Vandals Paint Region As Racist
Someone knows who vandalized a homemade “Vote Obama” sign and turned it into a shameful reminder that bigots walk among us.
Abingdon attorney Chris Johnson and his 8-year-old stepson made the sign about three weeks ago and placed it so it was visible to motorists along U.S. Highway 19 and Briarwood Lane. Overnight Thursday, someone spray painted “KKK” and “kill” on the sign.
An effort aimed at teaching a child about democracy has been twisted into something that frightened him and blackened the eye of this region. Father and stepson saw the damage when Johnson was driving the boy to school Friday morning.
It has grabbed the attention of Washington County Sheriff Fred Newman, who is investigating and has called the Secret Service office in Roanoke.
“A good deterrent is to obviously locate the individual and charge him and let him know this won’t be tolerated,” Newman said.
Johnson called the vandalism “disgusting” and “a real shame.”
He’s right.
Obama officially began his campaign for president in Bristol, Va. Vandalism like this unfairly paints the region with its racist stereotype. Most area residents do not feel this way and do not sympathize with those who do. So turn in the person or people who did this. If you saw anything suspicious in that area or heard someone brag about the vandalism, call the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at (276) 676-6000. A reward could be offered in this case.
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Reader Reactions
First to Farmer and Nuff said - A reasonable exchange of thoughts that I enjoyed reading.
My whole problem with this story or non story starts with the title - Vandals Paint Region As Racist.
Are we also a region of sex offenders? Drunk drivers? Murderers? These are all crimes that happen more often than this KKK B/S. There is no logic in the BHC slant on this. We are NOT a region of racists and if folks perceive us as such, that is their ignorance, not ours.
The bigger picture here is the tactic that if you don’t support Obama, you are racist.
God forbid we judge a man on his record and character. Race has been pushed on us by this campaign. Ask Hillary. I dare say, if Obama was not black, would we even be talking about him? I think not. That is a shame my friends.
Farmer—I already pointed out your words to you, you are becoming redunant, I ‘refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person’. The same to commonsense who appears to have none-of course my heart aches for this child, because it doesnt’ matter the cause—the dismay, fear, sadness he feels isn’t as real as any other child’s? It isn’t important?? It is to him, what lesson on freedom has he learned? Hopefully he is young enough to forgive and forget this. But I also agree with Carl, there are more important crimes that need investigating. But this child, and every child, should know that his feelings are important, that they are safe, that this is not right but is not reflective of all in this area and more than likely was not a personal attack but just an act of juvenile ‘showing off’. Which doesn’t make it right, nonetheless. Now, I am done, this is nuff said.
Tax dollars spent investigating this.
Police wasting time on this while crack and pills kill our children.
nuff said,
I need to “lighten up?“ Not really. I never got upset with you. I simply asked you to point to the words that I wrote leading you to say the things you did earlier. (I apparently said some people don’t have the right to live? In which message did I say that.) Since you haven’t/won’t explain that, can I assume you never saw anything like that from me? You never really offended me. You simply implied that I said things which I never did. Actually you’ve said very little about what I actually said, and that’s fine too. Are you friends with dadw5boys? You two would probably get along well.
Johnson never should have indoctrinated his 8 yr old step son into a political situation he doesn’t have the capacity to understand. Now, it’s time for him to be a father and explain it to him factually what happened.
Welcome to fatherhood. Many 8 yr olds have much more traumatic experiences than this- don’t let your heart bleed too much “‘Nuff Said”???
Geez Louise Farmer, lighten up! I said I didn’t mean to offend you, it seems easily done, sorry! I believe that I read what you wrote correctly. Sorry to hit a nerve. And to commonsense, I don’t know how to print coupons on line, where do I go to do that? Never knew it could be done. But now that I do, I would like to learn how. Thanks for the info. Let’s not forget the main point here though, the child who will always remember this incident.
To nuff said,
Now you’re implying that I don’t think ignorant people should be allowed to have children. As I said to you earlier, please point to my words where I stated that. You cannot!! My point is now, just as in my first posting on this topic, ignorant people exist among us. They always have and they always will. I just don’t think we need to get bent out of shape over this sign painting incident. Please tell me you didn’t think people needed to see this sign to know about the fools among us. Oh, before you ask, my definition of a fool includes anyone who’d do what is shown in this article. I trust you’d agree, but who knows? Now, I’m sure you’ll read more into this posting than was written, so I look forward to seeing what I may have hinted at. I know, somewhere in here I bet I implied that I wanted all dumb people sent off to a deserted island, right?? Keep reading and writing, nuff said. Try concentrating on what others actually say, and not what you want to read.
& BTW-
Fred Newman does an exemplary job as Sheriff of washington County. If you have a problem with his Department, I suggest you call him or make an appointment to meet with him rather than trash him on these pages.
TO; Nuff Said;
Of course you can print cupons online- for free too.
You said ignorant people are those not willing to learn?
Why don’t you learn to print the coupons online, lest you be ignorant…?
It’s not difficult.
Meanwhile, if you go to a public place where people read and discard the Sunday paper (they leave the coupons lying there), you’ll save even another tree over the course of your lifetime- If you live long enough—you’ll save one tree for me too…
To Farmer: “When ignorant people (attempt to) raise children, what’s the most likely result? I think you see it with this whole issue.“ What would the alternative be for ignorant people not to raise children: not to have them. Perhaps a leap on my part, no intention to offend. I really don’t know your definition of ignorant or who is worthy. And my definition of ignorant is people who are unknowing because they don’t want to learn. I also got notification of another reply that I don’t see posted here, don’t know whose it is but they stated that “You read the paper online to save trees??? then, buy the sunday paper for the coupons?....not saving many trees now, are you?? Rediculous!“ To whoever that is I say simply, buying one paper is better than buying seven. If everyone would recycle that would help to save trees. And if I could print, on-line, only the coupons I use I wouldn’t buy the paper at all. Of course, if the companies would reduce the price without coupons that would be even better. But I have to make every penny count so yes, I use coupons.
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