THURSDAY, JULY 6, 2006

THURSDAY, JULY 6, 2006

Our View

Signing out

First of all, there aren’t many signs in Rappahannock County. Rappahannock residents like it that way - the less the better. Many of the signs that do exist are elaborately crafted signs that welcome visitors to sprawling farms or a fancy bed and breakfast. And there are state planted directional signs and speed limit signs. But the few signs that do exist have suffered of late. Stealing signs was in vogue several months ago and all those owners took it very personally when their beloved signs turned up missing. Many of them were eventually recovered but not without vexing county deputies and distraught residents. Not content with theft, signs then became the victims of vandalism. Most notably was the long awaited sign greeting people to the village of Flint Hill. When it originally made its appearance, it had meticulously crafted letters that stood out. They are no more and the Stellar work of an Eagle Scout project orchestrated by Dorian Matthews was dashed. The latest abuse on signs came this past Monday as the local Democrats prepared to do what lots of folks do on July 4th - have a picnic. But as they arrived, they were greeted with the damage that had been done to their simple sign announcing the event. It had been defaced. Sprayed over with bright red paint. Fortunately, although their spirits were temporarily dampened, they had their picnic anyway. Making it illegal to bum the American flag missed out by a vote recently in Congress. Civil liberties need to be protected and free speech is one of them. That’s what this defacing was all about supposedly - somebody’s idea of freedom. On a day when we celebrate this country’s glorious birth, isn’t it a shame that our liberties have come so far as to include mean spiritedness.