TURNER, Maine — Overnight on Thursday someone stole a 10-foot papier-mache Statue of Liberty from the corner of Routes 4 and 117 and left a note on the ground:
“I guess Christians aren’t moral after all.”
It was, Carolyn Viger believes, retribution gone awry.
For almost two weeks the Lady Liberty had stood next to a large, plywood “No on Question 1” sign near the Calvary Baptist Church. The thieves, Viger believes, blame her for repeatedly taking down nearby “Yes on Question 1” signs.
But she says she didn’t do it.
“I would have thought they would have taken the ‘no’ sign before they would have taken her,” Viger said Friday morning. “We want her back. Give us our Liberty.”
The art piece, a rabbit-wire frame covered in papier-mache by volunteers at the Turner Village Church, made its town debut several years ago during the Fourth of July parade. It had been stored in someone’s kitchen since.
Carolyn’s husband, Wayne Viger, a local volunteer for Protect Marriage Maine, had been setting the statue out each morning and taking it home each night after getting permission from Calvary. On Thursday evening, he didn’t have time to get out there.
“When my husband got up this morning, he had this sick feeling in his stomach,” Viger said. When he drove out to check at 6:15 a.m., it was gone. Thieves took the statue and the 10-foot two-by-four to which it was tethered. They left the note beside a newspaper article about it being illegal to steal campaign signs.
“Yet they took our Statue of Liberty and threw one of our signs over the bank,” Viger said. “The hypocrites who did this are doing much more.”
Viger had seen the “Yes on Question 1” signs pop up along that stretch of Route 4 only to be quickly taken down and new signs planted in their place, but she wasn’t part of it, she said.
“They’re getting the wrong idea,” she said. “I would know better than to touch somebody’s sign.”
State Trooper Eric Paquette is investigating. He wasn’t optimistic about Liberty’s intact return.
“If we happen to see it, we will take possession of it,” he said. “Needless to say, we’re not calling out the National Guard to do a search for it.”
“I can’t imagine that she hasn’t been totally destroyed,” Viger said. “We’re hoping to get her back. We just want her back.”
There had been no word on another high-profile theft in town Monday of Turner’s Bicentennial Bell.
“Give us our liberty,” she says as she campaigns to deny other people their liberty.
“The hypocrites who did this are doing much more”
I love irony.
Yes, I guess I was missing what Lady Liberty was doing in front of a bunch of “No on 1” signs. Where is the “liberty” in that?
I wonder if, in the years to come, these “No on 1” people will look back at their views like the people of today look back with regret on their views about inter-racial marriage in 1967 when it finally became legal in all 50 states.
This crowd just does not seem to “get it” and still cannot differentiate between civil and religious marriage.
There just a sad crazy couple from turner maine. Why are we giving them a article in the paper.
Right, they have views different from mine. We need to suppress them!
The left once again bullies to those that have a viewpoint that differs!!
As someone who grew up gay in Maine, I know ALL about bullying. I was on the receiving end of it and it didn’t come from “the left!”
More tolerance from the Committee to make gay marriage, lesbian marriage,bisexual marriage, transexual marriage, and questioning marriage the law of the land in Maine.
Actually we don’t know this do we. It could just as easily be someone who is opposed to SSM simply trying to make supporters look bad. I’ll wait until they find the culpret before making my mind up. I see from your comment that you are extremely tolerant of others.
It is unlikely that the statue was removed by an anti gay marriage supporter wanting to make pro gay marriage supporters look bad. Do you think that it is “just as likely” that those who have stolen the yes on 1 signs are actually pro gay marriage supporters trying to make anti gay marriage supporters look bad? I bet you don’t. You are entitled to keep an open mind. That would include not jumping to the conclusion that one who does not support the radical redefinition of marriage is intolerant of others.
The fact that these folks immediately called every news outlet they could find certainly makes it look suspicious.
.
Unless whoever put up any stolen Yes on 1 signs has been calling press conferences and whining incessantly about it, then no – it is not even close to equivalent.
Weak. You can do better.
I see you have no logical rebuttal. Thanks for confirming the strength of my theory!
I’m obiously keeping an open mind. I said I’ll wait til the find the culpret before making my mind up. I suggest the possibility of an anit-SSM culpret simply because everyone is automatically accusing a pro-SMM person. I didn’t say it was as likely, I said as easily and there there a difference.
