The 'shame' that will leave an indelible mark

I had my opportunity this week to present my 'PR in the News'. It's an individual assignment in our PR major class where we had the chance to choose a news topic or an issue that happened recently or in the last couple of years. The important thing we have to consider is whether the news topic or issue has a public relations angle to it.

I chose my topic few weeks ago and it's about the opposition of area residents in the rural municipality of Springfield to the proposed group home by New Directions. It's a topic of interest especially that it concerns a wide range of audiences and deals with the very humanity of the people involved.

I won't be discussing the public relations aspect of this issue now but I will be talking more about it at a later time. I just want to focus on the message sent across during a peaceful demonstration by 100 protesters in front of the Dugald Community Centre.

The protesters held placards to show their disgust to the council's decision that showed the council's vote of 6-0. But one placard stood out and encapsulates what some people think about Springfield.

"Shame on Springfield" is what the placard says. The whole issue on the two men with developmental challenges who are slated to move into the bungalow house will most likely have to wait. After seeing this placard,  I told myself that this is one matter that many people won't easily forget.

The message implies the area residents' and the council's collective decision to not allow New Directions to operate a group home along Glen Aspen Drive in the rural municipality of Springfield.
Many residents feared that the group home will be inhabited by sex offenders who have mental issues. For the others, they feel that if they would allow the group home to operate in their neighbourhood, it would be detrimental to their property values, as the supposedly group home will  cause the properties to depreciate in value.

It's surprising to think that these area residents had made their own conclusions-- I don't  blame them for doing so but they have 'edited' out the possibility of accommodating these types of people.

The placard sign "Shame on Springfield" is something not to be proud of especially by its own residents but photos of these demonstrators will forever be in the virtual world of the internet. In this case, the words will be hard to edit--a three-word message that area residents will either admit or edit it out in their minds. The placard bearing this message  may only be written with a Sharpie marker but it will forever be made available on the internet, leaving an indelible mark.