A Montage from Arizona (Part 1)

I am stuck here on Route 66. I planned to spend only one day in Flagstaff, Arizona, but am now well into my fourth day. It is not a broken down vehicle that keeps me planted here, nor is it the Grand Canyon that lies only 60 miles to the North. It has been the interesting town and a day filled with thought provoking experiences. I present you with a collage of three scenes that have given me reason to dig a little deeper into what forms my worldview.

Scene 1: Greenpeace and the Health Food Store

Our society has risen on a steady trend towards health and wellness. Nowhere can this trend be seen more evidently than in the increased allocation of floor space to organics in mainstay grocery stores and the number of dedicated natural products stores. It was at one of these stores that I came face to face with a paradox.

I had just finished buying my organic beef and veggies and was exiting the large natural foods store with a large smile thinking of the difference I am making with this vote of my dollars.  A good distance from the entrance I was politely asked by a lady if I would like to learn how I can “save the rainforest.” Yes, I would. Not only am I limiting pesticide application in animal feed, I am also going to save the rainforest. Having an interest in West African rainforests, we struck up a conversation.

The representative from Green Peace began telling me about the rainforest in Indonesia that is being decimated by our demand for paper products, particularly KFC buckets to hold that delicious greasy chicken. They wanted to put pressure on KFC to reduce their impact in Indonesian’s dwindling natural resource. She told me how GreenPeace had played a key role in placing pressure on a chocolate company that went entirely fair trade for their product offering in England. We engaged in an interesting discussion that was cut short when interrupted by a gentlemen sitting at a table off to the side.

“You have no right to harass our customers! Get off our property!” He yelled out at us. I was surprised by this brashness.

I could not keep silent. “Sir, she is not harassing me. I find this subject very interesting actually.”

He laughed, “She is being a nuisance to these good people shopping at our store. Can’t you see that?!” Foolishly, I indicated that I was Canadian and did not see what offence these polite Greenpeacers had committed.

I could see he was shaking, visibly angry while eating his low fat rice yogurt drink: “Oh you’re from Canada! Well, Canada is that way (pointing to the North). This is America where we have the rule of law. I don’t know what you have in Canada but we do things differently here!”

His reply pricked me a bit: “This is no way to treat a neighbour. I just want to understand what happened here as I believe in the cause they are promoting.”

Our conversation was both getting us nowhere so I turned back to the GreenPeace activist who explained to me that the storeowners did not like their presence. At that point the police showed up and began to question the storeowner. I stood off to the side and listened in wanting to get the full picture. The owner related that she had given permission for them to stand outside the store on Friday for two hours, but they had showed up two days in a row uninvited promoting their cause.

As I walked back to the car I was unsettled. How could this company that displays signs in their store about the environmental stewardship and responsible consumption turn away an organization with like-minded ambition? I had to go back and talk with the man who had a different perspective from my own. The conversation went something like this:  

Marcel: “Excuse me, could I ask you a few questions. What happened here has me puzzled and I just want to understand the issues. Are you also a customer of the store?”

Manager: “I work here, I’m management. What these Green Peace people do is wrong. They were asked to leave and they didn’t. It’s plain and simple. This is a country of law and people can’t infringe on the rights of personal property”

Marcel:  “Ok, I see your point and I agree. Personal property is to be respected. What I don’t understand is that this is a natural foods store and Green Peace is an organization that is working along the same lines – for the environment and social justice.”

Manager: “Green Peace, and PETA for that matter are definitely not in the same league. They are POLITICAL organizations and have socialist agendas.”

Marcel:  “Can you clarify what you mean by the term “socialist”?

Manager: “Look! This country is in the throes of Obama’s socialism. For 200 years we were an exemplary nation, the greatest nation, and now the country is at its lowest level due to the socialist doctrine he is putting our country through. We have the highest unemployment rates, we’re filled up with illegal immigrants, and the federal government is trying to push down its healthcare care plan on us. It’s bull****!”

Marcel: “I understand that the US is in a tough period, but what about this healthcare issue. Is it not good for US citizens to have health care?”

Manager: “Only if there is competition. When the government runs this it falls apart. Competition is what makes us efficient.”

The conversation went on for a bit, but it left me with much to think about. What is this natural food industry all about if they are not willing to support organizations fighting for the same cause? Or are Greenpeace methods viewed as too radical for the average shopper to support and in the end it would be bad for business?

And what of this term “socialism.” Are not all countries socialist? There are terms that carry such clout that they ignite the fires that blaze among the polarizing forces of American political conjecture. This is the term that has been blasted from the airwaves of the conservative radio shows. In some ways, Socialism has become the new Communism.