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Boycott is legitimate protest PDF  | Print |  E-mail
Written by Press Banner Letters |   
Friday, 02 May 2008

 

A letter to the editor from Alan Triplett in Ben Lomond

 

EDITOR,

 

While admittedly not knowledgeable about Mike Burn’s business dilemma, I think he is wrong to characterize a citizen’s right to boycott a business as some form of fascism (Commentary, “Where did the thought police come from,” April 25).

Boycotting businesses is a longstanding form of protest, both by individuals and by like-minded people. Community members boycott businesses for various reasons: treatment of workers, environmental concerns, animal rights issues, etc.

Mr. Burns is correct regarding his misimpression that the petition represented a shared position within the community. If it was a shared position, I doubt the petition would be necessary; the issue would be moving forward. I have to agree with Mr. Burn’s assessment of his naiveté.

I’d like to offer an answer to Mr. Burn’s question, “If I disagree with you on any given issue, is that good reason to boycott my business?” Yes, it is! It is my right under a democratic system, and it offers a proper, peaceful plan of action to share my resources with people and businesses as I see fit. Withholding one’s capital is not some extreme form of personal suppression, as Mr. Burns seems to believe. It is a logical response to one’s personal priorities.

Mr. Burns, everyone’s priorities are not the same as yours, and there lies the problem you face as a business person. You thought there was a shared position within the community; now you know differently. I may be over-the-top passionate about an issue that doesn’t even register with you, until you put that petition on your counter. You have every right to put it there, and I have every right to react in any peaceful way I deem appropriate according to my beliefs.

It seems in opposition to logic to jump from someone deciding not to do business with you to the Brown Shirts destroying people. Once again, boycotts are a peaceful form of protest, accepted by most people as the logical alternative to your fantasy Brown Shirt scenario, not a step closer towards it.

Alan Triplett, Ben Lomond

Comments (10)Add Comment
...EXCEPT
written by Stephen D. Homan, May 02, 2008
Mike Burns was not advocating a position, he was just letting a customer use his counter as a way for the customer to collect signatures. He does not deserve to be punished for being kind and thoughtful.

He did not have a "dog in the hunt', just a good friendly heart. Mike Burns is right about the need for freely expressed civil discourse, and without consequence I will add.
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written by Marcus, May 02, 2008
Mr Triplett either doesn't understand what happened, or he is defending the characters involved. I suspect the latter.
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written by Marcus, May 02, 2008
Here's what we can do. Since Mr Triplett and the Valley Womens Club prescribe to boycotting (and badmouthing) local businesses as a "legitimate" means of registering a protest, business owners should unite so that they can inform each other when they are under such attack. Start a phone tree to spread the word. Conversation by conversation these vigilante groups will look more and more ridiculous. Locals can rally around the businesses that are threatened, business will boom. May be it can even become a source of humor to be boycotted by the VWC. "Hey! I'm boycotted this week, how about you?" "Oh, I was last week, but business boomed!"
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written by Felton Business Owner, May 02, 2008
Citizens have a right to shop where they want. But, as in this case, to spread a boycott based on malicious lies, to intimidate store owners about who should be their customers and who should not (as if), to start whisper campaigns against Felton business owners and residents...not acceptable.

In this situation, and many like it previously, the same small group conspired to damage the reputations of local businesses and residents because they disagree(d) with the political perspective or tolerance of the business owner/resident.

The 4000 signature petition is necessary because, according to the boycotters, our Supervisor does not intend to support his constituency. The 4000 signature petition is to show Mark Stone and his fellow board members that there is consensus in the San Lorenzo Valley against the Felton Faire development.

The real opposition to logic here is for Mr Triplett to compare peaceful opposition to the activities of the boycotters/intimidators in this particular situation and others like it in Felton.

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written by Felton Business Owner, May 02, 2008
A phone tree! As soon as someone is targeted, start the phone tree. Spread the word. Or! Have an "I've been boycotted!" sale or special. Gosh it would be great to see the businesses be able to do that. We need to inject some humor into this situation.
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I would patronize SLV businesses ...
written by Ace Noname, May 02, 2008
... that were boycotted. Mike Burn is correct, people resort to fascism and I might add, over the most inane reasons they think is important over the well-being of the community. I wish those people would get more involved in county, state and national politics where their energy might have more beneficial affects.
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written by Bryan, May 08, 2008
Funny. Being boycotted by the Valley Women's Club is now a badge of honor. They have finally been exposed to the derision they deserve. Don't worry Michele, my wife won't boycott your farmer's market. It wouldn't occur to her.
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written by Alvin Vanne, May 08, 2008
This could be a Seinfeld episode.
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VWC helps identify businesses with integrity
written by Dorothy, May 09, 2008
It seems it would improve our community if residents were able to support businesses that were willing to ignore threats from fascist-behaving organizations. Anyone have a list of VWC boycotted places?
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VWC's tactics are part of why SLV has so many closed businesses
written by Dorothy, May 11, 2008
Alan Triplett's letter reflects the mindset of those who rely upon destructive techniques used by those with closed minds so they may profit themselves without regard to the harm they are doing to our local economy. Instead of allowing residents to provide granny flats for affordable housing, WVC and apparently their candidate Mark Stone support environmentally harmful subsidized housing that will further divert funds from other community needs. Results of their so called “environmental” efforts support WVC with jobs and hidden profits including running a $1 million recycling business that appears to get insider grants and other support, such as letters to the editor from public servants that reveal that even the County is involved in their tactics. VWC’s boycotting techniques are part of how they get rid of competition. Alan Triplett describes their passion for such destructive tactics in his claim “boycotting businesses is a longstanding form of protest…by like-minded people.”

The question not being answered, is who will pay for all the grants and other publicly funded VWC perks after this group of parasites put all those who question them out of business?

Hopefully voters notice this, I don’t think Mark Stone signs are large enough to cover up all the closed store fronts in our community.
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