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A letter to the editor from Mike Burns
I’ve been a business owner in Felton for more than 25 years. Over the years, I’ve supported numerous organizations and projects in a variety of ways. Until about 15 years ago, I was involved in local politics, but I really didn’t have the temperament. To say I was naive is an understatement. Without going into details, the experience left me with little faith in the public utterances of our elected officials or candidates for public office, regardless of party. I’m still paying attention, but I try to keep my opinions to myself.
This past week, someone I’ve respected for years asked if she could place a petition in my place of business. Being somewhat familiar with the issue and without really considering the possible ramifications, I said, “Sure.” The issue isn’t really germane to this discussion, but my impression was that the petition represented a shared position within the community.
Anyway, the head of another nonprofit campaign, engaged in a separate effort, which I support, came in the other day. I was doing errands. He saw the petition on the shop counter. The next day, his wife was in. She’s very active in another effort, which I also support. She sought me out, telling me I was on the “wrong side” of the issue presented in the petition. She named the local politicians who were on the “right side,” advising me I was being told half-baked truths. These two are also people I have known and respected, so I listened to the new information, realizing once again that people I know and respect have different views on a wide variety of issues.
This woman, who had taken the time to offer me this new information, went on to advise me that her husband, despite the fact I’m in support of his particular cause, was no longer going to patronize my business because I displayed a petition with which he disagreed. It turns out there are at least four other businesses in Felton that have been threatened with retribution.
So, now we get to the point.
Where does that kind of attitude come from? What does it have to do with a close-knit community engaged in open debate? If we can agree on a wide array of issues, and possibly even candidates, does that mean that if we’re not in lock-step with every community leader’s personal politics, we can expect as business people to be boycotted? Is this the point at which polarization in our politics has its genesis?
You know, folks, I have my life invested in providing a business service to this community. Like most people, I’ve been less-than-perfect in my approach to business and life in general. Sometimes I lose my temper and alienate people. I often make missteps, but I’m still there pitching in, trying to do the right thing. I fall short on a daily basis, but I don’t think that makes me a member of an exclusive club.
If I disagree with you on any given issue, is that good reason to boycott my business or to encourage others to do the same? How small-minded have we become?
Our country is polarized on most issues, and, you know, it seems the polarization starts with us. These are our leaders. We pick them. They start out in our backyards, our school boards, our water districts, our recreation districts, our fire districts and our nonprofits. We freely give them our support. Then, in a situation such as this, they ask us to support them in shouting down the opposition and stifling debate, and, if we don’t line up, they threaten to boycott.
Is it any wonder we hold them suspect? Or that qualified people are unwilling to become involved?
Maybe we need a good old-fashioned loyalty oath, a litmus test for the masses? A little Fahrenheit 451 for ideas with which we disagree? Maybe some War is Peace logic, straight out of “1984”? Perhaps we can bring the Patriot Act’s suspension of habeas corpus home to our community or ask our local representatives to have Sen. Joe McCarthy dug up and the House Un-American Activities Committee reconstituted.
What’s next? Why not try shunning? Or maybe we should go straight for the Brown Shirts and destroy people straight away without the inconvenience of a boycott. Now there’s a good idea.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not taking a side. God forbid I disagree with the thought police.
One last question: Where’s a guy like Richard Farina when we need him?
Mike Burns lives in Scotts Valley and is a Felton business owner.
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