Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 25, 2012

11

OPINION

Mountain Views News Saturday, February 25, 2012

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

HAIL Hamilton My Turn

STUART Tolchin......On LIFE 


WITH NO DIRECTION 
HOME

 This morning I had a conversation with a 
client that really started me thinking about the 
future of our society. The facts of the case are 
not important here: what is interesting is the 
view of this young man’s life that I received 
as we talked about his case. One of the great 
benefits of my work as a defense attorney appointed by the County 
to represent indigent people is that I have the opportunity to speak 
with people who inhabit very different life spaces from the rather 
privileged place I live in. You probably live there too, here in 
friendly, safe, a little removed Sierra Madre. Yes we have our fires, 
floods, windstorms, evacuations, and loss of electricity but I feel 
pretty fortunate to have lived here for over thirty years and really 
have no great desire to go anywhere else.

 This is not the life lived by my client. He grew up in the barrio 
and was raised by a single mother of three. His teenage gang 
involvement was very typical - I have heard the same story many 
times - but there was something about this conversation that really 
reached me. For almost fifteen years this young man has worked as 
a carpenter. The company he works for encourages him to recruit 
young men from the barrio who are looking for the opportunity to 
change their lives and, allegedly, that was what he was doing when 
the arrest occurred. Listening to the young man I really got the 
sense of how hard it is to pull yourself up by your own bootstraps 
and how important it is to have the feeling that there is someone 
you can always count on.

 Like most of my friends and colleagues I grew up in a two-
parent family. In my day, many mothers were not required to work 
out of the home and most of us were pretty closely supervised as 
kids. Sure, there might have been problems resulting from being 
too sheltered or too indulged. In fact, a friend of mine sent me a 
study that found evidence showing that no matter what parents do, 
they will ruin their kids in one way or another. Still most of us felt 
that we were cared about. This was not the experience of my client. 

 As I left the Courthouse, I heard a statistic on the radio that 
reminded me of what my client had said. According to NPR, over 
half of the women under thirty who have kids are unmarried. 
Thinking about it, I realized that in my lifetime there have been 
great changes. The instability that formerly was characteristic 
of the ghettos and barrios has now become typical of the rest of 
society. I have lived here, in the same house, in the canyon for 
over thirty years and during that time I have seen the marriages of 
almost every person in town break-up. Really, how important is 
this? Certainly, being married does not guarantee happiness. I bet 
you knew that already. Well, I venture a guess that in every broken 
marriage the kids somehow think that it is their fault and yearn 
for their parents to get together. Furthermore, I think that most 
break-ups involve a bunch of lying to the kids. Maybe the kids 
learn they can never trust anybody, or maybe they can accept it 
they way they learn there is no Santa Claus. As I think about it, the 
sadder I get for my own kids and everybody else’s kids. Maybe it is 
better to just play video games and tweet to your friends. Maybe 
there is some stability there, but I really don’t think so.

 All right, I reach the same point again. Divorce is bad just like 
war is bad and poverty is bad and so is dependence on foreign 
oil I guess. So what is to be done? What once was a problem 
mainly for the lower class is now a problem for all classes. 
Perhaps the whole society has become classless - often it 
really seems that way. Maybe I should just learn to adjust and to 
understand that the paradigm has shifted and that mommies and 
daddies don’t have to stay together for a lifetime. Really, we can’t 
go home again. Everything is different and I have learned that 
wisdom does not automatically come with age. 

 I like to imagine that somewhere we can get some help learning 
to adjust to the changes in life. I heard once on Prairie Home 
Companion that in Minnesota, students are provided with Storm 
Families, where they can go when they cannot reach Home. Maybe 
this was a joke, but I like the idea. Perhaps each of us can become 
a stable foster-parent committed to the welfare of one younger 
person and that commitment would be life-long and unchanging. 
Is that too far-fetched? Maybe it should become a part of some 
candidate’s platform along with plans for a moon colony? 


DOES RICK SANTORUM 
HAVE WHAT IT TAKES? 

 
Rick Santorum is the former 
two-term Republican senator from Pennsylvania. 
He was first elected to Congress in 1990, and 
was elected to the Senate in 1994, at the age of 
36. Rick ascended top GOP leadership during his 
time in the Senate, and distinguished himself as a 
staunch social conservative. Rick’s meteoric rise 
ended in 2006, however, when he lost reelection. 
Since then he has made ends meet practicing law, 
and serving as a senior fellow at the conservative 
Ethics and Public Policy Center. 

 Now Rick wants to be the next President of 
the United States. Here’s where he stands on the 
issues: 

 Jobs: Rick’s jobs plan rests on lowering tax 
rates, cuts to government spending, repealing 
the Dodd-Frank and Sarbanes-Oxley regulatory 
reform laws, and allowing increased domestic 
energy production.

 Balanced Budget: Rick has said that the size of 
the federal government should match 18 percent 
of gross domestic product. He would seek changes 
by way of a Balanced Budget Amendment.

