisco. So I shouldn't have been surprised.
According to a San Fran- cisco newspaper, from now on a convicted felon or an of- fender released from custody in the City by the Bay will be known as a “formerly incar-
cerated per-
son,” or a “jus- tice-involved”
person or just
a “returning
resident.” A
juvenile “de-
linquent” will
now be called
a “young person with justice system involvement,” or a “young person impacted by the juvenile justice system.”
No kidding.
The new lingo gets even more confusing when the vic- tim of a "justice involved per- son" is also called a "justice involved person."
Not much chance of leaving my heart — if that's even what it's called nowadays — in San Francisco.
•••
The growing Sanger con-
cerned citizens committee has come up with a catchy slogan I've heard a couple of times re- cently, “If Sanger is going to grow Chapa has to go!”
Teflon Tim Chapa, the city manager, and his supporters don't seem any more con- cerned about that than they were about the most recent grand jury report.
“We have met the enemy and he is us.”
— Pogo
Dick Sheppard can be con- tacted by email at sangerher- ald@gmail.com.
Fred Hall
Dick Sheppard
Letters from readers
But, as always, that's only one man's opinion.
Hits keep on coming at Reedley Opera House
The Righteous Brothers, Judy Garland, Marilyn Mon- roe, and other Hollywood stars are entertaining Reedley audi- ences in the current presenta- tion of "Legends — Hooray for Hollywood".
A very special thank you to Jeff Lusk and Michael An-
gel for an absolutely amazing, over the top performance of "You've Lost That Lovin' Fee- lin.' Wow!
Congratulations to all the performers for what was ob- viously a well directed and rehearsed performance. Er- ik, you hit a home run!! Your directing was excellent. A huge thank you to everyone involved in this incredible
production including cho- reography, costumes, wigs, lighting, makeup, sound, and sets.
And the hits keep on a- com'n. Congratulations, River City Theatre!
Gary and Elizabeth Barsoom, Reedley Randy and Anita Morris, Fresno
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QUOTE
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— Poul Anderson (1926-2001)