There’s an uncommon sight on Seward Street these days: a bra shop with cajones. The owners of Bustin’ Out Boutique have put out a sandwich board with a placard that reads “Fight Fascism. Shop Local.”
I love that, but the connection between the two imperatives isn’t immediately evident. Sure, there are obvious economic benefits to Juneau from patronizing small local businesses instead of some faceless corporate or online behemoth, but how does shopping local help fight fascism?
I believe there’s a human message at the heart of that economic benefit. When we spend our money at any of the small, locally owned shops here in town, whether it be Rainy Day Books or Hearthside Books, Juneau Natural or Rainbow Foods, Bustin’ Out Boutique or Juneau Greens, that’s kind of a gift.
Since we are free to spend our money wherever we want, when we buy groceries at, say, Rainbow Foods, we’re implicitly saying to the owner, “I really love that we have a shop like this here in Juneau. Your shop is important to me, and I want to spend my money here to make sure that the shop continues to exist.” So, too, when we buy our greens at a shop like, say, Juneau Greens, or books at Hearthside instead of Amazon, our money is a very human gesture to the shop’s owners, a compliment, a blessing.
So, too, is the imperative to “Fight Fascism.” It carries that blessing back to us. When I see that sign bustin’ out in front of Bustin’ Out Boutique, that’s a human gesture that tells me that the shop owners value my existence as well, just as much as I value theirs. It says, “we’re happy that you are spending your money to support us, and we want patrons like you to continue to exist and to thrive, whatever your skin color, religion, ethnicity, or politics. So, we’re going to join the battle to ensure your well-being, your civil liberties, your freedom.”
America can sometimes seem like a hard place to develop the sense of community necessary for solidarity. Maybe because of our isolation, Juneau seems different. Solidarity seems possible here. Shopping local is part of that struggle for solidarity. I believe that we can muster the courage to fight the depredations of the current administration. But only if we stand together. If not, we’re screwed.
• Jane Hale is a longtime resident of Juneau.
