Dog Days

A week or so ago, I reported on a story that an anti-Bush person had kicked a dog at a Fourth of July parade in Edina, MN.

The story was picked up on Free Republic, so I got a zillion hits that day. A few commenters claimed it was a "Republican Lie".

Not so.

This letter appeared in the Edina Sun last week:

To the editor:

This year the Edina July 4th parade was perfect as usual. It really gives the community the opportunity to express our love of the country, reflect on our blessings and, if we choose, get involved in the political process of our democracy. If nothing else, it is good to see our democracy freely expressed. That is what the Fourth of July parade is all about.

But apparently this was not the case for some. Just before the Edina Fourth of July Parade started, I, as a volunteer for the Bush/Cheney 2004 campaign and an Edina resident, was passing out Bush/Cheney stickers accompanied by my loyal golden retriever, Maddie, who was sporting a Bush/Cheney poster on her. I approached a 50-ish couple sitting on the sidelines and asked if they would like a Bush sticker. The woman, without hesitation, kicked my dog and said, “Get him out of there. Get him out of the White House!”

I was so surprised by her actions. I couldn’t believe what I had just seen, so I had to ask her, “Did you just kick my dog?” The woman responded, “Yes, I did, and get him out of the White House!” As I walked away, because I really didn’t know what to do, I had another woman approach me and say, “I just saw what that woman did and I am sitting next to her. Please give me 10 of those stickers so I can give them to everyone sitting around me.”

Now I know this is a presidential election year, but mean and nasty public expression is unacceptable, particularly at a July 4th parade. This anger and bitterness toward President Bush is really unwarranted and least of all should not be taken out on my dog. Maybe they should have stayed home.

Samantha ******

Edina

Enough to make me wish I had a dog.

A very sturdy one.

Posted by Mitch at July 19, 2004 06:00 AM | TrackBack