Trading Integrity For A Sign

To the Editor:

I guess this letter should be titled “Sign of the Times.”

I live on the corner of Blackman and Tunnell Road and have noticed political signs in and around Newtown, and even in my neighborhood. I think that it’s great for people to show support for their favorite candidate. I wish more people would get involved in this very important election.

With that in mind, and only two weeks left in the campaign, I decided to put a small GORE/LIEBERMAN sign on my lawn, something I have never done in the 23 years I have lived here. I put it in the ground late Sunday afternoon and to my shock it only lasted there a few hours.

Sunday night at around 10 pm, I heard a car pull up far into my driveway. From the window I could see that the car lights were out. I heard a car door open and then slam shut. Before I could get to my back door the car sped away. In the morning, I could see that the sign had been stolen.

My first reaction was to wonder who would sneak around in the dark on a Sunday night, trespass on my property, and steal something that didn’t belong to them. But the more serious question is about tolerance. Do we live in a town where you can’t express your political preference without your property being violated? Is this the only way that the opposing side thinks they can win? I guess that politics really is nasty business.

I would like to say to the person who did this, I can always get another sign, but how are you going to get your integrity back?

Sincerely,

Jane Cottingham

16 Blackman Road, Newtown                                      October 25, 2000