Mountain Views News          Saturday, October 22, 2011

13

OPINION

 Mountain Views News Saturday, October 22, 2011 

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

 

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

 One term that seems to be 
constantly misunderstood 
is the evolutionary concept 
of “survival of the fittest”. 
Although the term conjures 
up a vision of animals fighting 
with tooth and claw with 
only the winner going on to 
produce more babies, this is not 
the process being described. 
what the term means is that 
those individuals who will 
live to produce more offspring 
are those whose traits are 
best adapted to the specific 
environment in which they 
live. For example, individuals 
like me, who are very efficient at 
storing part of their food intake 
as fat, are highly suited to survive 
in geographical areas where 
there are frequent droughts or 
food shortages. Unfortunately 
this same trait works against 
survival when an individual 
inhabits an area in which there 
is continual abundance.

 Granted this is a very simplified 
explanation, but I think you get 
the idea. Contained within our 
genetic pre-determinations are 
specific metabolic behaviors 
that determine the way we 
function in our own specific 
ecological niche. I furthermore 
believe that these similarly 
exists within human beings a 
specific genetic sensitivity to 
fairness and honesty. Simply 
put, when we perceive that we 
are surrounded by lies and 
dishonesty we do not function 
well, as we are not genetically 
adapted to accept that kind 
of circumstance. Through 
this prism, let us examine the 
present dissatisfaction with the 
overall state of the economy 

 In my years on the planet 
there has been tremendous 
technological advancement. 
The advent of heating and air 
conditioning and improved 
sanitation and medical practices 
has immeasurably improved all 
of our lives. When I grew up in 
Chicago, we regularly sweltered 
and froze in the different 
seasons and everybody walked 
to School. Even after we moved 
to California, every summer we 
were frightened to go to public 
pools because of the deadly 
polio epidemic. Has everybody 
forgotten? Life was really 
hard! Being a kid was really 
different. No kid had his own 
television or computer. There 
were no fast-food places around 
where you could buy Big Macs 
and fries. Get this - the whole 
family had to eat together, watch 
television together; there was 
only one phone in the family 
house. What house? In Chicago, 
everyone lived in apartments 
with neighbors walking around 
like steers on our ceilings and 
banging with brooms on our 
floors telling us to be quiet. Add 
to this the fact that we thought 
bombs were going to fall on us 
at any minute and our moms 
and often our grandmothers 
were always home scrutinizing 
us – watching to make sure 
we weren’t having any fun. 
Besides that there were no drugs 
available and the only birth 
control available was really hit 
or miss. For me this wasn’t 
much of a problem because, 
when I grew up, girls had this 
burden of virtue that they had 
to carry and finding someone 
to sleep with in High School was 
next to impossible. (Alright, 
at least it was for me.) Alright, 
given all this –guess what? We 
weren’t unhappy. As I recall, 
everyone had hopes and dreams 
and worked hard and did pretty 
well. We didn’t get unhappy 
until the Viet Nam War when 
we were being drafted into what 
seemed a senseless conflict, and 
that’s my point.

 I think there exists within 
human beings a specific fairness 
gene. No matter the external 
situation, human beings are 
constructed to function happily 
and well as long as they believe 
that they are being treated 
fairly and honestly. We need 
to believe that we are being 
told the truth and that the 
differences between rich and 
poor are within reasonable 
limits separated by a strong 
middle class. The solution 
to the problem is simple. Create 
a fair and equitable system. No 
one can reasonably argue that 
what we have now is a free 
market economy that works 
to the benefit of the society. It 
is the emphasis of the whole 
system that needs changing 
and the changes must be in 
accord with our basic need for 
fairness rather than in accord 
with some misguided sense that 
Man adapts to a winner-take all 
world.

 How can this change take 
place? Perhaps you are familiar 
with the Malcolm Gladwell 
book, The Tipping Point. The 
way change often takes place 
is described by Gladwell as 
being gradual until it reaches 
a certain threshold and then 
boom; a threshold is reached 
and everything is different. We 
have already witnessed great 
changes in the last few years. 
We have a Black President. The 
Republican front-runner for 
the Presidential nomination is 
Black. A likely candidate for the 
Office of the Mayor of New York 
is gay. A look at the front page 
of today’s Los Angeles Times 
displays the following headlines: 

DOCTOR GROUP WANTS POT 
LEGAL

HOW TO TEACH GAY ISSUES 
IN 1st GRADE

SHERIFF ADMITS HE WAS OUT 
OF TOUCH 

VENTING FRUSTRATION 
AROUND THE GLOBE

Yes, a short time ago all of theses 
headlines were unthinkable. 
Prepare yourself; Soon we may 
see the following completely 
unforeseen headline:

SANITY PREVAILS and 
WORLD IS SAVED


SURVIVAL OF 
THE FITTEST


Wanting America to be a Christian 
nation doesn’t make it so!

