Letter to the editor: Boycott Sunoco for ethics breach

As a child, I was taught the “sticks and stones” slogan. As I grew, I was taught about freedom of speech. Now that I’m old, I realize that it seems either rule applies only sometimes.

If Sunoco did not own the billboard on which gas station owner John Placek displayed his messages, it had no right to influence his livelihood by cutting off supplies for his business (“Sunoco cuts ties with Armstrong County gas station over ‘offensive’ billboard,”). I don’t know what racial slur he displayed, but it doesn’t matter. His freedom of speech should have allowed him to do it. If it was objectionable, the business community or some official should have insisted it be removed. Even complaints from his customers would, no doubt, have encouraged him to remove it.

I am not saying racial slurs are OK or should be tolerated.

I hope others will join me in boycotting Sunoco in response to this outrageous breach of business ethics. Our freedoms are slipping away at an alarming rate. We need to make an effort to stop this before it is too late. Let freedom ring and continue and let this man continue to run his business and his billboard as he sees fit. I hope it will be inspirational messages in the future.

On another subject: Kudos to the jury in the Michael Rosfeld case who fulfilled their duty as they saw fit, knowing people would be outraged no matter which way they decided. Isn’t it a shame that they may be targeted for doing what they deemed right?

Eileen Condie

Hempfield