Mountain Views News          Saturday, September 10, 2011

13

OPINION

 Mountain Views News Saturday, September 10, 2011 

STUART Tolchin..........On LIFE

DEBTS

HAIL Hamilton My Turn

Mountain 
Views

News

PUBLISHER/ EDITOR

Susan Henderson

CITY EDITOR

Dean Lee 

EAST VALLEY EDITOR

Joan Schmidt

SALES

Patricia Colonello

626-355-2737 

626-818-2698

PRODUCTION 

Richard Garcia

PHOTOGRAPHY

Lina Johnson

Ivonne Durant

WEBMASTER

John Aveny 

CONTRIBUTORS

Jeff Brown

Pat Birdsall

Chris Leclerc

Bob Eklund

Howard Hays

Paul Carpenter

Stuart Tolchin

Kim Clymer-Kelley

Christopher Nyerges

Peter Dills 

Hail Hamilton 

Rich Johnson

Chris Bertrand

Ron Carter

Rev. James Snyder

Bobby Eldridge

Mary Carney

La Quetta Shamblee

Katie Hopkins

Deanne Davis

Despina Arouzman

Greg Wellborn

Dr. John Talevich

Meaghan Allen

Sean Kayden


Giving the store away... AGAIN!

Before I start talking about the movie, the 
“Debt,” I want to acknowledge my debt to 
Rich Johnson. Rich is another columnist 
in this paper and it is he who is responsible 
for starting the strange turn of events 
that resulted in me becoming a regular 
contributor to this paper. Thank you Rich 
and, to repay your kindness, I hereby follow 
your suggestion contained in your article of 
last week and shamelessly plug the appearance of your musical 
group, J.J. Jukebox on September 30, 2011 at Corfu Restaurant 
right around dinner time. I saw the group perform at Corfu a 
couple of weeks ago, and the whole evening had a very pleasant 
Sierra Madre feeling. Somehow in the midst of this world that 
is falling apart, our little hillside oasis maintains a feeling of 
community and shared experience. Stores open and close; the 
bank across the street has had six different identities in the 
thirty-plus years I’ve lived here, there are constant feuds; but 
the Fourth of July parade continues, as does the Mount Wilson 
Trail Race, and the Wistaria Festival, and the special snow 
day and ad hoc festivals celebrating parking lot openings and, 
notwithstanding everything else, I think most of us are pretty 
happy living here.

Up here in the canyon, many people have a sense of the history 
about the place and its colorful past. I think this knowledge 
has a positive influence upon all of us. The poet Wendell Berry 
has said:

Well, if you don’t know any of the past you literally wouldn’t 
know anything. You have no language, no history and so the 
first result would be a kind of personal incompleteness.

Mr. Berry has written that the recognition of a debt, of 
an obligation, maintains a connection with the past. It is 
continuing the statement that some things matter, that we live 
in a society with certain ethics and rules and, that as individuals 
we have a responsibility to be worthy of these ethics and rules. 
Really, he asserts, there is no freedom without responsibility 
and I think this is what the movie “The Debt” is all about. I 
don’t want to spoil the movie for you and talk about plot details 
and it is very possible that what I think the movie was about 
will have little to do with your experience of the film. 

My take on the movie is that it deals with the creation of Israel 
as a place of freedom and hope. The movie refers to the debt 
that one generation has to another and it is a testament to the 
fact the obligations run both ways. The older generation has 
the responsibility to convey as much of the truth of the past as 
it can and the younger generation has the responsibility to be 
respectful of that past and absorb its lessons and build upon 
them. To me the movie illustrates that TRUTH is absolutely 
required. If what is being conveyed is not truthful, then what 
follows is not a recognition of the past but rather the maintenance 
of delusion. The consequences of delusion, as predicted by 
Wendell Berry, is a kind of personal incompleteness inevitably 
resulting in confusion. .

My next transition is perhaps predictable. I believe, or rather 
I assert, that ever since the non-election of the President in 
2000, the United States has willingly allowed itself to live 
within lies. We have not followed our own rules and are no 
longer connected to anything. It is as if we have no language 
and no history and live day to day within arbitrarily created 
pseudo-crises, as the basic premises of freedom and equality 
are ground into the dust of forgotten and ignored history. Our 
political parties represent nothing—how can they when both 
parties are beholden to the same super-rich corporations that 
are the only sources available to fund the unbearably costly 
elections. 

Today, the American population no longer trusts its institutions 
or its elected representatives. The various primaries are just 
media-events that have little significance the following week.

We are all failing to pay our debt to our own history. Is it time 
for class warfare? 

I always suggest the same thing. Turn off the technology, just 
look around and hold on to your families and communities. 
Notice what’s happening and be nice to one another. There 
are more of us than there are of them and we need to hold on. 
Somehow all this technology pulls us apart from one another 
and leaves us easily manipulated. Remember that that the major 
threat to our whole way of life is not out there - but is right here. 
Our greatest need is the ability to recognize Truth. We must 
keep searching for it as this is our continuing obligation to our 
grandparents and to our grandchildren. It also might be a 
good idea to call Corfu and see if there is any space left to hear 
Rich Johnson and his group. Sometimes it takes a little effort 
and preparation in order make our good intentions a reality. 

