This article appeared in The Huff Post. We were just wondering about Salida’s reaction, were the sign in question, to have appeared on Hwy 291, or 50 near town? More info can be found …everywhere on the web, such as here.
GJ signage affront?
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4 responses to “GJ signage affront?”
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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) – The emotion–stirring President Obama billboard on I–70B stood over the highway for its last day Friday. The sign was taken down after causing national outrage since it was put up Monday.
Those who know the owner of the billboard say he and his wife were receiving violent threats. Meanwhile, the person who commissioned the artist and the use of the billboard is still anonymous. Those who know the owner say their friend decided to take the heated President Obama cartoon down after a flood of harassing calls.
“He got a lot of calls out of his place of business that he said he was fine with. When things got out of hand and people started calling his wife, that’s when he decided to go ahead and take it down,” says Blake Brueggeman, owner of Integrity Auto Repair. Brueggeman leases property from the billboard owner.
The sign’s artist says it’s meant to convey a message. It showed President Obama as a terrorist, gangster, Mexican bandito and a homosexual. “It’s got a lot of symbolism in it, in that all of those characters are issues being mishandled by presidency,” says creator of the sign, artist Paul Snover.
Some consider the work political satire. “Lighten up people. Have a sense of humor,” says Brueggeman.
“We had cartoons of George W. Bush with gorillas,” says Jamie Lee Smith, who is angered that the sign was taken down.
Others are enraged at what they say is hate and disrespect. “Where do you draw the line? It just causes hatred and racism if you ask me,” says Cory Caldwell, who is offended by the billboard.
Regardless of the emotions conjured by the cartoon, the anger has now shifted to First Amendment rights. “It is sad that people have to go so low as to threaten somebody’s life because they don’t like a sign,” says Dennis Patton, who stopped by the sign to see that it had actually been taken down.
“Political correctness is a suppression of free speech,” says Brueggeman.
Some argue that the image was not appropriate for public display. “If it offends people, you do have a certain obligation to take it down because little kids see that,” says Crystal Kitzman, who says she thought the sign was lewd.
“The billboard is an expression or statement. I don’t think it’s intended to be hateful. It’s intended to get across a message,” says Snover.
GJ Result, the Tea Party in Grand Junction, has been accused of commissioning the sign. The group denies this, but says they do support the right for it to be there. GJ Result is holding a rally Saturday afternoon at the old Mesa County Court House over the sign situation. A leader of the group tells 11 News that he is outraged that someone’s First Amendment rights have been trampled on.
For what it’s worth..
Marshall
For what it’s worth, I like cartoons, political or otherwise. I say Speedy Gonzalez and Slowpoke Rodriguez for President! What I don’t like is slanderous advertising with no accountability. You are not “trampling on someone’s First Amendment rights” if there is no “someone” in the equation. If the spineless backer of this billboard came out and said “this is who I am and this is what I believe”, then great! Go for it! This message was funded by a political organization or person who stands to gain by defacing Obama, but obviously stands to lose if people knew how they really feel. You can’t have it both ways. Get behind your beliefs or get off the porch!
Don’t be so offended people , its just a billboard . God forbid if we don’t all agree with the same things or people . The problem with the hardcore on either side of the aisle is that they are too closed minded to be able to see any good in the other side or have a sense of humor if someone is cracking on their side .
And while I am at it , I’m getting tired of hearing that a n—-r should not be in charge or a muslim should not be in charge or that all of the problems were caused by George Bush . Come on people , use some common sense , use that brain of yours and quit making excuses and blaming all of our problems on the other side .
A sad commentary on the level that some people have stooped to in all our political parties. Yes, the First Amendment allows this, and that’s fine, but as my parents taught me, “not everything belongs at the dinner table for conversation”. Taking that a step further, just because you can think what you want and write what you want doesn’t mean it is wise to foist your ill-founded opinions in people’s faces.
All this kind of crude invective does is unveil the lack of intelligence and logic in the person who devised and paid for the artist to create it. At some point, that person, organization or group will be unveiled and hopefully, this unwarranted attack will evaporate in light of its lack of credibility.
Next time – if you want to criticize someone, spend a little time thinking before just opening your mouth and inserting your foot. Maye a few more people will listen to your arguments then.