April 17, 2008
| Political Signs Gone Amok |
| To the editor: |
| Ah, spring in Virginia-daffodils, forsythia, red buds, cherry blossoms and green sprouting up everywhere. I look forward to this time of year with all the beautiful colors of nature coming back to life after the winter months. |
| I was driving along Crestview Drive in Herndon this morning taking in the spring beauty when all of the sudden my enjoyment was assaulted by a wall of political candidate signs, an ugly sea of graffiti along the edge of our nice neighborhood park. I turned onto Herndon Parkway, my senses recovering from that bombardment of litter by again taking in the beauty of the pretty spring colors around me. Then a couple of miles later, I rounded the bend and came upon Sugarland Run Park. My vision again was attacked with another wall of ugly political candidate signs. |
| Why is this happening, I asked myself? What purpose are all these signs serving? One candidate puts a sign up on public property, so the next candidate thinks he or she needs to. And if candidate A and B are putting them up, then certainly candidate C doesn't want to be left out. Before you know it, every candidate running for office has added his or her sign to the mix. |
| Does anyone ever decide who to vote for by seeing a mishmash of candidate names mentioned on signs clumped together? I'm sure they don't. People make their decisions on who to vote for by reading newspapers, going to candidates' Web sites to research their stance on issues or attending events where they meet the candidate face-to-face to hear what they have to say. |
| If individuals want to show their support for a candidate by displaying signs on their own property, that is their right of self-expression. But, candidates using public property as advertising space for their candidacy amounts to nothing more than graffiti. We don't allow the local car repair shop or grocery store to advertise at our public parks. Political candidates should not be allowed to either. |
| OngKar Khalsa |
| Herndon |
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Call The Observer at 703-437-5886 or e-mail the editor.
Call The Observer at 703-437-5886 or e-mail the editor.