Das Is ‘Sin Verguenza’
Below-the-Belt Political Attacks Are Shameless
Language imparts culture. The concept of “shame,” the
cultural sense that morality is based on appearance, image, and reputation, rather
than internal Christian concepts of sin embodied in man-made laws which creates
a “guilt” based culture, is at play in the race for 1st District Supervisor
in Santa Barbara County. Being thought of as sin verguenza, or “without
shame,” is about as low as you can get in Latin American culture. To be shamed
is about the worst thing that can happen in that cultural setting.
Laura Capps is a longtime family and personal friend. I know
her well enough to be able to judge her character, which is exemplary and impeccable.
She is running against the incumbent, Das Williams. The race has centered, in part,
on the regulation, or lack thereof, of marijuana production in Santa Barbara County.
Marijuana is lawful but is the subject of embryonic regulatory schemes to balance
the interests of growers and producers against local residents of communities in
the county.
The question is not whether to permit marijuana farming or to
ban it. The question is how to regulate its farming operations, production, and
taxation. The incumbent has come under substantial press-coverage fire for his leadership
in the creation of a lax system of local regulation. Carpinteria nurseries adjacent
to residential communities and public school facilities have converted from fragrant
flower farms to pungent marijuana farming operations. No one minded having fragrant
flower farms next door. The marijuana odor issues present a different landscape.