I suspect it is in some teen’s basement, now adorned with a bong and reeking of weed.
That wouldn’t surprise me either;)
Who’s questioning marriage?
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
The pro-gay marriage crowd deserves respect because they are protecting American values. While the the anti-marriage crowd is lost in the 19th century with values more in line with our friends in the middle east .
Your comment makes no sense. The people who took this paper mache statue obviously do not want to tolerate differing opinions. They are thieves who have resorted to bullying these people and accusing them of something which they had no part in. This is America, we have freedom of speech. The Yes on one people are trying to take away the freedoms of Americans. They are bullying people all over the state. Threatening businesses, banging on doors, very loudly and extremely rude. They tell people they will come back until they have spoken with everyone in the house who is old enough to vote. They are losing and they know it. The majority of them have not reached an age of maturity or civility and obviously do not have any respect for the law.
You know what your saying is not true so why say it? No one is being bullied, no business is being threatened nor are they rude or at least the vast majority are not.
The fact of the matter is what not4us said is true. Read the paper watch the news. The people who are preaching tolerance are not very tolerance of others. Many of the supports of SSM are some of the biggest hypocrite I have seen. Vote in what you believe, there is not need for the hate and attacks on the people who have a different view.
I’ll stick to my original statement. You say there is not need for the hate and attacks on the people who have a different view. I agree but that works both ways. I see about an equal number of intolerance on both sides. As far as the business is concerned, whenever ANY business decides to get involved in these types of issue there are consequences. I’d wager you that many of the anti-SSM people who are saying how awful it is not to continue to buy from the orchard are more than willing to agree to the boycott of JC Penny and other companies that have come out in favor of SSM. It does cut both ways.
And JCP also just donated a big hunk of cash to the USO.That didn’t get any publicity like it should’ve.
So if no person is threatened then it is okay to break the law? Stealing is against the law, it also violates the 7th Commandment, “Thou shalt not steal.”
I’ve noticed that 99% of the sign stealing and burning comes from the left- they don’t think the rules apply to them and/or the ends justify the means. So far this week I’ve read about Scott Brown signs stolen, a Romney sign and American flag being burned, and someone stealing bunches of vote no on 1 signs.
Sure it does.Did you just swallow those stories out of whole cloth?Conservatives are the biggest lawbreakers on the planet.
Usually when things are placed along side the road those placing them there intend others to “yahd it off.”
Dooryaaahd
Katherine no one said stealing is fine. You’ve noticed the 99% figure because that is what you want to notice. I’ve seen signs moved as well, from both sides of this issue and the political signs. No side holds an advantage on stupid people within their organization.
99%? Seriously? Watch much Fox News?
I only need to point out the bible thumpers such as the Westboro Baptist Church and the schmuck in some redneck southern state who burned the Koran. Need I mention Matthew Shepherd or any of the countless gays and lesbians attacked, beaten, and killed by these so-called Christians on the right. You are hardly in a position to cast stones.
If they were going to cast stones,it would be right at some poor kid’s head if they thought they could get away with it.
Any comprehensive data besides your anecdotes?
Hyperbole, anyone?
A bit dramatic. This is an emotional issue and while I would never justify the destruction of any property, I think the scale of injustice toward others tilts in favor of the pro-SSM crowd. There is a long history of hate crimes, bigotry, prejudice, and injustice toward gay people. A couple of signs missing here and there is chump change.
I hope you understand that when most people see the religious rhetoric and hear the arguments against gay people, and see signs promoting such bigotry, it is like seeing a sign to elect a person from the KKK or the John Birch Society to public office. It is the antithesis of everything our country stands for, or at least, used to stand for. Do you not see the parallels of other minorities in the history of the USA? Do you not see the dusty old arguments against SSM sounding exactly like the arguments used against inter-racial marriage? Study a bit of history. Watch some of the news reels from that era. And, one of the biggest offenders, the Catholic church, was regularly discriminated against.
SSM will be enacted. It will take a couple of generations but people will look at this like they look at inter-racial marriage or people remarrying after a divorce – ho-hum.
Interesting tidbit in this month’s Down East magazine about how in the 60’s real estate ads
if it said “near churches”that was code for don’t rent or sell to Jews.Sad but not much has changed.
Very sad. I thought most of that was behind us. I was a product of the 1960’s to 1990’s civil rights battles. Then, gay marriage and a black President came along. I thought I was transported back to the 1950’s! The comments I have heard from people I otherwise thought to be sane were just beyond startling.
