Common Decency is Less Common

I have lived in the Glen Cove neighborhood for many years. I have experienced the Key Peninsula as a wonderful, tolerant, family-oriented community with good civic-minded, hard-working residents. It has two wonderful state parks that people from all over the region come to visit. The peninsula has always been somewhat of a refuge from the worry and problems of the world at large and I tend to breathe a sigh of relief when returning home from my travels.

Recently though, I was stopped at the Purdy light that serves as the main entry to the peninsula. I looked over into the parking lot which serves the 76 station and Massimo restaurant. Some people had set up a business selling banners, t-shirts, flags, etc. The language on the banners and other merchandise was full of hate and obscenities. The f-word in 8-inch letters fluttering on flags and banners. I looked down the street — a school bus full of young children was going to pass this business not 10 feet away. My heart sank.

Is this what passes for acceptable now? I can’t be the only one who thinks it is not. Our children and community deserve better.

Tom Pfeifle, Glen Cove