Mountain Views News          Saturday, October 15, 2011

13

OPINION

 Mountain Views News Saturday, October 15, 2011 

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

 

THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

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


A Dream Come True or Political Pandering?

Because their religious practice prevented 
two friends from attending the UCLA game 
on Saturday, I was able to purchase their 
tickets. The game was played on the highest 
of Jewish Holidays, the Day of Atonement, 
and traditional Jewish practice forbids secular 
pleasures like attending football games. My 
view of the Holiday is that what is meant by Atonement is the 
recognition of the quality of one’s life. Am I enjoying this precious 
gift?

I gave one of the tickets to a friend and one to my son. They sat 
together and I observed them from a row below where I sat with 
another friend. My son is a learning- disabled adult who has little 
opportunity to actually associate with the non-labeled members of 
the world who are not his relatives or his social workers. I knew that 
he would relish the opportunity of sitting with this friend of mine 
who is a big powerful man and is an athlete and a Coach. Today, 
my friend left a message on my answering machine thanking me 
for the ticket and the opportunity to sit with my son. I think it 
was a great adventure for them both and a great experience for 
me to see them high-fiving strangers seated near them as we all 
celebrated a rare UCLA victory.

 You know I spend a great deal of time wondering what my 
son feels about things and yet I have no more insight into him than 
I have into anyone else. I know my son experiences himself as 
caring for other people rather than being cared for. He always 
worries that his social worker’s car will break down or that she will 
get lost. He worries about his girl friend’s health and carries a lot 
of burdens with him. When he first came to live with me I think 
he was seven and told his workers that he was coming to take care 
of his Dad. I do not dispute that truth and when his younger sister 
came to live with us a couple of years later I think she felt that 
she was coming to take care of us both. It still feels that way now 
thirty years later that we all live to take care of each other and I 
think it is a good way to be. Just after my daughter went off to 
College and my son moved into an apartment with a friend I began 
a new relationship with the woman who three years later became 
my wife. Now we are all linked as mutual caretakers. Today the 
whole family hiked, together with our dogs, up a pretty steep trail 
behind Eagle Rock. Really, I could feel everyone, including the 
dogs, caring about everyone else as we enjoyed the walk.

My wife is a kind of wonderful person who has joined and 
completed our family of mutual care-takers and I cannot imagine 
living a life a part from my family. I don’t exactly understand why 
we have not had the problems so typical of most other families, but 
I think I have had something to do with it. I am very proud that 
my first wife, the biological mother of my children from whom 
I have been separated for thirty six years, has chosen to dedicate 
the two books that were published last year to our two children, 
my present wife, and me. Strange isn’t it? I am just learning to 
acknowledge positive things about myself; I don’t know if this is 
acceptable—acceptable to whom I do not know. Today, I think I’m 
doing a pretty good job of approving of myself and I’m proud to tell 
you about it. This takes some courage.

Right now things are going pretty well; but, of course, this was 
not always the case. My first marriage broke apart before my 
daughter’s first birthday. Thirty years later my first wife lives in 
New Mexico but stays in contact with my wife and me and the 
children. I think it’s fair to say we are friends, but there is no 
doubt that our separation had negative and lasting effects upon 
our children.

Really, I think more unhappiness and genuine harm result 
from domestic problems than are caused by the bad economy, or 
the wars, or the overall deterioration of the planet or anything 
else. Can’t anything be done? As a part of perhaps a National 
Day of Atonement I think it would be a good idea for everyone 
to stop blaming others for individual problems and instead 
take responsibility for our own lives. Herman Cain, one of the 
Republican seekers for Presidential nomination, says if we are 
unemployed or even not rich it is our own fault. No, I can’t go that 
far; but if we are not happy with ourselves it really is our own fault. 
No more blaming anybody else. Let’s begin by making ourselves 
worthy of our own admiration. That’s what I believe is proper 
Atonement.

Although the intentions of 
the California Dream Act are 
admirable in the sense that 
it attempts to grant a chance 
at success to undocumented 
students who are already 
paying tuition, the legislation 
is problematic on a number of 
grounds.

 Take for instance, the fact that the fiscal 
impact, according to the news report, is still 
undetermined. With a state that is sinking due to its 
fiscal irresponsibility over the years, not knowing 
the fiscal impact of the act is certainly not a good 
start. While Brown has gotten off to a good start 
as governor by proposing massive cuts to the state 
budget, which also includes $1 billion in cuts to the 
education budget, the unknown impact of the bill 
would seem to only cancel out the efforts of getting 
this state back on track.

One of the criticisms of the bill from anti-
illegal immigration activists is that it rewards bad 
behavior by enlarging the pool of those having to 
compete for state financial aid, thus forcing legal 
students to struggle with illegals in an already 
cash-strapped education system. The issue here 
is not that academic competition is a bad thing. 
Competition in the classroom, after all, is what 
spurs students to strive for the best. 