What annoys the hell 
out of me is when I hear 
the phrase America is a 
“Christian nation.” And I am 
not just referencing this to 
America since I am equally 
miffed by statements about any nation being a 
one-religion nation--or be it a Muslim, Jewish, 
Hindu, or Buddhist nation.

Religious zealots love to trot out the ‘Christian 
Nation’ line. They use the expression to try and 
prop up support for their lame ideas, and they try 
to imply that being a supposedly Christian nation 
gives them justification for imposing chaplains 
upon school kids, funding catholic youth day etc.

To me it is a meaningless concept and not only 
meaningless but also demonstrably untrue. So I 
would like to give an analogy to show why I think 
it is a silly idea:

Suppose I have a box of fruit. Most of the 
contents is apples, but there are a reasonable 
number of oranges, and some pears etc. It would 
clearly be incorrect to describe this as a box of 
apples. I could describe it as a box which consists 
predominantly of apples. Or even more accurately 
as a box consisting of a mixture of apples, oranges 
and pears. But under no circumstances would it 
be correct to simply refer to it as a box of apples. 

So why do Christians think it is acceptable 
to label a country consisting of many different 
religions, and of course atheists, as a Christian 
nation? To label America as a Christian nation 
when most probably 40% or more are not 
Christian is inappropriate.

Christians may defend such a statement by 
saying it refers to a country founded on Christian 
values (conveniently putting aside such notions 
as stoning to death for cursing your parents). 
Admittedly America does have a significant 
Christian background. Historically Christianity 
has been the dominant religion, and in times 
gone by the church had far more power than it 
has today. 

Had another religion dominated then America 
would most likely have a somewhat different 
culture, for example, sharia law may be present 
in this country if Islam was the dominant 
religion historically. So it would be silly to deny 
a Christian influence, but such an influence has 
waned and is no longer relevant in our modern 
society. 

With only 23% going to church regularly 
we can see that the influence of Christianity is 
becoming a thing of the past, except in the eyes 
of the devout Christians and some American 
politicians pandering to the Christian Right.

Let me make another analogy to illustrate 
another of my objections to the “Christian 
nation” concept.

America is a white dominated country, but 
obviously there are many people of different 
races living here. Most people would regard it as 
racially offensive to label Australia as a “white 
nation”. 

So if it is offensive to label Americans as a 
“white nation” because it ignores the significant 
presence of various other races then why is it 
regarded as acceptable to label America as a 
“Christian nation” and offend atheists and other 
religious groups? And it makes no more sense to 
call Americans a Christian nation than it would 
to call us a “heterosexual nation” just because 
there are fewer homosexuals. 

A country is a collection of individuals, and 
while a country may have characteristics (such 
as ‘sport loving’) trying to lump us all into a 
single category is crazy. Even saying America 
is a country which is predominantly Christian 
(according to the last census) would be to miss 
the point that religion is NOT a dominant force 
in the lives of the majority of Americans. 

So to any Christians out there I say: wanting 
America to be a Christian nation doesn’t make 
it so. So stop labeling all Americans as part of 
your deluded belief system and accept that you 
no longer have things your own way.

OUT TO PASTOR A Weekly Religion Column


Cultivating the fine art of casual loafing

Storm clouds were 
brewing like fresh morning 
coffee in the normally placid 
parsonage this past week. I 
will not say that things got 
out of hand, which is not to 
say they did not. I just will 
not say. 

I sensed a growing 
controversy between my wife and myself. Its genesis 
came about because of some silly mix-up, I assure 
you. Usually, mix-ups come about because of some 
misunderstanding and boy, do I sure miss my 
understanding. I have misplaced mine for so long I 
honestly cannot remember when I had it last.

 If my memory serves me, and it has not to date, 
the last time I had a glimpse of my understanding, 
I was standing at some altar repeating the words, “I 
do.” After that, life has been a glorious blur.

 The faux pas between us simply was a matter of 
attitude. My better half took the high road and I, per 
usual, took the low road. The reason I take the low 
road is simply that when I fall, and falling for me is 
inevitable, I do not have far to plummet.

Regrettably, this past week we experienced a 
clash of attitudes.

 I can sum up my attitude in life quite nicely: 
Never do today what can be put off until tomorrow. 
Who knows? I may forget the whole thing by 
then, something I am renowned for around the 
parsonage, if you know what I mean.

On the other hand, my life’s companion firmly 
believes in doing things ahead of time. For instance, 
by the end of August all her Christmas shopping is 
finished, wrapped and stored in the garage waiting 
for the Christmas tree.

 She has a wonderful knack for planning. What I 
want to know is how does she know if I am going to 
be naughty or nice?

 Usually, I give in to my better half. After all, that 
is what a great marriage is all about; give and take. 
As a dutiful husband, I take everything she gives 
me.

 This time, however, an important principle was 
at stake. Some things in life are worth fighting for 
and this represented one of those times.

 For years, I have suffered from a condition 
known as Afternoon Siesta Syndrome. Each 
afternoon I stretch out for an hour of rest. In that 
hour, I meditate on some of the more important 
issues of life.

