A few words on name calling and the free and open access and use of our beaches. The small group of Walton County beachfront owners and lawyers driving hard for private beaches have taken to the name game to describe those of us who support open and public use of all of our beaches;. We have been called socialists agitaters, communists, activists and other names I won’t mention here. They have also attempted to minimize overwhelming public sentiment on the matter of public beaches by directly targeting myself and Attorney, Daniel Uhlfelder as the “agitators.” A ridiculous notion, as though we are the only ones who want our beaches to be public.
I want to share a quote by Peter Coyote that cuts at the heart of their tactic to stop anyone who dare challenge them regarding our beloved beaches
“Activist is a word made up by my enemies and if you want to separate someone from the mass of humanity you add an “ist” after their name. The implication is that most people don’t act on their beliefs at all and a small radical subset do. I like to turn It around and say that people who don’t act on their beliefs are hypocrites. I am engaged with my life, I’m not thinking that I am like an activist. I drink water, I want the water to be clean. My kids breath air I want it to be clean. I want the food I eat not to be poisoned. I want the animals to have a fair break because I am interdependant with them.” ….that is being engaged, not activism.” Peter Coyote
And to add to this, I want to go to our beaches unrestricted as I always have. I want my kids to have the same that I have had. And I admire those thousands of people in our community and other neighboring communities who have acted on their belefs and convictions to take a stand to ensure our beaches remain OUR beaches.
Prior to 2016 I have never been kicked off a beach nor had I known anyone who ever had in Walton County. And, that we would have the audacity to stand together and speak our beliefs and challenge those who would exclude us from our beaches. If there ever was an issue that crushes our political divide this is it. The Polls are clear, both conservatives and liberals lean strongly on the side of public beaches and every politician in Florida knows it. The people of Florida will not stand for anything but full and fair use of all of our beaches and labeling us to try to divide us on the issue won’t work. As if calling us names will shut us all up. Nope.
Let me tell you my fellow Republican friends who stand up for Customary Use don’t appreciate being called “socialist agitators” and other labels and names. If you must call us names, ”dedicated, vocal beach lover” is more apropos. Or just “beach lover” will do. You can’t separate us from the mass of humanity or more appropriately, the majority of beach lovers by adding an “ist” to minimize our voice. No matter what you want to call us we are engaged, dedicated and determined beach lovers and we will be heard.
Apparently, both Alan Osborn’s uncovering of many damaging facts to the county’s BCC inept efforts to manage this county, one of which was Taylor Engineering reporting on CU at the BCC meeting yesterday that the ECL line in Walton (Effectively also the MHTL) is actually currently under water, has Dave in crazy defense mode this morning.
Although I’d like to respond to Dave’s original post, they don’t allow facts or adult discussion on Walton’s echo chambered censorship “Divisioning” page. They just censored a war hero this morning for speaking the truth. Go figure.
Since this thread here is receiving over 500 views a day now of diverse viewers, it’s better here, anyway.
The “small” group of BPO’s fighting the lawsuit against them, numbers in the thousands. For those keeping score, that’s about 1,000 restaurant table turns. AKA not “small”.
If you’re really interested Dave, a man in a T-shirt provided me with hundreds and hundreds of social media screenshots quoting “Beach Lovers” threatening to;
Lynch BPO’s
Burn BPO’s houses to the ground
Physically assault and violently hurt BPO’s
Plant used hypodermic needles on BPO’s beach
Gather large groups and loudly intimidate on BPO’s properties (FBFA Director)
Publicly publishing employer info, out of state property addresses, business interests, etc... for the stated purpose of direct personal harassment against BPO’s families (FBFA Director)
Deface BPO’s property at published addresses (FBFA Director)
Dump trash and vile objects on BPO’s property (FBFA Director)
Challenge WCSO to trespass violators from BPO property (FBFA Director)
Care to view them here?
I can’t verify the sources, they won’t talk about it. But we can sure present those pictures for the public to digest and decide for themselves? Maybe make CU T-shirts with their screenshots?
So, that threatening source, is that an agitator? An Activist? A “Beach Lover”?
This thread was also written by a true Beach Lover. You see, a true beach lover is interested in actually protecting the beach from abuse, overuse, pollution, defacing, damaging the delicate ecosystem, harm to turtles, destroying vegetation, dune damage. For those BPO’s inhabiting their homes, this is their daily mindset and mission. Every. Single. Day. Not just on weekends or holidays. True Beach Lovers in South Walton don’t want the Destin or PCB atmosphere CU would create. BPO’s must stand on the first line of defense, constantly on guard FOR the community, AGAINST that destructive onslaught.
There are a couple loud and obnoxious BPO’s that are the unfortunate extreme. Luckily, less than a handful. But they have no followers. Most of us want the beach the way it was. Respectfully enjoyed by all; Republicans, Democrats, Socialists, Marxists, even lawyers! The public harassment and lawsuit caused the signs and behavior. Oops, didn’t think that through, huh?
But honest, open, and trustworthy discussion is necessary for success. And no, my alias is not there to hide. My facts are sound. You still haven’t discussed even one Dave. Readers here have widely noticed that. They no longer accept your excuse of talking with an alias.
And... The alias is there to protect my precious loved ones and associates from the vulgar activities of “activists” and “agitators” as described in paragraph 3.