SHAME ON SHASTA - MT SHASTA SPRING WATER POLICY DISCRIMINATORY

SHAME ON SHASTA - MT SHASTA SPRING WATER POLICY DISCRIMINATORY: Bottled Water or Freedom of _Expression

Last month Mount Shasta Spring Water Company abruptly canceled my family’s bottled water delivery service. I was a loyal, prompt-paying customer for over 7 years. According to Bill Ellis, General Manager of Mount Shasta Spring Water Company, our service was discontinued due to a US flag displayed in front of our house. My daughter decorated this 12 by 18 inch flag as an _expression of peace. I am proud that my daughter made this innocent improvement to our flag and do not consider it desecration.

Also flying outside our house were the flags of Cuba, Palestine, and Iraq, flown in solidarity with the peoples of these countries – peoples that have long suffered under oppressive US foreign policy. In the past 4 years, the US flag has been a symbol of revenge, blind patriotism, of war without end, and government manufactured deception. Flying the flags Cuba, Palestine, and Iraq was an act of independence, not meant to offend others, but meant as a prayer to the struggles of the people of these countries.

Ellis claims he respects our freedom to “disrespect our flag and our country”, claims that their decision has nothing to do with our opposition to the war and occupation in Iraq. Yet, he says “I know many, including a very close friend who is in opposition of this decision. However, they would never be disrespectful of what our flag stands for.”*

Mount Shasta Spring Water Company feels we have desecrated the US flag and believes that the leaders of our country made the “decision to liberate Iraq”* in order to safeguard our country from foreign attack and to protect our freedoms. For this I extend an apology to all the peoples of the planet, the worldwide over. While others are oppressed, I am not free and when others pay for our way of life, our freedoms are meaningless.

Mount Shasta Spring Water Company serves Northern California and Southern Oregon.

Just to keep things even, you can do your own research at http://www.mtshastaspringwater.com/index.html . (I hear their info/order link is up and running again.) Or by calling 800/922-6227, 530/246-8800.

Please join us in spreading the word about Mount Shasta Spring Water Company and their arbitrary discriminatory policy.

*(Letter from Bill Ellis, October 19, 2005)