They don’t seem to correlate their statements with exactly the same statements of decades past. It is as if we have to go through the whole civil rights battles again.
I think, generally, that people are okay with women having the right to vote. That occurred in 1920. So, perhaps in another 90 years or so gay marriage and a minority President might be accepted?
It shouldn’t take that long.I got a call today from PMM.I expected to hear lies but what I heard was shocking.And trust me there’s plenty of old white men who’d like to go back to being a rich white male WASP landowner as a criteria to vote.
Who is taking the Yes on 1 signs from in front of my place then…………………
Stealing the statue (or theft of signs for that matter) is a crime. However, Yes on 1 does not remove any freedoms.
They are not our friends in the Middle East and removing property not your own is stealing. Looks like a beautiful Statue of Liberty.
What has the middle east have to do with this and are you sure it was pro SSM people that took the statute? I’m not.
Yes, it was good looking. Unfortunate that it was stolen, of course. Also, unfortunate that her name was sullied in such a way. It’s like using her as justification for a KKK cross burning. Invoking Freedom’s name to deny freedoms to a minority. Pretty shameful and very un-American.
“…with ‘CERTAIN’ unalienable Rights..” Same-sex marriage is not a CERTAIN right.
are we not all created equal, with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?
You will have to excuse the linear-minded literalists. Unless “talking on a cellphone while driving” is specifically stated in the Constitution, they can’t understand it.
They do not understand that we, as Americans, are entitled to live as we please, EXCEPT as prohibited by law. Right now, SS couple of prohibited from marrying in most states and this is wrong. It was wrong for the ban on inter-racial marriages and it is wrong on SSM. This will be corrected. The USA is a “work in progress.”
“Please tolerate me trying to deny your equal rights! You’re the bigot if you won’t let me discriminate against you!”
You are proof on how intolerant the pro homosexual crowd is. As usual you resort to name calling to shut people down. My kids in high school and college have witness first hand how intolerant the SSM is crowd is during this election. They have said that you dare not disagree with them because you are called names for not supporting SSM. SSM supporters are the new bullies on the block. Aren’t there laws in Maine regarding bullying?
Quit screaming that you’re a victim here, it’s pathetic. I didn’t call you a name, so relax.
La Liberté éclairant le monde took French leave!!
This is right beside Jack DeCoster’s (Christian LOL!) “church of the golden chicken”. Now
I don’t know but……… if you leave something like this on a public way and it looks like it’s trash maybe some kind soul took it to the recycling center or better yet found it a good home. LMFAO! Regardless it was NOT a political sign. One side can’t claim lady liberty for themselves so wahhhhhhhh.
PS I love the line from the State trooper.
“If we happen to see it, we will take possession of it,” he said.
“Needless to say, we’re not calling out the National Guard to do a
search for it.” Good one……….
No actually it is a bad one. Totally unprofessional and I hope that the state trooper who tried to poke fun at a crime is counseled by his supervisor.
I have to agree with you. I’m glad they are not calling out the National Guard, but he doesn’t need to say it.
get a life! Why do gay people offend you? You have bigger issues!
ROMNEY / RYAN 2012 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and the reason the NHL is on hold is because of greedy people like Romney and Ryan.
Obama / Biden 2012, lets get hockey back on line !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. lol
Obama can’t fix our country, you really don’t expect him to fix hockey do you?
It is only those on the Right who delude themselves into thinking that what they did to the country can be fixed by one term in office, when in reality it will take several life times to undo what they’ve done.
Right and he needs more time to figure out why the Ambassador and 3 Americans died?? Obama is the worst thing that ever happened to this country and it’s because The Left thought they had their BOY !! Pat him on the head for good luck and move on!!!!
Better bone up boy on your wing-nut talking points, your three hour tour has put you out of touch with reality. Your minnow has been lost.
Danny one note again (hope you broke the ! key)
Whether the removal of this mock-up was right, wrong or indifferent ….. Lady Liberty tethered to a piece lumber is exactly the conceptional dilemma question “One” brings to light.
Vote yes on 1
First of all, who puts something like that on the roadside and not expect it to get stolen? Even if there wasn’t a sign next to it I’m sure someone would have taken it. Gay people have persecuted and prosecuted for years, the yes side is just mad because we are not lying down and taking it anymore, and they are fooling themselves if they think that the yes crowd are the only ones doing it
Then keep your sex life to yourself. The only segment of society that brags, in your face, about
who they sleep with. That is what we find offensive.
really? You never, ever see PDA from heterosexual couples? I’ve seen plenty, and some who should have gotten a room too. You’ve never heard any heterosexual men or women talk about their sex lives?
Oh my, what a whopper. Sexual conquests are bragged about by way too many heteros.
wtf? i would say heterosexuals brag alot more then gays and lesbians. what world do you live in?
“First of all, what kind of a woman wears provocative clothing and not expects to be raped?”
How many screen names do you have.
call 1-800-waaaaaaa
Lepage probably added it to his stolen art collection. :}
1 point for you, pretty funny.
I purchased 85 “Yes on 1” signs and a number of them have been stolen, with at least one stomped into the ground. I didn’t send out a press release about it, I just quietly replaced the ones I put out with more (i have a stockpile). Personally, I think this might be a stunt by this couple to drum up publicity.
Interesting that they used the symbol of liberty and freedom in their quest to curtail the rights of two tax-paying American citizens who simply want to marry each other, but are not allowed to do so under our current civil laws. Un equal treatment under the law is unconstitutional and removes liberties from American citizens that other American citizens enjoy.
Isn’t it ironic that the same people who are actively trying to deny you equal rights are the first people to scream victim when the tiniest thing happens to them? Saying you shouldn’t be able to visit your sick partner in the hospital or pass on your property to your spouse after death is just a “simple disagreement”, but then when you denounce their activity? They start screaming bloody murder! These aren’t reasonable people.
Anyway to get ahold of you to get some yes signs for my own property?
You probably could get some at your closets Mainers United for Marriage office.
http://www.mainersunited.org/pages/offices
Tyke-You DID mean closest,not closets-right?YES ON ONE!
Auto-correct strikes again!
.
Yes, I meant closest :) Thanks
I believe there is a website called d–nyouautocorrect:)
I took a bunch to the democratic headquarters in Searsport the other day. They should still have some left over. You can click on my name and get to my facebook page where you can leave me a private message about where I can leave a sign for you.
thanks
I drove through Newport the other day and there were 3 yes on 1 signs laying down in the grass. Nobody stole them, but they were layed down.
VERY good point.I didn’t see you get an article in the paper.Conservative salting is the oldest money raising trick in the book.I am a very lucky hetero male and I will be voting YES to give you the rights and happiness I’ve had!
The woman has a right to be upset that someone took her property.
It is also extremely ironic that she wants her liberties while she attempts to deny others theirs.
The most un American thing you can do is try to silence someone’s voice .To me it’s disgusting and it does not matter what side you are on.
Ummm….clue for the Viger’s.
It’s Lady LIBERTY not Lady BIGOTRY.
Yessah
NO on1! NO ON ALL BONDS! VOTING REPUBLICANS RIGHT DOWN THE LINE HERE!
Democrats are for gay marriage! Democrats are immoral! Democrats destroyed our economy! Democrats increased gas and oil prices! Democrats are anti-business! Democrats are anti-American! Democrats love big government!
That is why I am voting the way I described! Change needs to happen!
Thanks for the laugh.
Yessah
Go back to KJ online and PPH.
That’s the problem-there needs to be a way that his, NRS’s and a few other’s comments just don’t show up-with the correct software they wouldn’t display.
Sign, sign everywhere a sign
Blacking out the scenery breaking my mind
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign…
Here is my liberty, I WILL vote NO ! on question # 1.
Question # 1 is all about NO !
I see she has no outrage for the “Yes” signs that have been stolen and replaced with “No” signs.
Maineiac123’s logic would have us believe that it is just as likely that the “Yes” signs were stolen by pro gay marriage rights supporters to discredit anti-gay marriage right supporters.
… only if they called press conferences to announce it like these folks did.
Weak again,Tyke.
I see you have no logical rebuttal again. Thanks for once more confirming the strength of my theory!
Yes, our Yes on 1 Sign was stolen sometime in the last 24 hours. So we replaced it with two more
We know “little buddy” who was poken’ the skipper in the caboose. wink, wink, and it’s ok.
He just happened to be too busy to bring the statue in and then rushed out at 6:15AM to find it gone because he had a “hunch”. They then immediately called every news paper and TV station they could find.
.
How convenient.