utahtea

Barbara S Thanks for the update story link: http://www.sltrib.com/ci_3638519

Sure sounds like there are a lot of people in Kanab that aren't happy with this proclamation. I wouldn't be surprised if on the next election there's a big change in the city council!

It does seem a shame to boycott a whole city, when the proclamations wasn't the views of all.

Utahtea

wtm003

Utahtea, my thoughts exactly. Why hurt a business owner that treats all of his or her customers with respect? They should be commended and held as role models rather than punished and put out of business. I sure wouldn't want to be held accountable for some of the bone-headed decisions my local and federal government reps have made.

Thanks for the great link Barbara.

ccrosner

Hey dusty...am I right that you called me "stupid for bringing it up?" I'm not advocating for the boycott or not advocating. I was simply reporting what I read and thought other thoughtful Fodorites would be interested in reading about it. And clearly they were given the rapid and numerous responses.

I don't take any of this personally. Frankly, I find it refreshing to air all of our thoughts. Reminds me why I live in this country even if I don't like what's going on in Iraq or Washington, DC.

dusty56438

I didn't call you stupid.

I did say "stupid to bring it up", which I guess is almost as bad. I didn't say it to mean you are stupid.

I should have said something like "an unimportant" reason to boycott compared to other reasons why one should boycott something.

For the "stupid" comment, I do apologize.

ccrosner

Apology accepted! Have a great Sunday.

blackhawk

After reading several posts I thought some light needed to be shone on this. After living in Kanab for several years what we've observed is that the resolution basically codifies the type of discrimination prevalent in the town. Just saying "what do you expect from Utah"? doesn't make it right. Also what the resolution does is to make it policy to discriminate against not only against gays and lesbians but also single parents, people married in civil marriages, couples who cannot or do not want to have children, older couples who adopt children etc. It also throws in a proviso of no more than two adults per bedroom ( either to stop perceived gay orgies or large immigrant families from sharing small homes) and asks neighbors to monitor for such behavior. Another new regulation apparently states that there is a limit of two dogs per household and they must be licensed. That sounds tame enough but a section of THAT regulation states that the possession of a pet permit gives the police the right to enter the premises at any time without a warrant to inspect the property and if any more than the permitted number of pets are found the owner has ten days to basically euthanize or otherwise remove their pets. A good deal of this language seems to be aimed at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary outside the city limits. Although the sanctuary is one of the largest employers and sources of revenue for the area there is still a great deal of animosity for the people that go there. Some of the people associated with the Sanctuary live in town, many are in non-traditional relationships and have pets therefore a legal means of discrimination. Also local mayor Mr. Kim Lawson verbally attacked, in a city meeting, a high school intern working for the local paper, when said intern dared question the resolution and regulations. Mayor Lawson sent letters to the boys church and school asking he have his behavior and attitudes "corrected". Said mayor has also tried to have the license of the local papers' editor revoked. Local county commissioners are under investigation or indictment for violation of federal policies, destruction of federal property etc. The town has previously burned Robert Redford in effigy when he was planning on holding the Sundance Film Festival there, locals have shot/burned/blown up National Monument portal signs etc.. In a nutshell the town doesn't deserve tourism dollars. They've been trying to drive people away for years with their behavior. They've made their bed let them lie in it.

KathrynT

I do remember reading somewhere that they love to ticket speeding cars in Kanab so be careful even if you're just passing through.

jamaltay

I like the idea about boycotting AZ. We get way too many snowbirds here that don't know how to drive.
8-)

BOYCOTT ARIZONA

GeorgeW

Travel boycotts are silly. If left-of-center Romano Prodi wins the Italian election in a few weeks, should conservatives boycott Italy? Of course not. Should liberals boycott Denmark or Holland because their right-of-center governments are cracking down on Muslim immigration? Of course not. Let's enjoy our travels and the people of other lands and people with other points of view. People with views different from yours might be sometimes infuriating but at least they are different and sometimes might even force you to re-examine your beliefs.

ccrosner

Blackhawk--thanks for giving us more detailed information about what's going on in Kanab. That mayor would have a field day in my town outside of Boston (we welcome immigrants, blacks, Asians, gay couples, whites, dog-owners and are designated a "No Place for Hate" Community.

George W--you're right that it makes life more interesting to hear different points of view. But intolerance isn't a point of view I embrace. Boycotts are probably not the answer but I, for one, would feel better personally for driving right through Kanab without stopping as my own way of expressing my opinion.

I could keep going but this site shouldn't be made a political forum!