The bigger issue here is the kind of message that 
the California Dream Act sends to future illegal 
immigrants. On the one hand, it may demonstrate 
that the American Dream can be achieved by those 
that come here. On the other hand, it also sends the 
message that one can illegally come here without 
any real consequences.

Finally there’s the aftermath of such legislation. 
One of the justifications for the bill is that it will 
inject qualified students into the California 
workforce. Currently experiencing a 12.1 percent 
unemployment rate, what good will it be to 
enlarge the number of participants in a resource-
constricted financial aid pool if there’s not bound 
to be a job waiting for them when they graduate?

Giving undocumented students access to state 
student aid is seen as particularly important, 
by advocates for such students, for a number 
of reasons. Many have very low income levels 
(because they cannot legally hold jobs), and they 
are ineligible for federal aid. So state aid, combined 
with access to in-state tuition rates, can make a big 
difference in their ability to enroll. The bill would 
cover only those who graduated from a California 
high school and who affirm that they are taking all 
possible steps to legalize their immigration status.

Despite Gov. Brown’s earlier reservations about 
the wisdom of funding this subsidy in our current 
economic state, he said Saturday in a statement 
about his decision to sign the bill, that it is estimated 
that about 2,500 students would become eligible for 
Cal Grants, at a cost of $14.5 million -- or only 1 
percent of the $1.4 billion the state provides for the 
program. Opponents say this estimate is unrealistic 
and low since no one really knows how many 
undocumented students will eligible to apply. 

In an op-ed in The Daily Californian, one 
of the leading critics of the law Tim Donnelly, 
a Republican member of the State Assembly, 
called the bill “a cruel hoax” because anyone who 
graduates from a state university with the aid will 
still be unable to work. Further, he charged that it 
will take money away from legal residents, and will 
encourage more undocumented people to move to 
California.

“By creating a new entitlement for those who 
are in the country illegally, we are engraving an 
invitation to those who have not yet come what 
are you waiting for? Not only do we offer a K-12 
education, a myriad of welfare programs and in-
state tuition, but now we will tax the citizens of 
California to provide additional financial aid for 
your child’s college education. In the end, though, 
the dreamlike promises still fall short,” he wrote.

Although the California Dream Act will not 
take full effect until January 2013, that date could 
change if there is a referendum as planned by 
some opponents. Assembly member Donnelly has 
already indicated that he may try to put the issue 
on the state ballot.

All things considered, does the the California 
Dream Act really make sense? Or is it an indication 
that the new governor isn’t serious about setting 
priorities and reining in the budget, and is just 
engaging in more of his usual political pandering?

OUT TO PASTOR A Weekly Religion Column


My grandfather and that new 
contraption… the telephone

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I was sitting in a 
restaurant on a Friday 
afternoon enjoying a 
leisurely repast with some 
friends. Somewhere in the 
middle of our conversation, 
my cell phone went off. 
Without even thinking about it, I reached into my 
shirt pocket, pulled it out and answered it.

It was then I was struck with an awful thought. I 
am now a child of this contemporary technological 
world. I never thought I would succumb to this sort 
of thing. But here I am; I’m not the man I used to 
be, and I’m not even sure I’m the man I want to be.

 On my way home, I thought about how far I have 
come in this modern world. Then, for some reason I 
thought of my old grandfather. He died in 1974 and 
every once in a while I think about him. This was 
one of those times.

 What came to my mind this particular time was 
when my grandmother got a new contraption for 
their home. Grandfather was not enthused about 
some of these modern advances.

 My grandfather allowed grandmother to get 
electricity in the house, but when it came to indoor 
plumbing he was dead set against it. He had used 
the old outhouse in the back as far as he could 
remember. His father had used it before him. As far 
as grandfather was concerned, he was going to use 
that outhouse until he died. He did not need any 
of this newfangled indoor plumbing. And that was 
that.

 My grandmother said to him at the time, “Pap, is 
that your last word on the subject?”

 “It sure is,” my grandfather responded.

 Grandmother looked at him and said, “Great, 
the plumber is coming tomorrow and I won’t have 
to put up with any more of your guff.”

 The next morning, right on grandmother’s 
schedule, the plumber came and fitted the house 
with indoor plumbing. Just to be spiteful, my 
grandfather never used the indoor plumbing. He 
showed grandmother that he was boss in some 
certain regard, and used the outhouse for the rest 
of his life.

 Then the time came when the telephone 
line went down the valley where grandmother 
and grandfather lived. Knowing the hard time 
grandfather gave her with the indoor plumbing, she 
decided not to tell him about the installation of the 
telephone. She knew he would disapprove, so why 
ask.

 Grandfather came home that night, as usual, 
and sat down to a very nice supper. So far, he 
had not noticed the addition in the living room. 
Grandmother, the diplomat that she was, did not 
bother to point it out to him.

