OPINIONOPINION Mountain View News Saturday, July 25, 2026 
1010 OPINIONOPINION Mountain View News Saturday, July 25, 2026 
1010 
MOUNTAIN 

VIEWS 

NEWS 

PUBLISHER/ EDITOR

Susan Henderson 

PASADENA CITY 
EDITOR 

Dean Lee 

SALES 

Patricia Colonello 
626-355-2737 
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WEBMASTER 

John Aveny 

DISTRIBUTION 

Peter Lamendola 

CONTRIBUTORS 

Lori A. Harris 
Michele Kidd 
Stuart Tolchin 
Harvey HydeAudrey SwansonMeghan MalooleyMary Lou CaldwellKevin McGuire 
Chris Leclerc 
Dinah Chong WatkinsHoward HaysPaul CarpenterKim Clymer-KelleyChristopher NyergesPeter Dills 
Rich Johnson 
Lori Ann Harris 
Rev. James SnyderKatie HopkinsDeanne Davis 
Despina ArouzmanJeff Brown 
Marc Garlett 
Keely TotenDan Golden 
Rebecca WrightHail Hamilton 
Joan Schmidt 
LaQuetta Shamblee 

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PUT THE LIGHTS ON

STUART TOLCHIN 


THE LAST HUMAN FREEDOM 

To paraphrase Viktor E. Frankl from his incredible book 
MAN’S SEARCH FOR MEANING, he said we all have an 
ability to respond to things that happen to us. That POWER 
OF CHOICE is what he referred to as “the last of human 
freedoms. “ The power of choice that Frankl is referring 
to is something more powerful than your or my choice to 
view the series “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe” which 
premiered on July 23. I am creating this article July 22 and 

really don’t know if I will view the show tomorrow. 

In a previous article, almost a month ago, I described that I had a dream 
whichinvolved me receiving messages from some higher source within the 
Universe. As soon as I got out of bed I switched on my computer and saw 
the solitary message “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.” I googled the title 
and learned that it was an upcoming series starring Kevin Sussman as Stuart. 
Sussman happens to be my mother’s maiden name, but I never met any 
members of the Sussman family. This really interested me,perhaps I am related 
to some highly creative people. 

Today, I spoke to my son while he was in his hospital bed and he told me he 
was familiar with the character Stuart Bloom from the sitcom The Big BangTheory who is connected to the comic book world. That really doesn’t interest 
me very much but it will still be my choice whether to watch the series. I 
probably won’t choose to do that. This, however, is not the kind of choice 
which Frankl was referring to. Frankl asserts that finding meaning in life is 
fundamental to mental health and personal fulfillment. By the “last human 
freedom” he explains his concept that “no matter your external circumstances, 
you always retain the power to choose your response, your perspective, 
and your attitude.” If you are not familiar with Frankl, he was an Austrian 
neurologist, psychiatrist, and Holocaust survivor who survived the horrors of 
Auschwitz and Dachau where he was stripped of his family, belongings and all 
his basic liberties. 

He asserts that there is a space between stimulus and your response. In thatspace lies your and my power and freedom to choose how to react. No matter 
what, we may consciously take ownership of our attitude and deal with our 
suffering. You may wonder why I am talking about all this suffering and 
choosing. As I mentioned above, I spoke to my son while he was in his hospital 
bed. He has been there for about two weeks, and my wife and I have spent at 
least six hours a day with him. 

While in the hospital he has been suffering terribly. His most acute problemresults from the two endoscopies which were intended to resolve a condition 
involving a blockage in his liver duct. As a result of the endoscopies he is 
now suffering from acute pancreatitis. While he waits for the pancreatitis to 
resolve—an affliction with no cure and an unpredictable timeline -he has been 
confined to bed and attached to various monitors. While being monitored, he 
has not been allowed to eat or drink beyond occasional ice chips. His sufferingis horrible to watch and of course I too am suffering. 

But my suffering goes beyond that. I blame myself for over the years not beingattuned to my son’s state of health. He is a neuro-divergent person who livesindependently and is supervised by Social Workers affiliated with the Regional 
Center which supervises people with developmental possibilities and provides 
him with daily activities. This article is not intended be about my son. Like all 
my articles it is about me and my attempt to handle my own life. While visiting 
the hospital I have been reading Frankl’s book and understanding that to be 
true to myself and to my son I cannot allow myself to be overcome by self-
rejection and negativity, and that, believe me, ain’t easy. 

