TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

Wild Turkey Tavern sign stirs another ruckus

Jasmina Meyer, Highlands Today

In the past Mike Reark's, the Wild Turkey's owner, messages have criticized gays, lesbians and Sen. Edward Kennedy.

ADVERTISEMENT

By GARY PINNELL

Highlands Today

Published: September 5, 2009

Updated: 09/05/2009 08:51 am

AVON PARK - A sign in front of an Avon Park bar and grill has again drawn both complaints and praise.

"FREE ENTERPIZE THE JEWS FOR OBAMAS OVENS" is posted on the marquee outside the Wild Turkey Tavern.

On Friday morning, a caller complained before the Highlands Today's office opened, and another sent an e-mail and attached a photo of the sign.

"I was in town visiting my parents when I drove past the Wild Turkey sign," said Zane Thomas, a former Sebring resident. "I was aware of the bigotry that exists, but this surprised me... Racism is alive and well in Highlands County."

Mike Reark, the Wild Turkey's owner, didn't view his message as bigoted or racist.

"Our entire lifestyle is under attack by a vicious socialist-leaning organization," Reark said on Friday morning. "They are out to crush almost every freedom that we have."

Free enterprise is one of those freedoms, Reark explained. At first, he likened President Obama to a Nazi, then revised his remarks to explain that his message was a metaphor. The Jews represent the American people, and it is Americans who are going into the Nazi ovens, he said.

Obama is taking over the investigation of terrorists, and he's letting them go, Reark complained. The administration is also investigating the torture of terrorists, and critics are suggesting that CIA officers may be prosecuted if they tortured suspects.

"He's undermining everything," Reark said.

"And by the way, I'm getting nothing but praise on those signs," Reark pointed out.

After Highlands Today asked online readers what they thought, a mix of opinions came in.

"I have never seen a sign at the Wild Turkey that I did not like," said Bob Dillard of Sebring.

"My opinion is that is private property and the owner has the same right as your newspaper to display whatever he wants, regardless of the political theme or offending certain groups," e-mailed Ric Poteat of Sebring. "I am not a bigot, I have no problem with gays, I love and stand by the State of Israel, just also the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights."

Phil Bellerive of Sebring thought Friday's sign was a reflection of the current "toxic political atmosphere in this part of the country."

"People who express a political opinion end up getting bashed," Bellerive said. "Look at the town hall meetings over health insurance reform.There seems to be a combination of arrogant ignorance and what I saw referred to as 'hysterical ninnyism.' A lot of misinformation is being deliberately spoon-fed to segments of the general public.

"They are at time humorous, but normally offensive and bigoted," William Berry of Sebring e-mailed. "However, it is the owner's right to free speech and they should not be silenced.

"That being said, it is my right to choose not to spend my money in that establishment and I have never gone inside their restaurant/bar," Berry said. "I would have to think that the signs both attract and turn people off from visiting there."

After Ted Kennedy died last week, another sign expressed glee, and a later sign suggested a similar fate would be appropriate for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Rahm Emanuel and other Democratic leaders should do the same. Other messages have bashed lesbians.

"The sign regarding Senator Kennedy's passing was, in my opinion, in bad taste," Berry said. "There have been and will be many who serve in government who I have not agreed with, but I think that the average person, a compassionate person, would stop short of celebrating or wishing death upon those with a differing viewpoint."

Ted Watson disagreed: "I love the signs and hope he keeps putting them up. At least until we lose the right to free speech also. Last time I checked the Bible, gay and lesbian lifestyles are an abomination to God."

Even so, Thomas, a former lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy, thinks something should be done about the signs.

"It is an absolutefailure of leadership when these folks can spew venomous racistremarks like this without retribution," Thomas said. "We need community leaders to stand up and lead. Until that happens these people with hatred in their hearts will continue to interpret the silence as acceptance and the hatred will fester just beneath the surface like acanceroustumor until one day all hell breaks lose. When thisday comes,our community leaders - elected, appointed and self-proclaimed - will pull their heads out of the sand and profess to be bewildered that this could happen in their community.

"The key to eliminating prejudice is education and participation," Thomas said. Community leadersshould denounce any form of bigotry, he said.

Reark was unapologetic. "It was meant to hit a nerve. I want people to think, I want people to wake up."

Highlands Today reporter Gary Pinnell can be reached at 863-386-5828 or gpinnell@highlandstoday.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT