My Neighbor
Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 7:40 pm
Ralph, My neighbor is a "lefty" of sorts (Obama bumper stickers, gung-ho socialized medicine,
"guns should be banned", etc.). So last week I put this sign up in my yard after one of
his anti-gun rants at a neighborhood cocktail party. The sign wasn't up more
than an hour before he called the police and wanted them to make me take down
the sign. Fortunately, the officer politely informed him that it was not their job to take
such action without a court order and that he had to file a complaint "downtown" first, which
would be reviewed by the city attorney to see if it violated any city, county, or state
ordinances, which if there was a violation a court order would be sent to the offending
party (me) to "remove the sign in seven days".
After several weeks he was informed that the sign was legal (by a quarter of an inch) and there
was nothing the city could do, which obviously made him madder. I tried to smooth things over
by inviting him to go shooting with me and my friends at the hunt club but that seemed to make him even more
angry. I then asked him if he wanted to go to a Tea Party rally but again he declined my outreach efforts to bring
about a better understanding between political and social opponents.
I am at a loss how to reconcile our long relationship (notice I did not say friendship), any suggestions would be
welcome.
Anyway, that's life in our neck of the woods, how's about yours?
"guns should be banned", etc.). So last week I put this sign up in my yard after one of
his anti-gun rants at a neighborhood cocktail party. The sign wasn't up more
than an hour before he called the police and wanted them to make me take down
the sign. Fortunately, the officer politely informed him that it was not their job to take
such action without a court order and that he had to file a complaint "downtown" first, which
would be reviewed by the city attorney to see if it violated any city, county, or state
ordinances, which if there was a violation a court order would be sent to the offending
party (me) to "remove the sign in seven days".
After several weeks he was informed that the sign was legal (by a quarter of an inch) and there
was nothing the city could do, which obviously made him madder. I tried to smooth things over
by inviting him to go shooting with me and my friends at the hunt club but that seemed to make him even more
angry. I then asked him if he wanted to go to a Tea Party rally but again he declined my outreach efforts to bring
about a better understanding between political and social opponents.
I am at a loss how to reconcile our long relationship (notice I did not say friendship), any suggestions would be
welcome.
Anyway, that's life in our neck of the woods, how's about yours?
Very good Lock