I read a story today about a topless coffee shop in Maine that was burned to the ground Wednesday. Authorities said it was obvious that this was arson. I had read other stories before about people that were very unhappy about this particular establishment’s existence.
Reading this story reminded me of a discussion that we have quite regularly in my shop (and if I’ve written about this before, I apologize. I had written a letter to the editor about it a couple of years ago, but I don’t remember writing about it here).
The discussion always surfaces because someone comes in to replace a sticker or a magnet that has been defaced on their personal property. One story that sticks in my mind involves a lady who placed a rainbow ribbon magnet on her car (a symbol of gay pride). Someone who thought it was their right to vandalize her property tore this magnet into little pieces and placed each little piece back on her car. This happened to this woman at least 3 times, and each time she replaced the ribbon. It is well within her rights to have this ribbon on her vehicle, but what makes a person think it’s alright to vandalize it?
I sell a lot of different stickers, and some are not “kid friendly”, but honestly, it’s not the stickers with the “f” word, or the ones that I would think would be vandalized that are torn off. Complaints and replacement stickers always seem to revolve around religion or politics. I sell one sticker that says “worry about your OWN damn family”, and I have a customer that has had to replace this sticker repeatedly. She not only has to replace it because she likes it, but because each time it is vandalized it causes more damage to the vehicle.
I have another customer that has had his democratic stickers scraped and ruined, an act that had to have taken some time and effort. I also sell several replacements for simple pentacle stickers. One lady resorted to putting hers in the center of the back window of her pickup, because she travels with her dog and the dog keeps people from peeling the sticker off.
I know that many people don’t have stickers on their cars, I don’t have any on mine. I also don’t own a topless coffee shop. Regardless of your opinion on stickers on cars, how do people justify vandalism in the name of morality or political or religious opinion?
Why do the people feel it’s ok to stoop to such levels, and have you ever had someone vandalize a more “mainstream” icon on your vehicle or personal property?
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Let's have a new poll, alright, Joe?
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{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
I think it’s a sad thing when people vandalize property or stifle free speech. As frustrated as I can get at the ignorance of some people’s thinking, it is still their right to express their opinions. As it is our right to respond and express ours as well.
Vandalism is a sad thing for people who want to exert control over other people. And it’s outright wrong.
The moral advocates who vandalize other’s in an effort to suppress the argument’s or to promote their own views are outright hypocrites.
Great topic Alice.
This type of behavior obviously happens by people with extremely low self esteem and low self worth and all we can do is take comfort in Karma and the fact that what goes around will eventually come back around.
I don’t get it.
I would think that the vandels would do this because they STRONGLY disagree, thing is… why don’t they have some guts and put an opposing viewpoint sticker on their OWN vehicle?
Because those stickers and such get vandalized, too. This is a two-way problem, folks.
Back earlier this decade when the Sugar and Spice store (it sold sex toys and rented porn movies) was open downtown it got vandalized several times. They also received a lot of death threat phone calls. Most that could be tracked (mostly the phone calls) were found to have been done by people who turned out to be extremely religious and belonging to a certain dominant religion around here.
The people who vandalize in the name of morality are no different than the ones who kill abortion doctors in the name of religion. The strange thing is that I’ve heard a lot of people say they think it’s justified. Scary.
I’ve never met anyone that thought either were justified when the topic is brought up, and I happen to be an active member of my congregation. Something to think on.
There are extremes both directions. I’m getting kinda tired of everyone pinning everything on religious people. Granted there are some religious nutcases out there, but there are nutcases the other way to.
Reference post #5. What evidence do you have and how would you know that the “death threath phone calls could be tracked (mostly the phone calls) were found to have been done by people who turned out to be extremely religious and belonging to a certain dominant religion around here’” Are you a detective.
nice Bomb. Don’t be a hater.
April, Dr. Tiller’s alleged murderer is a religious fanatic. I don’t care if you’re tired of hearing it or not, it doesn’t change the fact.
I think the point was there are nutjobs from every walk of life. As for your point Guest, you’re absolutely right as well. Just look at the thousands of years of fighting in the middle east and all over the world all in the name of religion. But I’ll stop there so I don’t wind up breaking the site rules by discussing this topic.
In the words of George Bush Sr as spoken by Dana Carvey… Vandalism is Baaad, Baaaad.
Ive had a pro gun sticker torn off and also an anerican flag one stolen. Its not just religous people, ever heard of the evironmental terrorists?
Ever hear of kids with a lot of time on their hands? The world may not be as sinister as we think it is.
Guest 3636 – agreed he’s a nutjob, absolute psycho. I wasn’t talking about that case alone. Just saying that it’ goes both ways and people bring up that point very seldom.
PS That doctor was one of 3 late term abortion doctors. While in general I don’t agree with that I do conceed that sometimes there are very good reasons for it aka baby or mom are going to die anyways. We do need these doctors available for these cases. (and this coming from someone that is relgious *gasp*)
Re: post #8
What evidence do I have? For one thing I’ve read some of the police reports. One of them was a devout mormon who worked at the INL. He wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed though and he made his death threats from his work phone and the INL security helped the police quickly track him down. Does saying the truth make me a hater?
I never suggested all mormons were that way so you may want to get off your defensive high horse.
Any way, back to the article, I dont think that any one can call it justice defacing or removing a bumper sticker. A personal problem with ones self. Everyone has a right to thier own opinion(freedom of speech) the right to bear arms. As parents is is are responsibility to teach own children our version of what is right or wrong. These children will grow up to be adults walking by a car with a rainbow bumper sticker on it and just giving a little chuckle and shaking thier head. Not keeping hate inside of them, and thinking it is OK to vandlize or even touch someone else property. I have seen the injustice even in my family.But simple fact vandlism is a crime and is against the law, no matter who you are! Dont like it, express your opinion in a health way bye a bumper sticker. The shaddow domain has some great ones.
Great to see you Wallfaery! I think you’ll enjoy this site, and hope to see you here more often.