I've been a reader of Olyblog for quite some time (when I have the time) and I generally like the quality of the discussions here.  The comments often spiral off into irrelevance and stupidity, but that's the nature of blogs.  A post I read today frankly disappointed me though.  It was OlyCop's post from July 13th about one of my favorite stores, Orca Books.  It upset me for a number of reasons. 
    For one thing, I used to be a business owner, and it was disheartening to see an Olympia police officer using this blog as a forum to complain publicly about a downtown business just because he got "a feeling" from the place and didn't receive the reception he felt he was entitled to.  Set aside for a moment the reason for the cool reception (if there really was one)--it's entirely inappropriate for a person in his position to air his personal (and disturbingly vague) grievances in this way.  He owes all downtown business an apology for this. And then, I read a good deal of news about the Olympia police (much of it from OlyBlog).  Like most people here I'm aware of what was done to Long Hair David in Sylvester Park.  I'm aware of the treatment that non-violent protesters in this town routinely receive.  And if people tend to stiffen and become a bit nervous upon the entrance of a uniformed police officer--well, I think they're entitled to a questioning look.  Who doesn't cock an eyebrow and get slightly curious when the police enter a building?  Be realistic.  In any case, I don't know what (if any) other overtures Officer Tupper has made to this store, but if he's really interested in "mingling" with downtown businesses and building bridges, as he says, perhaps inviting a bunch of bored bloggers to take pot shots at those businesses isn't the wisest approach.
    As for the trail of comments after the post, it was about what you'd expect.  Two posts by prominent Olybloggers were disappointing additions to the melee.  Rick's comment was this:
        'Can you say "authority problem?" Actually, it's kinda cute. They think they're standin' up to "the man." But to them, "the man" is everything from the cop on the beat all the way up to Haliburton. In other words, not a very sophisticated view of what to rebel against.'
    I have to assume from this that he's never been in the store, or that he hasn't really talked to any of the people who work there.  I know several of them, and they are not only friendly but deeply devoted and active members of the community.  Rick should try introducing himself, or at least acquainting himself a little with people before tearing them down with such a meaninglessly broad accusation.  Again, as a regular customer at Orca I can't imagine who or what he's referring to with such a remark.
    And then there was Sarah's "me too", which was lock-step and mindless.  I suppose that speaks for itself. 
    Is this really the level of discourse you're trying to promote here?  Is this the sort of community you want to foster?  Olympia needs the people who work and shop at stores like Orca, especially with new big box stores sprouting up every month.  It would be a smaller, sadder place without them.  Certainly downtown shop owners are accountable to their customers.  But don't use your website to have a little vague, self-indulgent fun at the expense of stores that don't happen to make your list of favorite downtown hang-outs.  It's petty, and  it's unworthy of OlyBlog. 

Come one, come all and put a fire under our community to fight the Federal Grand Jury coming to town, the occupation of Cheetwood (Black Bear Place, the Nisqually name for Olympia), and the destruction of the Earth. Come feel comforted that there are others who realize that the American occupation started here, and that Iraq is just another page in a long book of Civilization's death march. Join together with your friends in creating a wall of resistance against this occupation here in America and against outrageous state oppression. The Green Scare -- the FBI witch-hunt against environmental activists -- has come to town, but we are up the challenge.

One person who has helped many realize the total failure of Civilization is author and activist Derrick Jensen. He has two new books about fighting Civilization, called Endgame Volumes I and II, and will speak about them.

Boy, is this discouraging.

The shootings on July 28th at the Jewish Federation of Seattle distress me. I understand being vigorously opposed to the US and Israeli militarism and the violence perpetrated by US and Israeli militarism, but I don't this kind of event does anything to address that.

I think the specter of anti-semitism haunts lots of us these days as we work to oppose the US and Israeli domination, occupation, abuse, torture, murder of the other middle eastern people.

I don't think Americans stand on any moral high road since our appropriation of this land from the people who inhabited this continent when we arrived was as shameful and brutal as anything the Israelis can possibly come up with, but there is the question about whether this planet's people can evolve, respect each others' differences, and reduce the violence and suffering.

So, to the Jewish community, our neighbors, our friends, - let us know what you need from us as you see the violence taking a toll close to home.

Time for a ceasefire.  Everyone lay your weapons down. Let's talk.

Click picture for slideshow.

A little video interlude to start your weekend:

Music video for the song "Little Miss Independent 2" by Dahlia.
Video by Nicky Click & Cindy Wonderful, Olympia, Washington.
"Little Miss Independent 2" appears on "Dahlia - Plastique" (2005), by Dahlia Schweitzer and Blackjwell, Mix by NAM:LIVE!.