The anti-Hannaford signs and banners popping up all around Portland have been stirring a distressed, uneasy feeling in me. What is the purpose of this?

If this person or group actually believes what their signs say, that they don’t like the way Hannaford operates its business, they don’t need to advertise. All they have to do is to stop shopping at Hannaford. But their point is that all people should stop shopping there. 

No one is going to spend a significant amount of money just to make the point that they don’t like Hannaford, and we shouldn’t either. It seems fairly obvious that there is something more behind this, something whoever they are don’t want to come out and say directly, probably because it would be rejected if they did say it.

Our national dialogue right now is full of talk — and actions — intended to tear people and organizations down, but this hasn’t seemed to be happening locally. That’s one of the fortunate things about living in southern Maine — we haven’t yet been significantly infected by the open hostility of the country at large. Until this. 

Whatever people might think about Hannaford, the bigger issue right now is this attempt to manipulate us all. There may be places where that’s how things are done, but Portland isn’t one of them. That’s why this sign campaign stands out so blatantly. It doesn’t fit the way of life we’ve all worked to build here together.

Mark Nakell
Portland