Who’s stealing the Obama signs in Scarborough?

Editor:

   A couple of weeks ago I noticed a large number of McCain/Palin signs around Scarborough and not too many Obama/Biden signs. Interesting, I thought to myself and then I began to get worried and then angry when more McCain/Palin signs appeared and still no Obama/Biden signs. Where were my fellow Democrats? Why weren’t the Obama supporters in town being proactive? Well, I thought, I’ll have to do something. I have to admit as a single mom who works full time it sure would have been easier to take down the McCain signs. How would I find the time to drive into Portland, find the Obama campaign headquarters and buy some signs (they aren’t free) and put them up. As a strong supporter of the Democratic party I knew I had to do the right thing, adhere to the right to free speech, we as Americans have, leave the McCain signs up, and put my beliefs into action. I would get some signs and put them up along with those ‘other’ signs. 

   I felt good being proactive, supporting my candidates. I even had someone stop their car at the intersection of Black Point Road and Rte. 77 to thank me while I put a sign up. I put two others up, one at the Mobil Station and one at the Amatos at Oak Hill. My daughter was excited see the signs I put up for the candidate she has heard me talk about and has learned about in school, to see the power of American democracy in action.

    Then a few days later she called to tell me the sign was missing from Black Point Road and Route 77. She thought I should go look in the tall grasses and bushes around there. I did, the sign was nowhere to be seen. Then later that day I noticed the sign at the Mobil station was gone. Two of the three Obama/Biden signs had disappeared within a few days of me putting them up. Was that why there were practically no Obama signs in our town? Is that why there still are practically no Obama signs in Scarborough? 

    What happened to our right to free speech? My right to free speech? Sadly I can come to only one conclusion, someone is removing Obama signs from Scarborough.

If you have taken these signs down you really should be ashamed of yourself, returning them would be the right thing to do, anonymously apologizing in public would be the right thing to do. I suspect that isn’t going to happen. So I ask you not to remove anymore signs. Everyone has the right to put up signs supporting a candidate, an amendment or ballot choice they believe. 

    Someone has taken time out of their busy day to get, pay for and put up these signs. You don’t have the right to remove them.

Annie Agger

Scarborough

Pick name that reflects the town

Editor:

   I am responding to the letter “Names do matter Nov.4.”  What is Red Storm?  Red Storm is the name used for the sports teams of St. John’s University located in New York. What connection does St. John’s have with Scarborough? What was wrong with the Redskins name and why was it so very important to change it years ago? Ask some of Scarborough’s top school officials who came up with the name Red Storm and I bet that will answer as to why it is so unimportant, not a priority, and waste of time now to change!!!  If voters do decide it should be changed back to the Redskins or a different name should be chosen, Scarborough residents should choose the name, not an outsider. Granted there are many other serious issues on the ballot this year but please think about it and vote yes on Question No. 1. Whether it be Redskins or another name, pick a name that reflects Scarborough, Maine and the great school system we do have.

Elizabeth F. Bartlett

Scarborough 

Sign disappearance discouraging

Editor:

My 10-year-old is very interested in the upcoming election and begged to put an Obama sign in our yard even though putting up political signs is not something we usually do. After locating the Obama campaign office in Portland and obtaining a sign, he proudly placed it in our yard. Four days later, we woke up and were discouraged to find the sign removed from our lawn. Whatever the motivation behind removing the sign – be it a supporter of the other candidate or simply vandalism – it seems to represent a lack of respect for others and for the ideals of our country. In this election season, let’s try to remember (and teach our children) about the values and ideals that make this country worth fighting for, such as respect for other people’s property and respect for the right of others to exercise freedom of speech.

Elizabeth Campbell

Scarborough