I have been writing these weekly articles for almost twenty years and have notvoluntarily skipped one week. Writing these articles has something to do with 
my sense of self-esteem and value. I believe that for readers, these articles have 
some value in assisting them to understand themselves and clarify how they 
are living their own life. Consequently, here is the article we have created. If it 
serves as entertainment or distraction or interesting edification for you, I will 
be very pleased. In any case, I feel like I have fulfilled a responsibility to myself. 
Notwithstanding my lifelong lack of belief, 

it cannot do any harm for all of us to pray for my son’s quick recovery. I believe 
this can be done with integrity. 

HOWARD Hays As I See It 


Originially published July 2025 - Howard will be back next week. 

“We don’t let the bullies control the schoolyard.” – Char


lotte of Altadena 

Following the news these days – and columns like this one – 
can often seem an exercise in despair. But last Saturday at Sierra 
Madre’s Memorial Park, I had one of the most encouraging 
experiences I can remember. 


The Democrats of Pasadena Foothills put on an event featuring eight middle-
schoolers and eleven from high school; each imagining they were running for 
mayor and delivering a three-minute campaign speech. Local officials were in 
attendance. Congresswoman Judy Chu offered an inspiring keynote on how 
her own journey began fighting (successfully) an “English only” ordinance 
in Monterrey Park and culminated with a congratulatory call from President 
Obama on being the first Chinese-American woman elected to Congress. 

But the stars of the event were these representatives of our next generation of 
leaders. Here are the notes I took: 

MIDDLE SCHOOL 
Advaith of Arcadia stressed the importance of volunteering for the commu-
He told of his 

She reminded us to 

She also said that intersections in town 

of Altadena said her major inspirations are her single mom and 

Her attitude towards current immigration ac


. As for a guiding 

. 

RICH JOHNSON 


ON BEING A CULTURAL PROVOCATEUR 

I’m baack! And I have no plans to stop. Posting a column is one of my 
great joys. Bringing a smile to your face, a random truth to be pondered,
a funny piece of fluff permitting you to be the life of the next party you 
attend. In short, helping you contribute to the joyful existence of you 
and those around you. Last week I described the role of the court jester 

aka the class clown. That would be me! 

Today I am going to pivot a bit and go from court jester to cultural provocateur (don’t 
worry, I never stray far away from begging for laughs). I also like to think of these 
people as epigrammatic. For the underinformed (like yours truly) epigrammatic is 
defined as… “a style of speaking or writing that is brief, clever, and often (hopefully) 
witty or paradoxical. 

A cultural provocateur is a visionary, artist or thinker (sometimes a “stinker”) who 
deliberately challenges societal norms, tests boundaries, confronts uncomfortable 
truths, dismantles dogmas. They reach a level of fame and their influence grows. I can 
only hope…or hop if I misspell. 

Numbers 2, 3 and 4 in my experience so far are Andy Warhol, George Carlin, and 
Madonna. (Number 1 comes later). Andy changed society dramatically when he 
showed up in public with a Campbells soup can necklace. He was also a successful 
magazine and ad illustrator who turned into an icon of 1960’s Pop Art. He redefined 
art back then. 

George Carlin, a stand-up comedian who became a sharp, taboo-breaking comedian. 
So much more than a comedian he was a satirist, social critic, comedian, and writer. 
Some of his humor was G-rated. Example: If you have 12 odds and ends on a shelf and 
one falls off and breaks, was it an odd or an end? (Spend time pondering that deep 
probing question…or not.) 

Madonna is also a cultural provocateur. Her music videos, stage shows. Her film,
“Desperately Seeking Susan” was a very descriptive film metaphor demonstratingMadonna’s influence over a bored housewife, played by Rosanna Arquette. 

All of my candidates above help me demonstrate the three phases most of us pass 
through in our early 20’s: Inner desire for freedom, the search for identity and the 
allure of rebellion. Most of us calm down in our 30’s with the invasion of mini-me’s 
(children), mortgages and significant others. 

