With the presidential election drawing near, more severe actions are arising with McCain and primarily Obama campaign signs. Even in our small community in Durango, the Durango Herald's front page today was of a Obama sign that had been spray painted with a nazi symbol and his name crossed out.
"A large Barack Obama campaign sign erected east of Durango on Monday sparked two immediate, racist reactions.
The first occurred Monday morning, as Jeff Widen, a La Plata County Democratic Party volunteer, was installing the 8-foot by 4-foot sign near County Road 222 and U.S. Highway 160.
On Tuesday, Jeff Widen, a volunteer with the La Plata County Democrats, looks at a Barack Obama campaign sign he put up the previous day near U.S. Highway 160 and County Road 222 east of Durango. It was vandalized overnight.
"A car drove by and (someone) yelled out the window 'No (racial epithet)!'" Widen said in a phone interview Tuesday. "I stopped, and I said, 'Did I hear what I think I just heard, in Durango, in 2008?' And yes, I did. I was shocked and, frankly, very saddened."
The second occurred sometime Monday night, when vandals used spray paint to draw a swastika on the sign and cover its lettering.
"I was angry and sad that something like this would happen in Durango, because we all want to believe it's a little fantasy land," Jill Somrak said of waking up and seeing the defaced sign the next morning.
Mrs. Somrak and her husband, Mike Somrak, asked to have the sign supporting the Democratic Party presidential candidate placed in their yard, where it would be highly visible to passing motorists.
Disheartened by the negative reactions, Mrs. Somrak said she thought, "'Come on guys, respect my opinion and I'll respect yours,'" she said in a phone interview Tuesday."
The portion that was taken from this specific article "Rasiscm saddens Residants," Really made me open my eyes to the racism that still does take place in this country. Although we have moved forward signifigantly in past or old ways of thinking, our thought to be educated and accepting community still shows signs and parallels with the past. I think it is a terrible shame and honestly an arrogant nieve way of thinking.
