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.
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
To nuff said,
When did I say I wanted to decide who lived or not? That’s a little out there, don’t you think? Please point to the words I previously used that made you think I wanted to decide who was “unworthy of living.“ As for who can decide who is ignorant or not, well, we can all decide that for ourselves. It’s not really that difficult. Look around, there are examples everywhere.
I agree with Ben that this was probably a young person just trying to be ‘funny’, with no true intention of causing harm. Young people will sometimes do such things when they are with their ‘friends’. Hopefully they weren’t raised in a home of racist hate. I think if someone knows who did this they should come forward without hoping for a reward. And to Farmer, who gets to decide who is ignorant and unworthy of living? My main concern is for the 8 year old who has seen something he worked hard on and cares about defaced and damaged by someone who had no right to do this. How will this affect his future thinking and feelings? Hopefully he will be told and taught that the actions of one or a few or not reflective of the whole or many.
The article said “a shameful reminder that bigots walk among us.“ Did it take this incident for most of us to know that? Of course there are bigots among us. There always have been and always will be. Whoever did this is clearly an idiot, and are probably laughing at the attention they’re receiving. Maybe I’m adding to their “joy” by writing this. Anyway, let’s not go too far with this. Most of us were aware that uneducated, and ignorant people were among us before this incident happened. What we must do (all we can do actually) is attempt to educate people. The problem comes when the type of people capable of this are involved. Many of them simply refuse to be educated. I anticipate reading here that this type of thing is the fault of our school system. That’s silly. The type of hatred exhibited by this incident is far too strong for our schools to change in most instances. When children as early as 1st grade are talking this kind of stuff, is that the schools’ fault? Hardly. It’s an example of how the children have been raised and what they’ve heard from those who take care of them. Someone said a long time ago—-“Americans have the right to remain ignorant if they so choose.“ When ignorant people (attempt to) raise children, what’s the most likely result? I think you see it with this whole issue.
Over reaction in this case. Racism, ageism and sexism are rampant in this election,yet you focus on only one incident. If this graffiti were placed on a utility box or a building you would not have complained. It happened to deface your Obama sign and it was a grave sin.There will be votes for Obama simply because of his skin color. There will be votes against McCain because of his age. It’s down right shameful but the facts are out there.
Advertisement