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Not sure what to do with this...
Mountains
Veteran
Here's the situation: I live out in the country. My house shares a common driveway off the main road with three other households. One of the four of us is (literally) a hermit whom nobody ever sees or talks to, by his choice. The other three households have always been on best of terms, and we all share - or at least have up to this point - similar viewpoints on most things. I *know* they share mine and our other neighbors' political viewpoints, as we often trade Facebook posts, emails, etc on political topics.
In every election cycle in the past ten years since I've lived there, we've obtained and put up campaign signs along the road. Every single one. The neighbors closest to the road have always been supportive, and have in the past even procured the signs.
So with the general election approaching, I procured four yard signs for the four big candidates in our area and put them up in the same spot we've always put signs up before. A day later I noticed they were gone. When I got home, I had a terse email from the neighbor near the road saying "We removed the signs on the road as we do not want political signs in front of the house. We will leave them in front of the garage tomorrow if you want to come by to pick them up."
I wasn't sure how to respond, so I didn't for about two weeks (I've learned!). Frankly, it made me a little upset, since as I said in my eventual reply, "Since we've had signs out there for previous elections I figured it wouldn't be a problem. Can I know why you don't want political signs out there this time??
The answer I got was, "The concern with political signs at the end of the driveway is risk of vandalism or other retaliation from individuals opposed to the promoted candidates. Our house is most closely associated with those signs and is at greatest risk. Since the effect of roadside political signs is likely to be very small in this location, the risk of property damage outweighed their benefit.
For example, with the amount of hunting traffic on the road, the chance of some Obama-hating gun nut taking shots in our direction is too great to have signs inviting that behavior out there. Based on conversations I’ve had, and overheard, this is not a far-fetched concern in today’s political climate."
I was utterly stumped and angered. On several levels this really gets under my skin. First, my free speech rights are trumped by his fear? Second, is there any evidence that *any* of this kind of "gun nut" violence or vandalism *at all* (answer: none whatsoever). Third, I know I'm not going to change any hard right winger's vote with the signs. That's not the point (and he knows that).
My reply was "I'm very disappointed. I'll come get the signs and put them elsewhere."
I guess what gets me the most is how sad I feel for people who choose to live in such abject fear, especially fear of our neighbors. We're in a rural, mostly conservative area. That has *never*, not even once, to my knowledge ever caused even the slightest bit of friction between anyone in the area. We have wonderful neighbors even if we don't necessarily agree on every topic. Just like neighbors everywhere. By choosing to submit to their own unjustified fears, they've said (in so many words) that they don't trust the people who live around them. I guess I just can't live like that.
I haven't decided where to put the signs, but I *will* be putting them up in plain view someplace not too far from our respective houses.
I know this is all ego stuff (don't even bother with those replies please).
In every election cycle in the past ten years since I've lived there, we've obtained and put up campaign signs along the road. Every single one. The neighbors closest to the road have always been supportive, and have in the past even procured the signs.
So with the general election approaching, I procured four yard signs for the four big candidates in our area and put them up in the same spot we've always put signs up before. A day later I noticed they were gone. When I got home, I had a terse email from the neighbor near the road saying "We removed the signs on the road as we do not want political signs in front of the house. We will leave them in front of the garage tomorrow if you want to come by to pick them up."
I wasn't sure how to respond, so I didn't for about two weeks (I've learned!). Frankly, it made me a little upset, since as I said in my eventual reply, "Since we've had signs out there for previous elections I figured it wouldn't be a problem. Can I know why you don't want political signs out there this time??
The answer I got was, "The concern with political signs at the end of the driveway is risk of vandalism or other retaliation from individuals opposed to the promoted candidates. Our house is most closely associated with those signs and is at greatest risk. Since the effect of roadside political signs is likely to be very small in this location, the risk of property damage outweighed their benefit.
For example, with the amount of hunting traffic on the road, the chance of some Obama-hating gun nut taking shots in our direction is too great to have signs inviting that behavior out there. Based on conversations I’ve had, and overheard, this is not a far-fetched concern in today’s political climate."
I was utterly stumped and angered. On several levels this really gets under my skin. First, my free speech rights are trumped by his fear? Second, is there any evidence that *any* of this kind of "gun nut" violence or vandalism *at all* (answer: none whatsoever). Third, I know I'm not going to change any hard right winger's vote with the signs. That's not the point (and he knows that).
My reply was "I'm very disappointed. I'll come get the signs and put them elsewhere."
I guess what gets me the most is how sad I feel for people who choose to live in such abject fear, especially fear of our neighbors. We're in a rural, mostly conservative area. That has *never*, not even once, to my knowledge ever caused even the slightest bit of friction between anyone in the area. We have wonderful neighbors even if we don't necessarily agree on every topic. Just like neighbors everywhere. By choosing to submit to their own unjustified fears, they've said (in so many words) that they don't trust the people who live around them. I guess I just can't live like that.
I haven't decided where to put the signs, but I *will* be putting them up in plain view someplace not too far from our respective houses.
I know this is all ego stuff (don't even bother with those replies please).
0
Comments
One question -- did you put the signs on your property?
Then don't get upset about your neighbors. They were polite enough to let you know why they did this and didn't just take them and dump the signs somewhere.
They better not have dumped the signs. I paid for them!
It may not make sense, for this to happen all the sudden, but just look at it from that angle, that way you can remain cordial with that neighbor instead of being angry at them for being fearful.
Why don't you put them on your own property? That would show who you support.
Today's climate is not like the past. There are angry, violent people with a political cause out there that the news is happy to tell us about. If the signs where you put them can be mistaken for belonging to your neighbor, then don't they have a valid complaint?
I'm curious about you neighbor's phrase, "...or other retaliation." Maybe they do really fear a stray bullet (like, a .22 aimed at the sign).
It is all ego garbage and they are all psychopaths. (Has what I just typed transcended ignorance? Not at all hehehe those are just my beliefs)
You should watch this movie.. my neighbor recommended it to me.
It is called The Shock Doctrine.
My great uncle is portrayed all throughout the movie and he really doesn't come off in a good light.
I won't say who he is as that is also extremely embarassing.
In any case, this would be a good opportunity to practice compassion for the neighbor, and non-attachment to posting your political allegiance in public view.
Is there anything at all to be gained by having a political sign posted? I understand for smaller elections it actually IS a free way of advertising, but at the presidential level? I find it hard to believe it makes any difference at all...
All I know is that when I go back home and see all of those Pro-Romney signs, I make a mental note not to be too touchy-feely with my girlfriend (like holding hands or whatever) just because I really am concerned about physical retaliation. Am I being paranoid? Maybe, maybe not. I sure wouldn't be the first gay hate crime... But that is the only difference I can think of that a political sign has ever made in my life.
Given that the space has been peaceably used for sign-posting in the past, it's fair to ask why there's been a change in one neighbor's view, especially since it's not an issue of competing signage--there's nothing about neighbor A posting a sign that prevents neighbor B from posting a contrasting sign (in fact, that would be the most honorable way of handling it, imho). But it doesn't seem neighbor B really has a strong opinion; rather, he's trying to prevent neighbor A from airing his. That's a little hard to justify without further explanation.
i get it that everyone has there own opinion and thats cool,
but in any situation as we look at it with our refuge in the dharma
we can see every time, that peace will always be the best way ,
dont let others fears get you down, but let us respect that people are still attached
to there fears and let us not help thoes fears grow let us be the catalist for a greater
peace
namaste to all
Coz