Here we go again. 
AB540, which was passed 
back in 2001, allows “qualified” 
undocumented students 
to be exempt from 
paying significantly higher 
out-of-state tuition at public colleges and universities 
in California. According to MALDEF 
(Mexican American Legal Defense Foundation) 
site students are eligible for the AB 540 
exemption if they meet ALL of the following 
requirements: 

• Attend a California high school for 3 or 
more years;

• Graduate from a California high school 
or receive the equivalent, such as a GED;

• Submit an affidavit (a written promise) 
to the California public college or university 
where they are attending or plan to attend. In 
this statement students declare that they meet 
all AB 540 requirements and if they are undocumented, 
that they have filed an application 
to adjust their immigration status or will do so 
as soon as they are eligible to do so. These are 
benefits NOT available to U.S. citizens or legal 
residents.

Big deal?... THINK AGAIN!

These are benefits are NOT available to U.S. 
citizens or documented legal residents from other 
states applying to California colleges and are 
paid by California tax dollars! 

On July 25, Governor Jerry Brown signed Part 
A of the California Dream Act (AB130). This 
section grants undocumented students who 
meet the in-state tuition requirements outlined 
in AB540 permission to apply for and receive 
specified financial aid programs administered 
by California’s public colleges and universities.

Again, these are benefits that are NOT available 
to U.S. citizens or documented legal residents 
from other states applying to California 
colleges and are paid for by California tax 
dollars!

Now the state legislature is a dog’s hair away 
from passing Part B of AB130. Part B will allow 
students that meet the in-state tuition requirements 
of Part A (again as outlined in AB540) to 
apply for and receive Cal Grants by California’s 
public colleges and universities.

This is not a Dream Act, it is an expensive 
nightmare. It is a slap in the face to all California 
taxpayers and American students from other 
states considering attending college here.

That this misguided, feel-good, to hell with 
the consequences legislation is even being considered 
when California is up to its eyeballs in 
red ink with a budget shortfall this year of $19 
billion is mind-boggling!

Who the heck is minding the store? What are 
these clowns in Sacramento thinking?

California currently is not only the most taxed 
state in the Union, it is also in the worst economic 
shape. With a population of 37,844,000 
we have: 2,082,000 Unemployed (12% of the 
workforce); 3,856,000 Food Stamp Recipients 
(10.2% of the total population); $1.970 Trillion 
GDP; $375 Billion Debt; 19.06% Debt to GDP 
Ratio; $330 billion in Revenues; $403 billion in 
Expenditures; $73 Billion Shortfall; and $9,967 
Debt per Citizen. 

Thank God for that $54 billion we got this 
year from the federal government or we’d have 
to come up with the whole $73 billion, rather 
than just $19 billion we’re stuck with.

To make matters worse, there are currently an 
estimated 3 to 6 million (no one really knows for 
sure) undocumented immigrants living in California. 
Of these party crashers, it is estimated 
that 60% are from Mexico, and 20% are from 
other Latin American countries, primarily from 
Central America. 

Meanwhile, Congress--through its policy of 
unchecked illegal immigration--imposes huge 
costs on California and the state budget. Last 
year the state spent an estimated $22 billion on 
illegal aliens including $12 billion on education; 
$2 billion on prisons, police, and courts; and $8 
billion on medical services. 

And now we’re being asked to subsidize college 
for undocumented students too! Does anyone 
besides me see something wrong with this 
picture?

Now you know why I changed my party affiliation 
from a lifelong Democrat to an Independent. 
Being progressive doesn’t mean giving the 
store away.

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OUT TO PASTOR A Weekly Religion Column


Where have all the heroes gone?

Rev. James L. Snyder

In celebrating the 10th 
anniversary of one of the 
most horrific events in the 
history of the United States 
one cannot help but reflect 
back on the past decade. 
We have come a long way, but I am wondering if 
we have gone the right way.

My wife and I were thinking about this the 
other night and she startled me with a question. 
Most of the time she just startles me, but this 
time she had substance in the form of a question.

 “I wonder,” she said rather thoughtfully, 
“where all the heroes are today?”

At first, I did not quite get her drift, and so I 
query her on the subject.

First, I was thinking of all of those movie 
heroes that we hear about so often. Perhaps she 
was thinking of Superman or Batman or some 
such hero. These days, most of our heroes are 
manufactured in Hollywood and have no real 
affinity for the average person’s life.

One of the things that amaze me about 
Hollywood is when they produce their infamous 
reality shows; there is very little reality to it. The 
only reality about these shows is that makes real 
money for those who produce it. I could live 
with that reality. Hollywood cannot do anything 
without pizzazz to dazzle the imagination of the 
intellectually starved populace.

Then my mind drifted back to my wife’s 
question.

“Those heroes of 9/11,” she responded. 
“Whatever happened to all of those heroes that 
stepped to the front when the need called for it?”

