E-mail targets store

Once again, Good’s Store policy not to sell flags stirs up an Internet frenzy.

Sunday News

Oct 04, 2009 00:18 EST

By JON RUTTER, Staff Writer

Kenneth Burkholder is perplexed.

His business, Good's Store Inc., is one of hundreds of Amish and Mennonite stores that do not sell American flags.

Nobody's singling out the other places.

But Good's is under fire. Again.

The sender of a recent mass e-mailing claimed that a young, unnamed Good's sales clerk "wrinkled her nose" in disdain when quizzed about flag sales.

"We don't sell those here," the clerk supposedly said, "and we never will."

It's true that flags aren't in the Good's inventory, said Burkholder, the company president. The families that own the stores are Anabaptists, who view the banner primarily as a symbol of military might.

But, he said, it's false to imply that this faith group, which includes Amish and Mennonites, is anti-American.

Nor could Good's find proof that the supposed testy exchange with an employee ever took place, Burkholder added.

"We researched it. That was my main concern," Burkholder emphasized, that the company not appear arrogant.

Burkholder acknowledged that the flag "means a lot of different things to different people."

Good's does not condemn people for buying flags, he said. The company pays its taxes, respects differing viewpoints and supports the community.

He said he and his employees are grateful to live in a country that tolerates religious freedom.

But he's still puzzled by the periodic contention over the flag policy.

Anabaptists have embraced nonviolence and distanced themselves from the military, and from iconography, since the 1500s, Burkholder pointed out.

"It's not like we came up with something new here."

Black and white, red and blue
Good's Store in downtown Quarryville was placid last week.

Potted mums set off the sturdy brick and masonry storefront.

Light traffic proceeded steadily in and out of the parking lot, where a digital sign advertised wood pellets.

Inside, customers shopped among racks of clothing, household items and hardware. A short line had formed at the cashiers' station.

The mysterious e-mailer may or may not have been about.

"We don't know the source" of the message or what triggered it this time, Burkholder said.

But the tune was familiar, right down to the urged boycott.

Just like they did eight years ago, after the terrorist attacks, some customers complained and vowed to shop elsewhere.

But others have jumped to support Good's, which also has stores in East Earl, Ephrata and Schaefferstown, Lebanon County.

Detractors say the business operates on American soil and benefits from the sacrifices of American troops, and so should salute their emblem.

"Cowards and hypocrites!" charged one critic on TalkBack, the Lancaster Newspapers Inc. online forum. "They are so quick to condemn the U.S.A. and the military."

Defenders argue that the store has a right to choose its own merchandise precisely because this is a free land.

"There are lots of people who would sell you a flag who would also be tax cheats, sell you inferior goods, try to charge you unfairly, etc.," wrote "Maffimuk." "With whom would you rather do business? An honest man who's trying to live by his faith, or someone who will do anything for a buck?"

Greg Kerek Sr. took a philosophical view of the debate.

The 70-year-old Lancaster man is well-known for completing the past 25 Red Rose Runs while carrying a large American flag on a pole.

He's also a National Guard veteran who described himself as "very up on the military."

As to Good's ban on flag sales, he added, "I don't like that mindset at all."

Conversely, he said he'd protect the rights of any "dyed-in-the-wool pacifist."

Steve Johnson, who runs Circa Antiques and posts on TalkBack as "Citydweller," said the flare-up over Good's raised some interesting questions.

"It opens up a discussion that can go all over the place," he said. "Is our flag a symbol of our national unity ... or is it a military symbol?"

You could write an essay on the topic, Johnson said.

Burkholder said the brouhaha is not going to affect the store's Amish and Mennonite customers.

Nor is it going to compel the 51-year-old business to start stocking American flags.

All the same, he added, he would prefer that people just stop talking — and writing — about what's for sale at Good's.

"We've been through this a number of years."

 

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Jon Rutter is a staff writer for the Sunday News. His e-mail address is jrutter@lnpnews.com.