Letters 2-5-14

In regards to Mr. Breuer’s recent letter (on the Olympia Food Co-op and the boycott of Israel), I’d like to point out the obvious: after three and a half years, the issue is decided. The overwhelming majority of co-op members are happy with the boycott and have moved on.

Mr. Breuer and his friends certainly don’t have to like the boycott or remain co-op members, but the simple fact of the matter is that it’s a done deal. It’s been a done deal for years. No amount of lawsuits, getting anti-boycott candidates elected to the board, or letters to OP&L will change it, because it’s now an established value of the community. If there is any division in the community over this, it is coming from the handful of people who won’t let it go.

It is quite likely that these folks will never accept what happened, and continue to feel insulted by it. That is certainly their right, but it is delusional to claim that this issue is in any way dividing. Or, rather, it is dividing only as much as you allow it to. They can feel as estranged as they like, but it is their choice to do so; it is not coming from the community at large.

– John Lyons Beck