To the Editor:

In response to “Toilets Are Symbols Of Hate, Says Neighbor,” which ran in the July 15 issue of North Country This Week: the letter called for action by the town government to remove the toilet art. I support the letter, but we need to do more.

I served on active duty for 20 years, sworn to support and defend the Constitution. I am sensitive to the protections provided. Service members are imbued with a strong sense of personal responsibility to stand for right. I do not want to argue whether Mr. Robar can legally display toilets. The courts and those legalities must guide the village government’s actions.

However, we should have no doubt that what Mr. Robar is doing is wrong.

The North Country is resolute about our independent spirit, and we believe that you should be allowed to do what you want on your own property. But in the North Country, we also respect our neighbors, and so we would probably rephrase as: “Do what you want, so long as you aren’t hurting others.”

Mr. Robar is definitely injuring his neighbors.

He is not protesting to cure some evil. This is not Occupy Potsdam. None of these displays are near his own house. Rather, he sits comfortably far away from his ugly signs, saying to all of us: “You deserve no better than live with toilets; you are all just a big pile of …”

Even if he did not intend to send that message, it is the message that is heard. If you doubt, go talk to some children in town. Even a six year old will tell you that it is gross. Ask if they want to play near these “art” displays. Ask if they are proud of the toilets.

When friends call to ask you what’s going on with Potsdam and the toilets, does it make you proud?

This is not poor little Mr. Robar battling big government; Mr. Robar is quite well off, owning a large number of properties and holding significant personal wealth. A more apt description is the rich guy looking at all of us in disdain and saying: “I have enough money to make you miserable. None of you can stand up to me.”

Without being melodramatic, it is easy to see that Potsdam is economically challenged. Small business owners struggle to make things work. We look to new tech startups to create jobs for our kids. The hospital tries to grow. As a community, we are battling to preserve our North Country way of life.

My biggest concern is not the direct economic impact of the toilets, but that Robar will convince us that we are not worthwhile, that we deserve to live in a garbage dump or outhouse; that there is no reason to keep up our house, when next door is a dump; there’s no reason to encourage our kids to stay in Potsdam; that there is no opportunity; that the village is just a dirty spot on the road along U.S. Highway 11.

If he convinces us, we will give up, and this town will slip away.

There have been times where I failed to stand up for what was right, sitting on the sidelines while bad things happened. There have been times when I tried to stand up to the bullies, and I got hurt.

Mr. Robar is probably right. No one can stand up to him.

However, occasionally, when you stand and face the bully, someone else stands up as well. Then another joins, and then more. Although no one can face down the bully, the group can prevail.

So …I intend to stand and be counted.

I hope that you stand with me. Shoulder to shoulder. And with a steady voice, we tell Mr. Robar that his actions are not tolerable; that Potsdam is not a trash-heap or toilet bowl; that we will not let him tell our children that they deserve to live with a toilet; that we value dignity; and that we respect ourselves and our neighbors.

We need to tell Mr. Robar that we are Sandstoners, pickaxes in hand. We are proud and capable, and we will not let his meanness prevail.

Joe Skufca

Potsdam