A business owner in Slide has replaced a sign that was causing a stir in the small community, but as of Wednesday morning, has replaced it with a new political message.
“I think that the dialogue is important. I feel free to talk to anybody about anything. I think that only through good conversation can we actually change the world,” said Mark Lee, owner of the Slide Plant Market.
The sign that Lee has up now reads:
“You can beat the hell out of my mailbox but you can’t beat truth out of Hillary.”
He brought the original sign down after the mailbox outside of the business was hit with what he believes was a baseball bat. Also in response to the original sign, Lee received heated backlash from the community as well as a death threat.
“I have not yet received any responses to it [the new sign], but I’m sure that it will get some attention. Especially since the fact that people are out here tearing things up a little bit. I’ve always thought someone was going to shoot my sign or something like that, but if they do, then I’ll put up another one.”
While Lee’s new message has its time in the community, there’s another sign just down the road from the nursery also trying to prove a point of its own.
The sign outside the Heart of Worship church in Slide reads “God Forgives” on side, and “‘Love’ God’s 4 Letter Word!” on the other.
“For several days we said nothing, and then one day I was at home and just though we need to at least let the community know we’re aware and let the community know how we feel in a positive way,” said Michael Welch, the pastor of the Heart of Worship church.
Welch, says that while he may not agree with the language Lee uses on his signs, that he still wants to show support toward his neighbor and his business.
“You might not agree with somebody’s political view or might not agree with somebody in how they talk, but we gotta respect one another and we gotta love one anther and support one another.”
Lee says he will continue to use the sign as a platform to express his political views, and plans to change out its message “several times” between now and come November.