 Entitlement Programs: Rick suggested at a 
September debate that he would prefer to see 
Medicare administered privately. Proposed 
partial privatization of Social Security and raised 
retirement age during congressional career.

 Foreign Policy: Considered a “hawk,” Rick had 
urged President Obama to act more decisively in 
Libya, and was a strong supporter of the wars in 
Iraq and Afghanistan, although he never served 
in the military himself. 

 Energy/Environment: Rick favors an energy 
policy using oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear 
energy. He opposes new regulations on natural 
gas, and would allow drilling in the Arctic 
National Wildlife Refuge.

 Same-sex Marriage: Rick is a vocal 
opponent of same-sex marriage, and would 
seek a Constitutional amendment banning such 
marriages.

 Taxes: Rick would halve the corporate tax rate, 
and reform the individual tax code. He would 
permanently extend current rates on dividends 
and capital gains, and end the estate tax. He 
would tax repatriation of companies’ foreign 
earnings at a rate of 5 percent.

 Regulations: Rick says he would freeze all 
Obama regulations and reverse any antibusiness 
executive order. He says he would tell the 
businesses around the world that “America is 
open for business and you have a president who 
wants you here.”

 Health Care Reform: Rick has pledged to repeal 
President Obama’s health care law, and would 
seek to do so using the budget reconciliation 
process.

 Immigration: Rick opposes in-state college 
tuition for the children of illegal immigrants, and 
favors making English the official language of the 
U.S., along with building a fence along the border 
between the U.S. and Mexico.

 Abortion: Rick opposes abortion rights even 
in the case of rape. He also opposes government 
support of family planning and contraception.

 Climate Change: Rick has called the notion of 
climate change “junk science.” 

 Rick’s positions are clearly not mainstream, even 
for conservative Republicans. Moreover, his long, 
colorful history of making bizarre, inflammatory 
and just plain ridiculous statements about all 
sorts of important issues should give any voter 
pause for concern.

 “The reason Social Security is in big trouble 
is we don’t have enough workers to support 
the retirees. A third of all the young people in 
America are not in America today because of 
abortion, because one in three pregnancies end 
in abortion.” 

- On Social Security, 3/29/11


 “I find it almost remarkable for a black man 
to say ‘now we are going to decide who are people 
and who are not people’.” 

- On President Obama’s race and pro-
choice beliefs, 1/19/2011


 “Is anyone saying same-sex couples can’t love 
each other? I love my children. I love my friends, 
my brother. Heck, I even love my mother-in-law. 
Should we call these relationships marriage, 
too?”

 - Comparing his love for his mother-in-law to 
the love that same-sex couples share, 5/22/2008

 “I think it’s harmful to our society to have 
a society that says that sex outside of marriage 
is something that should be encouraged or 
tolerated, particularly among the young. I think 
it has, as we’ve seen, very harmful long-term 
consequences for society. So birth control to me 
enables that and I don’t think it’s a healthy thing 
for our country.”

 – Saying that birth control is harmful to women, 
society and our country. CN8's “Nitebeat with 
Barry Nolan”, July 28, 2005.

 “The notion that college education is a cost-
effective way to help poor, low-skill, unmarried 
mothers with high school diplomas or GEDs 
move up the economic ladder is just wrong.”

 – Arguing that poor, unwed mothers don’t 
really need college educations. It Takes a Family, 
Pg. 138, July 2005.

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OUT TO PASTOR A Weekly Religion Column


MY LEAP YEAR QUANDARY: ANYBODY 
HAVE A DAY TO SPARE?

During the last political election cycle, we were promised change but I have not 
seen any of it, especially in my pants pocket.

Then something wonderful happened. I was taking some mail to the post office 
and as I got out of my truck, I noticed a penny on the ground. At my age, if I 
have to bend down I make sure there are at least two or three things to do while 
I am down there. A single penny just will not do it for me. After all, what can 
you do with a penny?

As I looked at that penny, I saw another penny, then another, then several. By the time I was done, 
there was a pile of 20 pennies there. Now that is something to bend down for.

I know what they say, "a penny for your thoughts." Here was 20 pennies and I did not have to think 
too much about bending down and collecting all 20 and put into my pants pocket. Nothing is quite as 
melodious as change jingling in my pants pocket. I walked into the post office with my pocket jingling 
with some spare change.

Some may complain that 20 pennies does not really amount to very much. I remember what wise old 
Benjamin Franklin said, "A penny saved is a penny earned." I am not sure what he would say about 
a penny rescued or even 20 pennies rescued, but I think he would have had something very witty to 
say about it.

The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage would say to me something to the effect that 20 pennies cannot 
buy a good lunch. Who needs a good lunch when you got 20 pennies jingling in your pants pocket? 
The better part of wisdom on my part would be to allow these 20 spare pennies be my little secret.

A few days after finding this penny cache, my wife made a comment that changed my week.

"What are you going to do with the extra day this year?"

I had no idea what she was talking about. Normally, I have no extra days to spare. Even if I happen to 
catch up on my chores on one day, there are always the next day’s chores staring me in the face.