Then I knew what she was talking about. A 
hero is someone who does ordinary work under 
abnormal or dangerous conditions. Ten years 
ago, when our country was attacked these heroes 
stepped forth, did their job and then stepped 
back into the shadows of obscurity almost as 
quickly as they came.

Many of those heroes gave the ultimate 
sacrifice, their life. Not thinking about their own 
well-being, they put their life on the line to save 
someone they didn’t even know. Many of these 
heroes died doing their heroic deed. Some are, 10 
years later, suffering physical consequences from 
their acts of bravery.

 

Just what is a hero?

A hero is neither a Republican nor a Democrat. 
A hero is simply an American who does his or 
her job when the need arises without any thought 
of political affiliation. I am rather tired of the 
political minutia that is paralyzing our country 
today. Let me say that I believe our country is 
bigger than all the politicians in our country 
today.

If only we get the media to understand that 
all these politicians are simply caricatures of 
some political ideology and not real people at all. 
Politicians are Washington’s version of a reality 
show that has no basis whatsoever in reality.

A hero never blows his or her own horn 
and consequently many heroes fade into the 
background and are never acknowledged or even 
thanked. After all, a hero never looks for thanks; 
a hero only does his or her job to the best of his 
or her ability. Sometimes a hero only does one 
heroic action in his life. He’s a hero nevertheless.

A true American hero does his or her job when 
called upon and then fades into the background 
so that some politician can step forward and take 
the credit. That seems to be the way politicians 
operate these days; the credit system. When 
something goes right, they take credit for it. If 
something goes wrong, they give the credit to 
someone else. I’m ready for the politician to step 
forward with cash on the barrelhead.

I just have one simple question. When you are 
in trouble, whom do you want? The real American 
hero or some politician… any politician?

 

When the aircraft was smashing into their 
target, where were the politicians?

When the buildings were collapsing and lives 
were being destroyed, where were the politicians?

 Back in “the day,” the politician was a servant 
of the people, sent to Washington DC to do 
the people’s business. That day is far over and 
probably never will return.

 Today, these politicians have the idea that we, 
the people, are to serve them. After all, they know 
what’s best for us. These politicians, who cannot 
take care of their own lives or their own business 
or even pay their own income tax, are fully 
qualified to take care of our business. Is it any 
wonder our country is in the mess it’s in today?

WHERE HAVE ALL THE HEROES GONE?

A real hero is someone who puts someone else’s 
welfare ahead of his or her own. They bravely put 
themselves in harm’s way to save someone they 
may not even know.

Perhaps, and I know this thought probably 
comes from Mars, we ought to stop sending 
politicians to Washington and start sending 
heroes

Another kind of hero is needed in our country 
today. That hero is the one who will pray for our 
country and ask God to help us get out of the 
mess were in.

The formula for this is found in the Old 
Testament. “If my people, which are called by my 
name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and 
seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; 
then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive 
their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 
7:14 KJV).

In 10 years, we have tried everything else, and 
everything has failed. Why not try God?

The Rev. James L. Snyder is pastor of the 
Family of God Fellowship, PO Box 831313, Ocala, 
FL 34483. He lives with his wife, Martha, in 
Silver Springs Shores. Call him at 352-687-4240 
or e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. The church web 
site is www.whatafellowship.com.

CURBING BAD BEHAVIOR 


THE RIGHT CHOICE

It is common knowledge that most 
problems can be solved once the 
appropriate actions are taken. There are 
studies which show reducing a child’s 
consumption of carbonated drinks will 
aid in preventing childhood obesity. Then 
why aren’t more children encouraged to 
avoid these drinks? Because it is sometimes 
difficult to convince a child not to eat 
foods which are not good for them, parents acquiesce and allow 
their children to indulge in unhealthy eating habits.

Since diet and exercise play an important role in curing 
childhood obesity, it is incumbent upon parents to be vigilant 
about the foods their children consume. Parent should 
encourage their children to engage in outdoor activities. The 
rise in childhood obesity parallels the fear of parents reluctance 
to have their children play outdoors unsupervised. Gone are 
the days when a child could ride his/her bike or play stick ball 
outdoors. Over-hyped media reports of child abduction adds to 
the heightened fear parents feel. So, children are allowed to stay 
indoors at the computer with a bottle of carbonated drink, a bag 
of chips and left to their device.

I believe childhood obesity is a very serious health care issue 
which must be curbed immediately. I am advocating children 
should 1) eat healthy while enjoying the foods they consume 2) 
avoid fatty foods, foods rich in calories and cholesterol 3) exercise 
– at least three times a week 4) learn the childhood obesity facts 
5) read the labels of the foods being consumed and 6) understand 
that self-esteem matters (I discussed childhood obesity and its 
effect on self-esteem in a prior blog post).

The biggest challenge parents will encounter is balancing the 
commercial interest of the food industry with what’s healthy for 
their children to eat. It is a challenge which should be embraced, 
because our children healthy lifestyles depend on parents making 
the correct food choices for their families. Parents should set good 
examples – established healthy eating habits – for their children.

Ron Carter

Mountain Views News

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