Bill Coleman
Scandia Area ReporterIn this a year of a presidential election, political debate and a demonstration of support for a candidate is anything but uncommon.
Itís estimated that Minnesota alone has over 5 million political signs punctured in the ground.
In Scandia, a few neighbors are having fun with their right to express themselves. However, area vandals donít seem to understand the concept.
Scandia resident Charlie Rasmussen, 63, a U.S. Navy veteran and self-employed fire safety educator, had some extra lumber lying around so he built an outhouse in his front yard ìa house for the Johnísî as heíll gladly explain, representing what he believes is the only ìWhite Houseî presidential candidate John Kerry and running mate John Edwards deserve.
Rasmussenís Olinda Trail neighbor to the north just a short distance from TH-97, the Glewwe family, feels differently.
Earlier this summer they erected a large sign with the likeness of George Bush, circled in red and then crossed out. The sign says, ìSave America, NO MORE Bush.î
The two neighbors donít know each other very well. They hold very different ideas of who should run the country, the county and the state legislature.
However, they do agree on one thing: the right of expression, to support a candidate and not be attacked while doing so.
ìThe day after we put our sign up it was knocked down,î said David Glewwe.
Glewwe describes himself as not a Kerry supporter but strictly anti-Bush.
His wife Jodie is definitely in the Kerry camp, he said.
ìIf there was a green-Jello mold running for president I would vote for it before Iíd vote for Bush,î David Glewwe explained.
The Glewwe sign, his house and his garage has been attacked a total of six times so far by vandals, one time with purple paint balls, all of which have been reported to the Washington County Sheriffís office, the family said.
ìThey keep knocking it down and I keep fixing it,î David said. ìIf [these vandals] showed up on our doorstep Iíd be open to a political discussion. I would like that. Charlie [Rasmussen] next door doesnít agree with our sign, but he respects our right to free speech and responded in kind. I respect that.î
Rasmussenís toilet, however, has escaped the political season unscathed.
ìI figured it would last a couple of days, tops, before someone would come by and fill it with something,î Rasmussen said.
ìIíve had lots of visitors approach the door and tell me they liked it, and some that said they didnít, but thatís OK. Thatís what itís all about. I just hope it makes people think a little bit about who they do want to run the country and show up and vote.î
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