Gazette-Tribune - Opinion
Don't like it, then don't drink the water
opinion by Gary A. Devon

Word has circulated that the Okanogan County Citizen's Coalition has sent out a letter about the fact that the Omak Cinema has made water from the Okanogan Highlands Bottling Co. available for purchase. The letter was sent to Mary Lassila, owner of the movie theater and to several chambers of commerce. Okanogan Highlands Bottling Co. water is labeled with information that leaves no doubt the company is against the proposed gold mine known as the Crown Jewel that may one day be located near Chesaw. Although there are no outward threats of a boycott by the citizen's coalition, which supports the mine, we wonder just exactly what was the intention of the letter. Was it a thinly veiled threat? Or was it, as coalition members say, just a reminder to Lassila that the gold mine could mean greater economic prosperity for the county, in the way of good paying jobs and the spin-off to local businesses those new paychecks may bring.

Our opinion is that the letter was a threat. And for a group that supports the wise use of natural resources, isn't this kind of hypocritical? Isn't water, like gold, one of those natural resources that can be sold for profit? Water is even a readily renewable natural resource.

Even if you are for the gold mine and don't purchase the water because of its support of the Okanogan Highlands Alliance, which opposes the mine, any interference in a legal free enterprise such as this is wrong. These letters may even just backfire on the coalition - we've heard mine supporters say they'll go to the theater more often just to support Lassila.

If we boycotted every business that sold one product we didn't like we would surely limit our choices. So if you don't like the water don't drink it, but don't punish the owner of the theater because she sells it.