 I cannot tell you how many significant problems 
I have resolved during my daily afternoon forty 
winks. I say I can’t tell you not because I don’t 
want to, but when aroused from my snooze I can’t 
remember the solution.

 All I know is that somewhere in the recesses of 
my mind are wonderful resolutions to some of the 
most intricate problems facing our world today. In 
this regard, I do not know how often my wife has 
said to me, “You need to see a psychiatrist.”

This leads me to the subject of our difference this 
past week. I am a firm believer in the “Art of Casual 
Loafing.”

Loafing gets such a bad rap because so many 
amateurs try their hand at it. Let me say right here 
that loafing is definitely not for the inexperienced. 
A level of skill and expertise that only comes from 
diligent practice.

Personally, I have invested over 50 years in the 
Art of Casual Loafing, which qualifies me as some 
sort of an expert on the subject. I am a proud, card-
carrying member of the ACL union. I could have 
been elected president but we have not got around 
to elections yet. Many, and when I say many, I am 
especially including my companion, take loafing as 
something that comes rather easy.

Oh, quite contraire, Mon Frére. Nothing could be 
further from the truth.

My spouse thinks loafing is a tragic waste of time. 
She thinks things need doing in a timely fashion, 
like “right now.”

The garbage must be taken out “right now.”

The backyard needs mowing “right now.”

The groceries in the back of the car need brought 
in “right now.”

A person can take this “right now” business too 
far, if you ask me. I like to take things a little more 
casual than that.

This “right now” hang-up can create some serious 
stress in relationships; especially between hers and 
mine.

“There’s no time like the present,” my wife often 
tells me with a look in her eye defying me not to do 
what she just requested. To her,”right now” is very 
important.

When I want to resolve a difficulty, I resort to the 
Bible. This was no exception.

Much to my amazement, the word “now” occurs 
in the Bible 1,356 times, which is rather impressive. 
I never thought of it before.

What I discovered startled me. I had to admit 
that in certain things my dear wife is correct. Some 
things must be done right now.

Two Bible verses emphasize the importance of 
right now.

In the book of Isaiah, “Come now, and let us 
reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins 
be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though 
they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” 
(Isaiah 1:18 KJV). Then, in the New Testament “… 
behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the 
day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2 KJV).

“Right now” is the best time to address your 
relationship with Jesus Christ.

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.

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RICH Johnson

Pinky and the Brain 

No, I’m not referring to the wonderful 
cartoon series that aired on the WB Television 
Network from 1995 to 1998. In that marvelous 
bit of animation, Pinky, the dimwitted mouse, 
would start each episode asking the same 
question to the Brain, his brilliant co-star: 
“Gee Brain, what do you want to do tonight?” 
To which The Brain (obviously the smarter of the two) would 
respond, “The same thing we do every night, Pinky – try to take 
over the world.”

The Pinky and the Brain I am referring to is myself (as Pinky) and 
my new friend Chuck (as the brain). Actually I have befriended two 
Chucks, who are equally brilliant in their own rights. The former 
Chuck S., using his left brain, is a graduate of one vocational school 
(MIT) and professor of another vocational school (CalTech). The 
latter Chuck B., using the right side of his brain, is a veteran of the 
film and TV industry, having produced and/or directed films and 
television programs over the last 30+ years. I, on the other hand, use 
the third half of my brain. 

Anyway, back to Chuck S. (the Cal Tech professor). I (aka 
Pinky) have been fortunate enough to teach Chuck (aka the Brain) 
how to play that card game that utilizes the little pegs called 
cribbage. Considering our two skill sets, his - the analytical mind, 
and mine - the never mind, I feel somewhat like Obi-Won-Kenobi 
teaching the force to young Anakin Skywalker (aka Darth Vader). 
At some point in the near future the young cribbage padowan will 
transform into an unstoppable killing machine…at cribbage that is. 
I’ll get back to you with his progress. If I go missing you’ll know 
why: He’s sold out to the dark side. 

I simply can’t leave you without some funny stuff. So here is 
something another cribbage buddy of mine just sent. It’s about a 
little boy named Larry. 

A new teacher was trying to make use of her psychology courses. 
She started her class by saying, ‘Everyone who thinks they’re stupid, 
stand up!’ After a few seconds, Little Larry stood up. The teacher 
said, ‘Do you think you’re stupid, Larry?’ ‘No, ma’am, but I hate to 
see you standing there all by yourself!’ 

Larry watched, fascinated, as his mother smoothed cold cream on 
her face. ‘Why do you do that, mommy?’ he asked. ‘To make myself 
beautiful,’ said his mother, who then began removing the cream 
with a tissue. ‘What’s the matter, asked Larry ‘Giving up?’ 

And let me plug the Frog Prince. Go see it if you can and bring 
small children. Saturday mornings, 11:00 am at the Sierra Madre 
Playhouse. Call 355-4318 for details. The Frog Prince plays through 
November 12th.


Mountain Views News

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