Saturday, August 01, 2009



Federal government embarrassed by a sign saying "United States"

Because it could become a target for terrorism
"Four years ago, when the federal General Services Administration unveiled its plans for a new border-crossing station here in northeastern New York State, the design was presented as part of the agency’s campaign to raise the dismal standards of government architecture. Even many in the famously fractious architectural community celebrated the complex — particularly its main building, emblazoned with glossy yellow, 21-foot-high letters spelling “United States” — as a rare project the government could point to with pride.

Yet three weeks ago, less than a month after the station opened, workers began prying the big yellow letters off the building’s facade on orders from Customs and Border Protection. The plan is to dismantle the rest of the sign this week.

“At the end of the day, I think they were somewhat surprised at how bold and how bright it was,” said Les Shepherd, the chief architect of the General Services Administration, referring to the customs agency’s sudden turnaround. “There were security concerns,” said Kelly Ivahnenko, a spokeswoman for the customs agency. “The sign could be a huge target and attract undue attention.

Source

5 comments:

Stan B said...

“The sign could be a huge target and attract undue attention."

Unlike the entire country itself, eh?

Anonymous said...

Just another sign of this administrations anti-American mindset. This outrage should be an embarrassment to every American, but i doubt there are many Americans left who have the mental ability to be embarrassed.

"Fear and weakness is the fuel that drives terrorism"

Anonymous said...

how do you all like your hope and change now? lets here it for baroke odummy, the moooslim traitor.

Toejam said...

Maybe they'll replace the sign with a huge picture of President Obama's outstretched open hand!

That, like Moses parting the sea and Jesus walking on water, will turn the Islamic scimitars into plowshares!

Yea. Right!

Anonymous said...

It was obviously a large target and attracted undue attention but it was the wrong kind of attention from the wrong kind of people.