"BUSH MUST GO" Lawn Sign Sparks Free Speech Debate In Town

[matcom]

<snip>

Ronald Kienhuis wanted to incite his Great Neck neighbors and passersby when he placed a sign in his front lawn about a week ago.

"BUSH MUST GO!" proclaimed the sign, which Kienhuis purchased recently at an upstate Ithaca bookstore. "Dump emperor George W," read the punch line he wrote underneath.

And incite others he did.

First, one neighbor told Kienhuis that someone complained about his sign to the Village of Great Neck. A code inspector showed up. Shortly after, a "notice of violation" arrived from the village ordering him to take the sign down - although the village backed out of its warning yesterday.

Someone also left Kienhuis an anonymous letter asking him to put the sign away. Finally, the sign disappeared over the Fourth of July weekend.

Kienhuis got some cardboard and a marker and made another sign. It's on his lawn again.

"When I put the sign up, I thought in the back of my mind that it would be either defaced or stolen, because there is underlying polarization on this issue, but I was surprised" with the village's warning, said Kienhuis, 54, in Great Neck for more than 40 years.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lisign073883541jul07,0,4495627.story?coll=ny-topstories-headlines

[underpants]

1. Anonymous letter huh?

Sounds like the trifling b***h* in our friends neighborhood who reported their THREE dogs to the county. Nothing better to do than tell people what to do with their land.

* That word IS appropriate in this instance.

[GOPisEvil]

2. I guess only Bushbots get to have free speech.

Good for you Mr. Kienhuis!

[geniph]

3. "Anti-Bush rhetoric will make it more difficult

for your neighbors to sell their houses"? and "decreases property value"? Wonder if they'd feel the same way about jingoistic displays of flags and yellow ribbons around a "Support Our Troops" sign? I'd be inclined to test that theory. If they only complain about ANTI-Bush signs, then there's definitely a double standard at work and his right to free expression on his own property is being suppressed.

[trogdor]

4. My reply.

Gee, I sure wouldn't want to hamper your ability to deprive Long Island of your continued presence, but on the other hand, there is a larger issue at stake here. Hmmm. As much as I'd love to see you U-Hauling it out of my life forever, I think I'd rather continue doing my bit to ensure George W. Bush gets a one-way ticket to Crawford, TX (or wherever) this fall.

Have a nice day.

[geniph]

6. That's brilliant!

if only the letter-writer hadn't been anonymous, he could send it to him. Maybe the paper could post it for him, with the title, And Don't Let The Door Hit You In The Ass On The Way Out.

[jukes]

5. i live in fundieville

there's always HUGE signs before each election. AFTER the 2002 primary, when bob barr got his ass handed to him by another puke because of redistricting, i stole a 5'X4' barr sign, & posted it in my front yard w/ a large, red, handpainted "oh, too bad...." notation on it.

@ xmas, when every1 else had their lights up, i posted a large blue w/white snowflakes planned parenthood sign, "give choice a chance..." sign w/ a flood light 'luming it.


my neighbors no longer invite me to the block pigroast @ easter.