Letters for November 26, 2015

‘Get on with it’

Re “Letters to the Future” (Cover story, Nov. 19) and “Shaping adults” (Healthlines, by Evan Tuchinsky):

Your articles on the 10 negative experiences of childhood and Letters to the Future regarding the plight of the planet seem to me to be intimately related—our adverse childhoods being a major cause of the Earth’s problems.

I believe we have all been abused and traumatized simply by growing up in this violent, crazy culture. It is no wonder that we over-consume, waste and think money is more important than people. We have been carefully taught (brainwashed) by our elders and the media.

Therefore, feeling sorry or guilty about our past behavior is neither necessary or useful. We just need to get on with it and do whatever our hearts tell us is right, right now.

Renee Renaud

Chico

Regarding refugees

Re “Strengthening our resolve” (Editorial, Nov. 19):

Wouldn’t it be nice if our cowering Congress could act as quickly to fix our country’s crumbling infrastructure as they did to turn their backs on desperate people looking to escape war, persecution and terror.

The attackers in Paris were French and Belgian citizens who were mostly petty criminals who became politically radicalized cowards. They weren’t suffering parents with hungry and sick children. The recent vote by Congress and the declaration that there is “no room at the inn” by 30 Republican governors is a slap across the face of what America stands for and the antithesis of decency and compassion.

Surely we must stay vigilant in our pursuit of safety, but knee-jerk reactions and the dissemination of false information should not be an excuse for political grandstanding. Perhaps we should put a drape over the Statue of Liberty until such time that ignorant actions are no longer acceptable and we can return to being a nation that is a world pillar of compassion and freedom.

Roger S. Beadle

Chico

Hey Ted Cruz, Ben Carson, Mike Huckabee and all you self-proclaimed “Christian” members of Congress—Democrats and Republicans—who voted to turn your backs on Syrian refugees, let me quote your Bible to you:

‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25:35-40

Your piousness seems to only matter when it serves you politically. Shame!

Dean Carrier

Paradise

‘Are you on acid?’

Re “Letters for Paris” (Second & Flume, by Melissa Daugherty, Nov. 19):

Melissa, are you on acid? This publication regarding the Paris attacks has to be the most stupid comment you as an editor have ever made. Any real intelligent person would deduce that climate change didn’t cause the birth of ISIS. Are you getting paid enough to distribute this kind of Democratic propaganda?! Students, the Chico News & Review is full of crap and cannot back up their claims with factual truth. And they want you to donate monies for an investigative reporter? The mainstream media is no longer objective and factual. The Chico News & Review, it is bought and paid by the Democratic Party!!

Rick Clements

Paradise

Editor’s note: Just to clarify, the column in question said that the violence and poverty due to climate change has driven desperate people to join ISIS. The CN&R is not affiliated with any political group.

Fly this suggestion

Re “Air service unlikely” (Newslines, by Robert Speer, Nov. 19):

The city was right to reject the expensive AvPorts contract when the company could promise nothing substantive in return. It should be mentioned the reason passengers stopped using SkyWest was the unreliability, delays and cancellations that ruined the SFO service and made Sacramento the only viable option.

I suggest trying to find an airline that would operate a 50-seat regional jet twice daily to LAX or Las Vegas—the only work required at the airport would be extending the post-security passenger holding area to accommodate going from 30 passengers to 50. LAX and LAS both offer plentiful connections and are end-point destinations themselves.

Roy Bishop

Durham

Remembering Maria

It’s just over a year since the death of Avenue 9 Gallery owner Maria Phillips and it seemed appropriate timing for the Avenue 9 Art Guild artists (including me) to have a reunion. Maria added so much to our lives both professionally and personally. Our exhibit runs through Jan. 3 at MCM Vintage at 260 E. First St.

I first met Maria when I returned to college pursuing an art degree, and she was teaching Northern European Art History. She took a subject that could have been so didactic and made it dance and shimmer with beauty and interest.

She motivated countless people to see art in a broader context, and she emphasized the importance of promoting local art and artists as a thriving asset to Chico and the North State. Maria worked tirelessly to establish ChiVAA, the Art Map and Art at The Matador, to further the visual arts in Chico.

She inspired a lot of budding artists to have faith in themselves. Many artists who were accepted for group shows at Avenue 9 Gallery, such as the Chico Icons show (Maria’s invention), had never shown publicly before. They were thrilled to have their work selected and shown. She made magic happen.”

Claudia Schwartz

Chico

A day to give

Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. Occurring this year on Dec. 1, Giving Tuesday is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (the U.S.)—and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday—to kick off the holiday giving season and inspire people to collaborate in improving their local communities and to give back in impactful ways to the charities and causes they support.

In 2014, the third year of the movement, #GivingTuesday brought together 30,000 partners in 68 countries and registered 32.7 million impressions on Twitter, with its hashtag mentioned 698,600 times. Since 2012, online giving on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving has increased more than four-fold.

We encourage CN&R readers to join Stonewall Alliance of Chico on Giving Tuesday in celebration of our 25th anniversary during our 25 for 25 campaign. We hope to get 25 new, recurring donors to honor 25 years of service. Show your support for Stonewall Alliance of Chico, or any of the wonderful charities here in Butte County, by saving the date and donating this #GivingTuesday!

Cari Edie

Chico

Rebuttal on water

Re “The drought’s silver lining” (Guest comment, by Robert Speer, Nov. 12):

Robert Speer took the liberty and his own opinion to inaccurately target our water agency—Glenn Colusa Irrigation District (GCID)— our landowners, and our commitment to this region and the environment without bringing facts to the conversation.

Mr. Speer implies that GCID wants to sell surface water south and replace it with groundwater; however, GCID has made a conscious board policy decision to not pursue transfers using groundwater, including not participating in the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation transfer program with groundwater wells.

The reality is that GCID is committed to protecting our surface water and groundwater supplies. In fact, GCID has delivered into this region over the past 10 years in excess of 7 million acre-feet, with approximately 20 percent going directly to groundwater recharge, directly benefiting groundwater users in this region.

Furthermore, the allegation that GCID plans to put in five massive new production wells is misleading and wrong. As we have said before, these wells would be for local supply when our surface supply is shorted and diversions are limited in order to protect fish and the environment. GCID is committed to serving our lands and the environment responsibly and sustainably and the facts support that.

Thaddeus Bettner

Willows

Mastering English

With people throughout the world interacting more than ever through Internet and phone communication, wouldn’t it be better if we all spoke the same language? If we did, religious, racial and cultural obstacles to peace and technological advancement would dissolve, thereby enabling everyone to live happier, more productive lives.

But what language would we speak? With rampant and uncontrolled immigration from Mexico and Central America, and since it seems we’re heading that direction anyway, should it be Spanish?

Every language has strengths and weaknesses, but according to a 2010 University of Lyon study, English is the most efficient of the most widely spoken languages. However, before the world starts transitioning to it, it should be streamlined by a panel of expert linguists to reduce its inconsistencies and inefficiencies.

Once that’s done, an official New World Dictionary should be published and made accessible to every person on Earth. Then governments should reward their constituents for learning it and proving their mastery and use of it. Such rewards might include tax breaks and social privileges like better parking and choice seating at concerts and sporting events.

Nathan Esplanade

Tehama County