Right to political expression fundamental, says Cupps
October 7, 2020
Sheila Harris
A resident of rural Cassville reported seeing a Biden campaign sign - an anomaly in the area - near Hilltop south of Cassville on her way home one evening. When she passed by the next morning, it was gone. She expressed the concern that maybe someone had stolen private property, because they may have considered its slogan unpopular.
Upon questioning, I learned of other disappearing Biden signs and was able to track down the identity of one of the people who had placed some of them: Cassville attorney, Donald Cupps.
When asked if he was not brave putting up a Biden sign when it appears that Trump is more popular in this area, Cupps responded, “A person shouldn’t have to be considered brave for expressing a political opinion in the United States; we don’t live in a third-world country where we should have to worry about threats of harm for espousing differing political opinions.
“I support Vice-President Biden and because there were no Biden signs in town, I bought five of them and placed them on my property and the property of others who had given me permission,” he said. “I put up one of my signs Saturday afternoon and it was stolen that night. Since then, I’ve been removing the remaining four signs every night myself and replacing them every morning. Yes, it’s a little work, but it allows me to exercise my right to express my opinion.
“I don’t understand the animosity some people hold toward those whose opinions differ from theirs,” he continued. “People are saying ‘my rights, my rights’ like a drum-roll these days, but often those same people feel threatened by those who have a different political opinion, to the point of stealing a campaign sign. They don’t understand that by stealing that sign, they’re violating someone else’s rights.
“What I think would really help,” he said, “is if people would turn off the 24-hour news on television and the internet and sit down and talk to each other, get to know each other. That’s the only way problems are solved. Our country is dependent on civility and when we can no longer discuss ideas with each other respectfully, even when our opinions vary, we are in trouble."
Cupps said he has received varied reactions from passers-by when they see him putting up his Biden signs.
“Yes, I have gotten a few obscene gestures,” he said, “but other people honk with a thumbs-up or stop and ask me where they can get a sign for themselves.”
A resident of rural Cassville reported seeing a Biden campaign sign - an anomaly in the area - near Hilltop south of Cassville on her way home one evening. When she passed by the next morning, it was gone. She expressed the concern that maybe someone had stolen private property, because they may have considered its slogan unpopular.
Upon questioning, I learned of other disappearing Biden signs and was able to track down the identity of one of the people who had placed some of them: Cassville attorney, Donald Cupps.
When asked if he was not brave putting up a Biden sign when it appears that Trump is more popular in this area, Cupps responded, “A person shouldn’t have to be considered brave for expressing a political opinion in the United States; we don’t live in a third-world country where we should have to worry about threats of harm for espousing differing political opinions.
“I support Vice-President Biden and because there were no Biden signs in town, I bought five of them and placed them on my property and the property of others who had given me permission,” he said. “I put up one of my signs Saturday afternoon and it was stolen that night. Since then, I’ve been removing the remaining four signs every night myself and replacing them every morning. Yes, it’s a little work, but it allows me to exercise my right to express my opinion.
“I don’t understand the animosity some people hold toward those whose opinions differ from theirs,” he continued. “People are saying ‘my rights, my rights’ like a drum-roll these days, but often those same people feel threatened by those who have a different political opinion, to the point of stealing a campaign sign. They don’t understand that by stealing that sign, they’re violating someone else’s rights.
“What I think would really help,” he said, “is if people would turn off the 24-hour news on television and the internet and sit down and talk to each other, get to know each other. That’s the only way problems are solved. Our country is dependent on civility and when we can no longer discuss ideas with each other respectfully, even when our opinions vary, we are in trouble."
Cupps said he has received varied reactions from passers-by when they see him putting up his Biden signs.
“Yes, I have gotten a few obscene gestures,” he said, “but other people honk with a thumbs-up or stop and ask me where they can get a sign for themselves.”