I was not a Beatle’s fan but I did understand their one song that talked about "eight days a week." I 
have often thought I might be able to get caught up if there was an extra day in the week. Then, on 
scrutiny of the facts at hand, my good wife would find something for me to do on that eighth day.

Getting back to her "extra day" question. I had no idea what she was talking about and so I responded 
with a very sophisticated, “huh?”

"What are you going to do with the extra day we have this year?"

I searched the cobwebs of my memory and could not find anything resembling her comment. She 
saw the quizzical look on my face, more quizzical than normal, and realized I had no idea what she 
was talking about.

"Don't you know we have an extra day this year?"

I did not know that so I pled with her to explain what she was talking about. I was thinking she was 
going to give me a day off so I could do nothing, then on second thought I do not believe she would 
do something like that. Not her!

"This is leap year and the month of February has 29 days instead of the normal 28."

I thought for a moment and understood what she was talking about. I had forgotten this was leap year, 
which gives us an extra day. Instead of 365 days this year, we will enjoy 366 days. I am not quite sure 
who arranged this phenomenon but the extra day is tacked on to the end of February.

I have often thought it would be great to be born on February 29. That way you only celebrate your 
birthday every four years. Instead of being 60 years old, I would be 15.

Then a very terrible thought rumbled through my mind. I remembered what it was like to be 15. No 
way in the world would I ever want to be 15 again. Imagine taking 60 years to get to 15 and then staying 
there for four years. Talk about dragging out your misery?

My wife gave me, as usual, some fodder for my thinking. What would I do with an extra day?

The more I thought about this the more things I thought I could do on that extra day. By the time I 
got through thinking about all the things I could do with an extra day I was exhausted and needed to 
sit down for a cup of coffee. In order for me to satisfy all my proposed projects, I would need at least 
one extra day a month, and I would not complain about one extra day a week.

I really do not think having an extra day is going to make much difference for me. The Bible says, 
"This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalms 118:24 KJV).

Someone said, today is the first day of the rest of my life. And so it is. Enjoy the day you have, is my 
philosophy of life.


RICH Johnson

The Rat Pack and 
Humphrey Bogart

 

Who gave the Rat Pack its name? I’ll tell 
you in a minute. There actually were two 
Rat Packs. The 1950s Rat Pack centered 
around Humphrey Bogart and was referred 
to as the Holmby Hills Rat Pack (where the Bogarts lived). The 
first Rat Pack included among others: Bogart, Lauren Bacall, 
Judy Garland, David Niven, Katharine Hepburn, Spencer 
Tracy, Cary Grant, and Rex Harrison. Associate members 
included Errol Flynn, Nat King Cole, Mickey Rooney and 
Cesar Romero. 

 The 1960s Rat Pack included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, 
Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford. These guys 
never referred to themselves as The Rat Pack. They called 
themselves ‘The Summit’, or ‘the Clan’. You never knew when 
or where this group would meet up. Over a seven-year period 
beginning around 1960, whenever one of the group had 
a performance, the rest of the Pack might show up for an 
impromptu show. In fact, the Marquee of the Sands Hotel in 
Las Vegas would read, “DEAN MARTIN – MAYBE FRANK 
– MAYBE SAMMY”. The Rat Pack Mascots included Marilyn 
Monroe, Angie Dickinson, Juliet Prowse and Shirley MacLaine. 
I guess I should list members of the 2001 “Rat Pack” actors 
who remade the film “Ocean’s Eleven”. That would include 
Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Julia 
Roberts, Don Cheadle and Bernie Mac. Clooney wisely said at 
the time, “we’re not as cool as those other guys.”

 Who gave the Rat Pack its name? Humphrey Bogart’s wife, 
Lauren Bacall, gave the name to Bogie and his friends after 
seeing them return from a night in Las Vegas.

 When asked how he got the nickname “Chairman of the 
Board” Frank Sinatra responded. ‘I’m trying to figure it out, 
chairman of what board? People come up to me and seriously 
say, “Well, what are you chairman of?” And I can’t answer 
them.’

 Speaking of Humphrey Bogart, permit me to share a few of 
the famous quotes from the film, Casablanca:

 Illsa (Ingrid Bergman): ‘Play it, Sam. Play “As Time Goes 
By”.’

 Rick (Bogart): ‘Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the 
world, she walks into mine.’

 Illsa: ‘Kiss me. Kiss me as if it were the last time.’

 Captain Renault (Claude Rains): ‘Realising the importance 
of the case, my men are rounding up twice the usual number 
of suspects.’

 Captain Renault: ‘I’m shocked, shocked to find out that 
gambling is going on here!’ (Then, after he is handed his 
winnings) ‘Oh, thank you very much.’

 Rick: ‘We’ll always have Paris.’

 Rick: ‘Here’s looking at you kid.’

 Rick: ‘…it doesn’t take much to see that the problems of 
three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy 
world.’

 Rick: ‘Louis (Renault), I think this is the beginning of a 
beautiful friendship.’

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