 Grandfather, as was his custom, settled down 
to read the evening newspaper in the living room 
completely unaware of the 
change that had come to 
this sanctuary of his.

 Grandmother was in 
the kitchen busy cleaning 
off the table, washing 
the dishes and getting 
her kitchen back into 
shape before retiring to 
the living room for an 
evening of relaxation.

 Suddenly, a ringing 
noise exploded in the 
living room. Grandfather, 
not knowing what had 
happened, jumped out of 
his chair and exited the 
living room faster than he 
had ever done so before.

 In the kitchen, 
grandmother had been 
so busy with her work 
she forgot about this new 
contraption. She too was 
scared.

 The ringing continued without stopping. 
Grandfather was beside himself and considered 
getting his shotgun not knowing who or what had 
invaded his living room.

Then it dawned on grandmother. “Oh,” she said 
with a sigh of relief. “That’s the telephone ringing.”

“The what?”

“Telephone.”

“Who’s Phone, and what the world do you want 
to tell him?”

 “No,” grandmother said and ran into the living 
room to answer the phone. “It’s the telephone 
ringing.”

 By this time, she had got to the telephone and 
had answered it.

 My grandfather stared at her as she talked into 
the telephone receiver.

 “Woman,” he said with a great deal of alarm, 
“what in the world is wrong with you?”

 Grandmother ignored him and continued 
talking on the telephone.

 Now grandfather was worried. Watching his 
wife talk to someone who was not there and even at 
times laughing when there wasn’t anything funny, 
caused him alarm.

 Finally, out of sheer desperation, he went over, 
took the contraption out of her hand and taking 
her by the arm and, “Now, dear. There’s nothing to 
worry about. Just come over and sit down here in 
your chair and everything will be all right.”

 “But I’m talking to…”

 “I know, I know. But you see, dear, there’s nobody 
there. You’re just having one of your spells.”

Grandfather never came to terms with 
grandmother’s newfangled contraption. To my 
knowledge, he never used it, never spoke to 
anybody on it, never listened to anybody talking to 
him on it. As far as he was concerned, it was one of 
grandmother’s hallucinations.

 It has been a long time since I thought about 
grandmother’s telephone. On my way home from 
my luncheon meeting I thought about all the 
inventions that have come into our world. I thought 
of what the Bible said, “Lo, this only have I found, 
that God hath made man upright; but they have 
sought out many inventions” (Ecclesiastes 7:29 
KJV).

 We seem to be quick on our invenions, but 
rather slow on connecting with God. With all our 
inventions, are we any better off? Instead of seeking 
inventions, we would be better served in seeking 
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.


RICH Johnson

The Frogs of Sierra Madre 

The frogs are back in Sierra Madre. And 
they are being led around by a Frog Prince. 
These frogs can best be spotted at 11:00 am 
Saturday mornings inside the Sierra Madre 
Playhouse.

I think it was CNN that recently reported 
an incredibly good looking prince angered an evil witch who 
proceeded to turn him into a frog. Apparently the remedy the 
Frog Prince needs to get back to princely form is for a princess to 
give him a kiss. Good luck on that. 

Parents, these plays are the type of experiences your young 
children will never forget. So, either accompany your youngsters, 
or in the absence of little ones, bring yourself and your friends. The 
performances are only a hour long and the plays are interactive, 
with the cast engaging the audience throughout the play. At the 
end of each performance the entire casts assembles outside the 
theater to meet the kids and sign autographs. The shows are being 
performed October 15th, 22nd, 29th, November 5th, and 12th. 
Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for children 12 and under.

 Call (626) 355-4318 for reservations.

 Now for some useless, mindless trivial sayings. You may 
probably wish I kept them to myself. Oh well, here goes:

 

 To write with a broken pencil is…pointless

When fish are in schools they sometimes…take debate

A thief who stole a calendar…got 12 months

When the smog lifts in Los Angeles…U.C.L.A.

 The batteries were given out…free of charge

A dentist and a manicurist married…they fought tooth and nail

A will is a…dead giveaway

With her marriage, she got a new name…and a dress

You are stuck with your debt if…you can’t budge it

A boiled egg is…hard to beat

When you’ve seen one shopping center…you’ve seen a mall

A bicycle can’t stand alone…it is two tired

He had a photographic memory…which was never developed

Acupuncture…a jab well done

When she saw her first strands of gray hair…she thought she’d 
dye

If you take a laptop for a run you could…jog your memory

Those who get too big for their britches will be…exposed in 
the end

The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine…was fully 
recovered

Police were called to a day care where a 3-year old was…
resisting a rest.

Show me a piano falling down a mineshaft and I’ll show you…
A-flat miner.

And finally: Did you hear about the fellow whose whole left side 
was cut off?...He’s all right now.

 

Have a good week despite this brief diversion.


Mountain Views News

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