Letter: There are better ways to react to ‘disturbing” sign

Published 1:30 am Saturday, March 12, 2022

Editor,

I have never written a letter like this, but after what I saw today, I am compelled to write. (Plagiarized, sorry!) Todd Adams wrote about an unfriendly neighbor with a disturbing new sign that says, “I have firearms and a tractor.” It takes courage to write and defend our own values, so kudos to him for speaking up. I completely understand the feeling of revulsion and sadness that sign could create.

I also have family with a kind of sick sense of humor who would think that is funny, but would never hurt a flea, so the sign could be interpreted in different ways. However, Mr. Adams also seems to have taken the bait and felt threatened and angry. Then he responded in kind, calling the neighbor a “pathetic little human being” and saying “hope he moves to Idaho or Alaska.” (Still America! Still our problem!)

We have big problems even here, on our beautiful little island, but I am afraid that response won’t solve them. I know I am probably naive, (or have the problem-solving mind of an elementary school teacher), but a better response might be posting your own sign or sending a note to your neighbor – “I have cookies and horse treats! Can I bring them over and get to know y’all better?” (Or, “I have wine and cheese – come on over!” Beer and pizza??…You get the drift.)

Again, I do understand. It’s riskier and there may be some psychic pain and a huge amount of courage involved in opening up to neighbors you don’t agree with, but it might yield better results. I am trying to think of ways to deal with life that are a little better, or more fun, than what many of us have been doing lately, because the way of taking offense and hitting back is not working. So, good luck, and here’s to peaceful problem-solving.

Camille Hartley

Freeland