STATESIDE
Stateside S
adly, on any day so far in 2016, the U.S. presidential election frenzy has included insults, a continuing FBI investigation, mass protests and intense campaign scheming. The diverse issues often mix
competing perspectives on economics, security, race and social justice. Do we raise or cut taxes? Grow or eliminate government agencies? Allow or ban guns? The endless list is maddening for middle-of-the- roaders like me who often sees both sides. The campaigns entered unprecedented territory
To Bruce, Tracy and others who comfortably bank millions each year, I say get off your soapbox and consider the people.
regarding gay and transgender rights in March. North Carolina’s new law – HB2 – restricts individual cities from passing non-discrimination policies based on gender. It mandates that transgender public schools students use the bathroom corresponding to their birth certificate gender. Mississippi also legislated a “religious conscience” law. The media questioned every candidate and received mixed responses. In protest and with little notice, rocker Bruce Springsteen immediately canceled his E-Street Band’s scheduled North Carolina concert, rejecting what he called “bigotry and discrimination.” Groups Pearl Jam, Boston and Ringo Starr soon followed. In Mississippi, comedian Tracy Morgan canceled his upcoming Horseshoe Hotel & Casino concert in Tunica. Ticket prices will be refunded, but many will lose travel costs. I dislike mass boycotts. They always impact the
average guy/gal the most. In 2005, an Alabama teenager disappeared after leaving a bar in Aruba with three young men. Never found, she is presumed dead. The key suspect – now a convicted murderer in Peru – never faced murder charges in Aruba. The girl’s grieving parents called for a nationwide boycott of Aruba.
Coincidentally, in 2005, Norman and I had
reserved an Aruba vacation far in advance. In appreciation of our visit, our airport taxi driver hugged us. The 100,000 Arubans economically live or die from tourism. Several of Aruba’s 12 casinos have hotel affiliations. I would not punish working people financially because of their government‘s actions.
The Atlantic City market, where I live, depends
heavily on the summer tourism. We also do not need boycotts. The economic repercussions stop workers
8 MAY 2016
Sharon Harris questions the wisdom of the wealthy boycotting a region when it only hurts the average Joe
from earning a living, paying taxes and improving the communities where they reside. Nationwide, many seasonal jurisdictions offer
employees a limited window of earning opportunity. Tunica can ill afford these losses; neither can Mississippi‘s other casino cities where 32 venues operate. Five of North Carolina’s six casinos are in cities. To Bruce, Tracy and others who comfortably bank millions each year, I say get off your soapbox and consider the people. You have completely ignored thousands of restaurant servers, dealers, ticket takers, janitors, cashiers and countless others who can never recoup that date’s lost income. I get that you want to defend your version of social injustice, but understand that many with different perspectives could be in your audiences. There are always important causes up for debate and disagreement…I’ve got plenty of my own. Be professional, honor your commitments and form like-minded coalitions to foster legislative changes. Voters must work within the system. Elected officials are both good and terrible, so dissatisfied citizens should oust the bad ones at the next election. Follow what singers Cyndi Lauper and Jimmy
Buffett are doing. Lauper will use her June 4 concert for a day of building public support to repeal HB2. She will donate her show proceeds to Equality North Carolina, an LGBT-rights group; her manager and agent will also forward their commissions. Buffett, who will play his two North Carolina concerts, told his loyal fans that he would not allow “stupidity or bigotry“ to ruin the fun. Operators, take note since American casinos often house their region’s largest arenas, show rooms or concert halls. No one wants vacant theaters or empty restaurants. Entertainment directors, food and hotel managers should always have an alternative plan to resolve unexpected circumstances. Public perception may believe corporations- including gaming companies-can absorb the losses, but behind the logos are millions of employees and their families. For smaller businesses, sudden financial losses can prove devastating.
Bruce and the others should know that.
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