It was arson, which doesn’t surprise me
The Grand View Topless Coffee Shop in Vassalboro, Maine put smiles on the faces of its 18-and-over crowd. Despite there having been no open threats made, some conservative Christian members of the 4,500-strong town were in the wrong kind of heat over the titillating blend of coffee, donuts and topless baristas, but that’s no cause to burn the place to the ground. Now owner Donald Crabtree is considering his options while employees like Krista Macentyre and 12 others wonder whether they’ll need to rely on credit cards and payday loans during their period of unemployment.
Jason Kessler and Laurie Segall report for CNN that Stephen McCausland, a spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety, has called the Grand View Topless Coffee Shop fire a case of arson. “Evidence has been taken to the state police crime for lab analysis,” he said.
Too darn hot for you?
Arson? It is unclear at this time whether the authorities have any suspects in the blaze, but if it was in fact a member or members of the conservative religious community, then they behaved in a manner offensive to whatever faith they profess to hold. Not only did the arsonist destroy property, but they (intentionally or otherwise) endangered the lives of owner Donald Crabtree, his two daughters, their boyfriends and two four-month-old babies how were living in attached dwellings. The Grand View Coffee Shop used to be a hotel before remodeling.
Truly, it could have been someone else who was responsible. A former business partner with a vendetta against the owner. A garden variety arsonist who chose the structure just so they could see something burn. Or perhaps a jealous husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend who didn’t like their significant other enjoying an eyeful of nature’s bounty with their morning coffee.
But if members of a religious group (listening, conservative Christian right-wing Republicans?) had anything to do with this, then they must own up to their crime. They must try to get hold of their infantile behavior patterns before they hurt anyone else. But most importantly, they must face justice. By justice, I mean the law of the only land in which you’re ever going to live. You are subject to the laws of man. There is no law that supersedes that, whether you claim it’s from a carpenter, Little Miss Muffet or Lord Voldemort.
“A total loss”
Vassalboro Fire Chief Eric Rowe says that the Grand View Coffee Shop arson flames were “severe” and that the building was a “total loss.” As it was the home of Crabtree, his daughters, their boyfriends and his two infant grandchildren, the first forced them to relocate to a nearby motel.
Crabtree has said he did not have insurance for the Grand View Coffee Shop. If he has to, he is willing to reopen the business in a temporary trailer in the parking lot, but he’ll likely need the help of credit cards and a payday loan or two along the way. However, the Kennebec Journal Morning Sentinel reports that Vassalboro Code Enforcement Officer Paul Mitnik has yet to rule on whether Crabtree’s permit will allow him to set up in that way. Whatever the case, Crabtree is determined to rebuild.
“This is home to a lot of people,” he said.
Employees are “in shock”
“I really liked it here,” waitress Krista Macentyre said when she learned that arson was the cause of the destruction of her place of employment. “We weren’t hurting anyone. I don’t know why someone would do something like this.”
“I’m friggin’ speechless. I’m just shocked,” she said. “I just bought a car. This is what I had to do (for work). I loved it; it’s the best job I’ve had in my life.”
And the Grand View Coffee Shop was popular. “People would come from out of state, everywhere,” said Macentyre, 28. According to Crabtree, the shop was “doing brisk business. It’s just been crowds mobbing in. This place was made to put smiles on people’s faces.”
But perhaps Krista Macentyre puts it best when it comes to what’s wrong with this picture, particularly during this stormy economy: “Every worker was just trying to take care of themselves and make a living — just trying to live like everybody else.”
Remove the blindfold
Will the Grand View Coffee Shop get off the ground again? Will Krista Macentyre and her fellow employees have the jobs they so desperately need to put food on the table? Will Vassalboro, Maine and the (likely – you heard it here!) conservative Christians responsible ever be able to live down what has happened? Will the guilty party pay their debt to society? Will people accept that their bodies are beautiful and stop being afraid of their own sexuality? Once you accept those things, you begin to beat back religious repression and take hold of your humanity. Life’s a grand view; don’t spend it blindfolded.
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Of COURSE it was arson. When you get down to it, at least in this country, people have a terrible problem with nudity – it could harm the family, or whatever other stupid reason they concoct, but they don’t have a problem with violence. Oh yeah, in the 19th century, you couldn’t show a woman’s ankles, but it WAS OK to go around shooting people! It’s quite honestly the dumbest basis for a mindset I’ve heard of, but then again…public schools.
Would you stop already with the ‘White Christian Republican’ label you put on everything. You are otherwise an intelligent and articulate writer.
Just because we Christians may not approve of certain things does not mean we condone violence. There are usually peaceful ways of improving the world (neighborhoods, cities, states, etc)
Only a few ‘crazies’ would burn, kill, or otherwise destroy in any way that is unlawful. Just because some lunatic may quote a Scripture and take it out of context does not make them Christian (follower of Christ). Therefore….There is NO WAY a ‘Christian’ did this appalling deed. Throughout history people have done horrendous things in the name of religion. Have no fear, they will account for each of them someday. Enough of that.
It deeply saddens this White Christian Republican that this family’s livelihood was destroyed. It angers me that their home was destroyed and they were placed in danger. I ‘pray’ for justice for whoever did such a thing. You can bet money there was no love of God or Jesus in their hearts whoever it was.