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Signs of the times

| August 17, 2006 11:00 PM

On Saturday night, August 12th, dozens of signs opposing the Milhous Kootenai Condo development were systematically destroyed. These signs were posted on private properties along Sunburst Drive in Ferndale. Many signs were addressed to the Lake County Commissioners. Their destruction represents a direct attempt to deny citizens the constitutional guarantees of "freedom of speech" and the right to address the Government for a redress of grievances.

Apparently there are those who, on their own accord, chose to deny these rights to local citizenry at the same time that American troops are fighting and dying in Iraq in an attempt to establish these rights for Iraqis.

The posting of personal opinion on private property for public view is an act of courage, the destruction of which, under cover of darkness, is not simply vandalism but an act of cowardice. We don't need to look to the Middle East to find recurrent fascism. It is alive and well in Ferndale.

In the1970s, on Commerce Ave. in Bigfork across from the school was a small sign in a front yard. It was in red letters on a white background and read simply, "A man's dogma is his best friend."

When the civic right to express your opinion is trampled on by misanthropic hooligans, it is necessary to stand up, defend and reaffirm this right. MORE SIGNS!!!!!

Denny Kellogg