Page 4 - Mid Valley Times 5-13-21 E-edition

Thursday, May 13, 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 Cancel culture continues
to blaze a slippery slope
If ever there were a classic ex-
ample of the old idiom "the tail wag-
ging the dog" it would right now, right
here in the United States. Never, to
my recollection, has a smaller, more
misguided group of individuals held
such sway over the daily activities
and thoughts of the majority. The
handful representing cancel culture,
Antifa and Black Lives Matter seem
to have seized control of the political agenda of a nation of 300 million citizens.
Falling in line like lemmings or sheep is a long list of major American companies who apparently have no earthly idea of the harm they are causing with the “woke” attitude of their corporate officers.
As clearly as I can tell from their actions so far, the agenda for these small radical groups involves the destruction of historic icons, burning down buildings, the attempted removal of all policing authority and de- stroying education with the introduction of curriculum that falls far outside the parameters of a life-preparing education.
Educational institutions have even gone so far as beginning to teach the historically-challenged piece from the New York Times titled the 1619 Project. Pro- motional literature says it is an attempt to “reframe” history. Just as such tripe is usually awarded with some “prestigious” award, this one received a Pulitzer. To fully evaluate these “awards” and the people who judge them, one has only to remember that Barack Obama was given a Nobel Peace Prize before he served a day in office.
When two obscure writers with a free inconsequen- tial alternative weekly newspaper from San Francisco are offended by the actions of a long-running Disney cartoon character, the entertainment giant folded like a cheap suit.
The general fun of watching the shenanigans of “Looney Tunes” and other little animals who cavorted on our movie screens didn't seem to harm any of us either emotionally or physically. I've got to tell you the truth. I never, ever once, became “triggered” while watching Bugs Bunny nor did I detect anything racist from Bugs, Elmer, Donald, Tweety, Yosemite Sam or any of the other characters from the comic pages or Saturday morning television.
To tell the truth, I never really believed that the Roadrunner was constantly blowing up the coyote and Wylie kept coming back for more. We knew instinctive- ly that it was just entertainment. If someone who was 7 or 8 years could rationalize what they were watching, why can't some of these college-educated miscreants manage to do so today?
Who would have thought that the time would come when classic literature was deemed racist and banned. What's next, book burning?
We have taken note that — to their eternal credit — some parents have begun to stand up and take strong positions against teachers and school boards who have decided to immerse our young people in useless proj- ects such as the 1619 Project and Critical Race Theory. Just teach them, don't confuse them!
Similarly to that situation, after a year of being locked down and being forced to wear a “face diaper” people are beginning to question the “scientific” evi- dence being quoted by all the little bureaucrats who have taken control of everything we now think and do. As near as I can tell, Anthony Fauci as well as federal and local officials, got this one all wrong and don't want to return control to the citizenry.
With all the government control being exerted and the continuing distribution of money to people who can make more by staying home than working, we are on a slippery slope toward socialism.
But, as always, that's only one man's opinion.
Water outlook doesn't cast optimism for agriculture, river rec enthusiasts
Jon Earnest — Reedley Editor Dick Sheppard — Editor Emeritus
The floods of 2017 along the Kings River are a distant mem- ory (that's a good thing). Unfor- tunately, the banner 2017-2018 irrigation outlook for agri- culture — as well as bumper water sports and Kings River recreation seasons in 2018 and 2019 — also are well into the rear-view mirror.
The May 6 report from the Kings River Water Association stated that the river's peak cal- culated natural flow (which is what the current would be if there was no Pine Flat dam) is one of the lowest ever recorded (the record low came in 2015). Association officials estimate that that the average flow for the season will be anywhere between 25 to 30 percent. With each hot, dry day, that average continues to dip lower.
What it all means is that there's not likely to be a sum- mer long river recreation sea- son for those who boat, jet-ski, swim and fish. It's much worse news for growers and farmers, who rely heavily on any sur- face water that can be made available. Thanks to two years- plus of drought and the heavy
hand of the Bureau of Recla- mation, agriculture most like- ly will receive a tiny fraction of the water growers need for the variety of crops renowned in the Valley.
