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BILLBOARDS
Patriotic
Response
Selfless Acts Series
A
number of questions have been posed to PDN with regard
to countering a growing trend in the United States:
The use of billboards (another for of print media) by
well funded Anti-Bush, Anti-Military and
Anti-Everything groups. News media has a fascination
with billboards and everything "Anti" in our
country while labeling folks like us
"Pro-War". Pretty simple isn't it. If
you're not with the Anti crowd, you must be the Pro
bunch. Well, now you have a chance to set the record
straight as we look at Billboards and another in our
series of Selfless Acts by ordinary people who do
extraordinary things for patriotism in our great
land. We look first, to the Anti-war movement.
Enter Stage Left:
The billboard phenomenon has been exploited by dissidents
for some time. A reporter, back in the 60's asked John
Lennon about the British singer's billboard campaign.
Didn't he think the $72,000 he has spent on anti-war
billboards could better have been used to help
starving war victims, especially children?
"There are two things you can
do about cancer -- you can try to cure it or try to
prevent it. We're trying to prevent war. Besides, I'm
not sure we're going to pay for the billboards and
everything." Lennon said he planned to send the
bill for his ads and posters to U.S. President Richard
Nixon. How very typical of people who want to shift
the responsibility for their causes on the shoulders
of someone else.
Enter stage
Right: A diverse group of
patriotic individuals from the greater Louisville,
Kentucky area banded together and began a movement
that is spreading across America. It's not a wildfire
yet, but it's growing and glowing with a burning
desire to show support for our president and our
troops.
The first billboard with this
message was unveiled in February in Louisville on
Interstate 65 South, near Jacob Street. It was the
first of its kind in the country, which organizers
knew would spark similar campaigns nationwide. Last
week in Texas, more billboards made their debut.
Leading the bipartisan effort is Ted
Jackson, a partner in The Commonwealth Group, a
governmental affairs firm, and owner of English
Emprise, a marketing company. More than 65 individuals
paid a maximum of 100 dollars each to pay for the
billboard in Louisville, including business owners,
attorneys, doctors and even a celebrity radio
personality. Jackson says he organized the effort in
response to nearly 30 billboards in Louisville bought
by Peaceroots.org promoting “peace is patriotic,”
in addition to protests in Washington, DC and locally.
The Peaceroots billboard is the one pictured in our
story above.
PDN Salutes these
selfless patriots who made the first sign possible.
Victor
Agruso, John and Pam Anson, Ed and Moe Anson, Mike
Anson, Robert Artner, Larry Benz, Jean Bird, John
Bohn, Dr. Britt Brockman, David Calhoun, Terry Carmack,
Jim Cox, Scott Cox, Don Compton, Corky Coryell, Mike
Cullen, Ted Duerr, Barbara Dutschke, Willoughby Goin,
Bob Gunnell, Wayne Gunnell, Rowe and Alice Hamilton,
Bill Hardy, Tim Hatfield, Tim Helson, Gerald Heuke,
Ted Jackson, Chip Jaworski, Mike and Jill Jones, Paul
Karem, JP Kerns, Larry King, Suzi Lazzari, Byron Leet,
Larry Lewis, Dennis Lindsey, Jim Lindsey, Patrick
McMinn, Tim Meagher, Terry Meiners, Steve Milby, Bill
Minor, Tad Myre, Tim Mulloy, Mark Mulloy, William P.
Mulloy Sr., Larry O’Bryan, James Patterson, Eric
Phelps, Mike Phelps, Steve Pitt, Steve Poe, John Pool,
Mark Pulliam, Tim Quinkert, Bill Receveur, Joseph
Reilly, Martin Rockwell, Arthur Rouse, Bill and Ruth
Sandbach, Matt Schwartz, Merrill Schell, Brien Shea,
James Smith, Renee Smith, Eric Stumler, Irvin Stumler,
Ed Thoben, Daniel Thompson, Homer VanFleet, Jeff
Vonderheide, Mitch Wagner, Kent Westbury, Leslie
Westbury, Hunter Wilson.
For more details or interviews, you can call Ted
Jackson at (502) 499-8978.
Click on this billboard to obtain one for your
community!
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with your suggestions or to volunteer.
