Bob Dunning: Help a good cause, see a good game

A DEVILISH GOOD CAUSE … there are a couple of good reasons to attend Friday night’s Davis High-Elk Grove football game at DHS, the first of which is that it’s likely to be a great game as the dramatically improved 2012 version of the Blue Devils takes on perennial power Elk Grove … and how can you not be a perennial power with a nickname like the Thundering Herd? …

The second, and equally important reason, is that a number of Blue Devils backers, including head coach Steve Smyte, have put together a program to assist women and children in our area who have fallen on hard times … at Friday’s game, collection bins will be placed throughout the stadium and at the gate to accept donations during both the varsity and junior varsity games for St. John’s Shelter for Women and Children … among items needed are diapers and pull-ups (sizes 1 to 6), baby wipes and infant formula … for more information on the drive, contact Kim Cornelius at 925-301-3447 …

According to Smyte, who has made it his mission to teach his charges about much, much more than just X’s and O’s, “We want to live our creed of being great sons, great students, great teammates, great players and great community members. This is a positive step in understanding that we have a responsibility to lead and to assist those who are less fortunate than us.” … well said, coach … now, about that Thundering Herd …

ACCURACY IN LANGUAGE … my friend Eric in North Davis forwarded me a quote from Confucius, which seems appropriate considering the flawed language on our Measure E ballot … said the great philosopher: “If language is not correct, then what is said is not what is meant; if what is said is not what is meant, then what must be done remains undone; if this remains undone, morals and art will deteriorate; if justice goes astray, the people will stand about in helpless confusion. Hence, there must be no arbitrariness in what is said. This matters above everything.” …

Then again, as another famous philosopher once said, it all depends on what the definition of “is” is …

CHURCH AND STATE … several weeks ago our esteemed school district canceled the Emerson production of “A Christmas Carol,” then reinstated the play after a public uproar … this same district, however, apparently sees no problem whatsoever with allowing one local elementary school group to participate this week in El Dia de los Muertos, a celebration with clear and strong religious undertones … and if you think the day only coincidentally occurs in conjunction with the very Catholic commemorations of All Saints Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls Day (Nov. 2), think again … indeed, it’s both “cultural” and religious … just like Christmas …

WORTH A LOOK … the wonderful paintings of Mary Louise DeLonge will be on display at the Yolo Adult Day Health Center in Woodland on weekdays from today through Nov. 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. …

— Reach Bob Dunning at bdunning@davisenterprise.net