Sometime later this month, the annual rite of passage will occur when summer water releases begin from Pine Flat Reservoir. But they won't be much, and they won't be long- lasting.
Enjoy the Kings River at its flowing best for the short time there is. And be safe. There won't be much coming down; at the start of the week the reservoir was barely above 36 percent of capacity.
•••
I wanted to take some space
to remember Vern Lotspeich, a lifelong educator and success- ful teacher and coach in Sanger for many years who died at age 89 back in January.
Ron Blackwood, Sanger High's longtime stats wizard and historian, said Lotspeich was a very good coach who handled the Apaches' B team in football and was a longtime assistant in basketball to coach
Dean Nichol-
son. Lotspeich
coached the C
and D teams
at the school
before moving
up as an assis-
tant and later
coached the
Apaches' varsity from 1976 to 1978, compiling a 38-33 record while coaching standout play- ers like Tony Herron and Bret Bell.
Most important, Lotspeich was "an outstanding teacher and a very strong Christian" according to Blackwood. Lotspeich and Nicholson both shared a common bond of be- ing Nebraska natives.
Mr. Lotspeich's obituary said that his four-decade ten- ure teaching and coaching at Sanger High "influenced gen- erations of students, athletes and members of the greater community...through his con- nections in the math classroom and in various athletic venues, he reached students from all walks of life."
Jon Earnest is news-sports editor for The Times.
Churches creating mental health supports
By Chinayera Hardman Black
Guest Columnist
Studies show that when people are struggling with a crisis or crises, the church is often the first place they seek support. There are countless churches in the district, many of which are in the most dense- ly-populated cities of Reedley and Parlier. A number of these churches are tasked with car- ing for the whole person — body, mind, and soul — which leads them to create ministries to support mental illness. Life House Valley Church in Reed- ley is one of the local churches with a mental health ministry.
Victims of trauma and grief frequently seek mental health support at Life House Val- ley Church. After recognizing that many of its members suf- fer from traumatic life experi- ences like domestic violence, child abuse, victims of other crimes and grief caused by loss or death, Life House Val- ley Church recently developed the “MERCY care and HOPE Ministry.” When someone pres- ents with mental health needs, the Life House Valley Church HOPE-MERCY care and HOPE Ministry offers trusted spiritu- al supports while also introduc- ing community-based services
that may also help to address their needs more formally. The church walks alongside them through this process.
“Part of the support is train- ing the church and staff on mental health awareness and sensitivity “says Miriam Ale- man the HOPE Ministry Di- rector. “It is important that the church create safe spaces of love and healing. If we are not trained, we will miss an oppor- tunity to lead people to HOPE and healing."
The COVID-19 pandemic compromised the church's abil- ity to convene in person over the past year. Absent in-person church services, Life House Valley Church implemented a variety of strategies to help the congregation remain con- nected. In addition to Zoom meetings and on-line services, they created a list of resources and did weekly check- in calls
with families
who shared
feelings of sad-
ness, loneliness
or depressed.
Miriam Ale-
man, helped the
church create a
MERCY CARE
ministry which
includes two
chaplains. The chaplains as- sist in home and hospital visits while also ensuring that any immediate needs are identi- fied.
During the Month of May, Life House Valley Church has scheduled two Trauma In- formed Art Workshop sessions (Wednesday, May 19 and Satur- day, May 22) that use art to aid in processing loss and grief. If you are interested in the work- shop or to learn more about Life House Valley Church, you may call Pastor Miriam Ale- man at (559) 790-6012 or email her at miriamcaleman@gmail. com. If you are interested in learning more about mental health awareness you may reach out to the Sierra Kings Health Care District at www. skhcd.org.
Chinayera Hardman Black is Chief Executive Officer for the Sierra Kings Health Care District.
QUOTE
“The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unneces- sarily laid upon them by their governments.”
— William H. Borah (1865-1940)
Jon Earnest
Fred Hall
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The Sierra Kings Health Care District is partnering with local agencies to highlight mental health resources available to the community. This is the second of three guest columns.
Chinayera Black Hardaman