But, I have saved my favorite for the last. My number one cultural provocateur was 
born in 1854 in Dublin Ireland. He attended Trinity College and Oxford where he 
became the first “cultural provocateur”. His full name? Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie 
Wills Wilde, writer, poet, and playwright. Known for his wit, flamboyance, and bold 
personality. His movement was referred to as the “aesthetic movement”, which insisted 
art should exist for its own sake, not to instruct society or morals (that’s where he and 
I part ways…just a “wee bit”). 

Of all his brilliant, witty quotes I share these:

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” 

“Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.” 

“I can resist everything except temptation.” (My favorite…darn!)

“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” 

“Never love anyone who treats you like you’re ordinary.” 

Happened to be at Nano Café Thursday morning when a dozen or so people came in 
with a gentleman in a police uniform. It was a breakfast celebrating the retiring Arcadia 
Chief of Police Roy Nakamura. He’s retiring after 34 years with the department. He has 
been the chief of police since 2021. I asked the Chief what he was going to do and he 
responded…”nothing!” (That won’t last long. I happen to know anyone who rises to the 
rank of “Chief ” is not going to sit around and do nothing.) Going to keep my eyes on 
that exceptional fellow. Good luck Chief Nakamura. 

Rarely will I attempt to stimulate you to a call to action, Just thought I would promote 
my band, JJ Jukebox’s next concert. Saturday, August 8th at Nanos Café in Sierra 
Madre. If you are interested come by. 

Be well! 

Kietsai of Pasadena told of diversity classes, learning in Mandarin and Spanish 
as well as English. He emphasized the importance of community gardens 

– and of embracing communication technology. 
Leon of Sierra Madre said he’d deal with bear attractions and develop a bear 
management center, in order to “protect you and your snacks”. 

Mohsin of Arcadia detailed how debt and interest can affect both cities and 
families; citing a study showing that 34% of homelessness is caused by debt. 
He advocated for establishment of “financial empowerment funds”, and also 
acknowledged the problem of peacock poop. 

HIGH SCHOOL

 Angel of Arcadia told us that “Leadership begins with action” and called to 
us, “Let’s lead together!” 

Daniel recalled that as one of an immigrant family of eight, “our apartment 
was always full of love”. He called for support and cooperation in re-homingfamilies. He also said we need a watchdog calling out situations like the fired 
school superintendent walking away with a $1.5 million package, rather than 
that money being invested in students. “We’re done waiting!” 

Ella of Pasadena also called for more funding for schools, saying we’ll all move 
forward “side by side”. She’s committed to the goal of being 100% carbon-free 
by 2030. 

Emily of Arcadia made clear she wasn’t espousing Communism or any one 
system over another, but rather acknowledging that no system is perfect and 
that the important thing is to “ask the questions” because we “need to learn”; 
not just accept whatever “version based on fear”. 

Joehannah said yes, we need to tax the billionaires. She also said nobody will 
“steal the jobs”, they simply work harder. And – she announced her intention 
to become our first Chicana president. 

J.P. of Pasadena declared that “nobody should worry about a safe, secure place 
to sleep at night” and promised to work towards a “nurturing, flourishing 
community for all”. 
Mariah of Pasadena decried “people living in fear and uncertainty, regardless 
of immigrant status” and said kids should be focused on “learning and growing 
– not just surviving”. 

Siddhi spoke of immigrant parents wary of being called “alien” in the USA, so 
they kept their heads down. “But that’s not freedom”, she says – now it’s “time 
to hold our heads high!” 

Sophia referred to the Coogan law of 1939, protecting incomes of child actors 
from being drained by parents/guardians. Now, she says, similar protections 
are needed for those being exploited by internet influencers on TikTok, YouTube, 
etc. “Childhood must not be for sale.” 

Tanya of Arcadia noted that “Labels don’t define us – representation does”, 
and that “nobody should have to change themselves just to be accepted.” As 
to that representation, it should be comprised of “not just different faces, but 
different journeys.” 

Tiffany spoke to the experience of “lockdown drills, racism, bullying” – of 
worries about “whether we can afford college”. She advocated for “youth safety 
groups”, addressing such issues as mental health and violence prevention 

– and being a place where “it’s okay to say, ‘I’m struggling!’”. 
It’ll be a few years before we’ll be able to actually cast votes for them. For now, 
it’s our responsibility to hold things together and protect our democracy in 
the meantime - so when that time comes, we’ll have that opportunity. I can 
hardly wait. 

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com