From here:
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Nestled in a quiet Sacramento neighborhood is a very loud political statement that is testing the very foundation of the right to free speech.
Hanging from a house in Land Park, a soldier's uniform in a noose dangles from a rooftop. The words "your tax dollars at work" are scrolled across the chest.
[...]
The homeowners behind the controversy are Steve and Virginia Pearcy. They released a statement saying, "There will always be people who are offended by political speech, and the most important forum of all ... is one's own residence. The First Amendment is meaningless unless dissent is allowed."
While I agree that this couple has the right to "hang" this display from their home, I find it sickening. As would most decent people, I assume.
I also support the right of people to burn the US flag in protest, though I find that disgusting as well.
Sometimes, being a supporter of free speech is tough...
But the same First Amendment that allows them to be so crude also allows me to criticize them for it. And critical I am.
If you oppose the war in Iraq, fine. How about a picture of Bush next to a sign that says "1597 dead and counting..." or some such? Why use the uniform of a brave American soldier and "lynch" it?
Well, this couple got what they ultimately wanted: Attention. So I guess they win...
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Temple Stark
I think thery're saying soldiers are getting killed and it's a waste. Agree or disagree I don't see that as mocking soldiers. That's like saying it's worse than theire actually being dead.
An absolutely honest, straight-up question - how do you?
Is there something missing in the report that you know that doesn't come across?
2 - Matt Egan
I agree. "Mocking" is not the right word.
3 - DrPat
Footnote to the article: "KCRA 3 received a call late Wednesday morning from the homeowner saying that a group of people had torn down the display. He said that what he did was not illegal, but what was done by the people who removed the display was."
The mini-poll on the site is running overwhemingly to the view that respondents "find this display offensive... [but] support their right to express themselves."
Frankly, I find that the most positive thing about this incident.
4 - Yensid
First off, I'm not sure why someone that is against war is automatically considered a leftist. RJ seems to just have this agenda to paint every thing that is not on the agenda of the president as leftist craziness. Making a statement like this not only what makes America great, it also shows that not everyone (yet) has fallen lock step behind whatever our government and politicians do and say based on ideology such as our buddy RJ. I like to approach each news item with an open mind and in this case I would agree that it is not "mocking" of any sort. These people are obviously feeling some sort of pain because of the deaths they hear about every day. To turn these peoples obviously strong feelings that our country has wasted the lives of our brave soldiers is something that should not be made out to be an evil act. They are not leftist, evil, stupid and this should not even be considered a controversey. Making statements like this should be made everywhere, everyday. Thats what makes this country great - regardless of your personal opinion on the protest being made. I do agree though that they probably could have found a better way to get their statement across....
5 - sfca
Shame on you, our boys are dying over there and the least we can do is show some support. Since when being anti-American is ok? Since when mocking the dead is ok? We live in the best country on earth and for those of you who don't realize it - I dare you to go live anywhere else (whether it's Bosnia, Afganistan, Ukraine or France); you will come back kissing the ground you walk on, I guarantee it.
6 - pjr
Has the envirionment in the US become so paranoid, that the very act of free speech has become the rallying point for censoring any and all dissent of the current administration? It's amazing that for all those who suggest the display is a 'mockery' to the brave troops, it is those same people who seem to have absolutely no problem with the idea that those troops are dying in Iraq due to the obscene lies perpetrated on them by Bush and Co. What in reality is worse; a display of free speech against military actions which the speaker considers immoral and unjust, or an immoral and unjust invasion and occupation of a soverign nation, executed under a carefully manufactured rationale of lies and dishonesty?
7 - claink
This Sacramento couple makes my day, in the best kind of way. It's a tremendous statement, courageous and bold - the kind of free speech moment that Jefferson and Co. dreamed of.
What I love is this: "How about a picture of Bush next to a sign that says "1597 dead and counting..." or some such? Why use the uniform of a brave American soldier and "lynch" it?" Well...yeah, brother, that would be great! Thanks for the idea, it'll be implemented immediately.
8 - C.JoDI
Hey folks: the biggest fallacy committed by the likes of the original poster is that somehow dissent is "America-hating", and that somehow "supporting the troops" means supporting the imbecilic foreign policy that puts them in danger of being killed.
Every time someone points out that this war is against a false enemy (remember that Iraq was the only secular i.e. non-muslim government in the Middle East) and based on countless lies, they get immediately slagged as "anti-American". How is wanting the US to honor its Constitutional ideals anti-American? If everyone is required to support the government no matter what then we've become the Soviet Union.
9 - SFC SKI
"(remember that Iraq was the only secular i.e. non-muslim government in the Middle East)" If that is the case, how come the words "God is Great" are written in Arabic on the Iraqi flag? IN any case , you could call the former Iraqi regime anything you like, the reality was that it was a totlitarian regime.
Why does it seem like so many people who post here never knew what was going on in Iraq until March 2003, it is like the last 15 years never happened in that country.
10 - paul s.
here's what i find disturbing (from the local Fox affiliate):
There's an Iraqi flag in a window and the homeowner also put up a Palestinian flag in the front window, which has his jewish neighbors across the street perplexed. Marque Cohen/Neighbor said "Both my wife and I are jewish we found it very offensive."
I'm sorry Jewish people are offended by the mere presence of a Palestinian flag. How intolerant we've become.
11 - Eric Olsen
I am late to this thread but I am also failing to see where the real disagreement is: RJ said he supported their right to free speech. He explicitly said he didn't want them censored. He has a right to be disgusted by the content of that speech just as others have the right to cheer it.
I agree he made the assumption that the people involved are "leftists," but other than that, what's the beef?
Oh, and while every human life is precious, the war itself is noble and just.
12 - a_retrogrouch
I love my country, and I hate the actions of a President who lied to us and the world. Does that make me anti-American? Only if you think that truth doesn't mean anything anymore. THAT'S un-American.
13 - Roy Smith
sfca says: Since when being anti-American is ok?
A large number of things have been said on this thread that I disagree with. The only one I have found offensive is quoted above.
As an American servicemember on Active Duty, I swore an oath "to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic". In the Constitution (First Amendment) it says: "Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press".
This may be difficult for some right wing-nuts to grasp, but being anti-American is ok because this is America.
I am free to disagree with those who are anti-American, but I am not free (nor do I have the desire) to suppress them. Based on his post, "sfca" falls into the category of anti-American, at least in my book. But, as stated, he is free to post it.
14 - Eric Olsen
Roy, so you defend his right to say that he doesn't defend your right to speak in a manner that might be construed as anti-American, which is in reality the most American of all?
15 - Roy Smith
Eric: what you said (I think . . .)
The real point is that freedom of expression (particularly freedom to express political opinion) is a fundamental human right, to be defended regardless of what the person is saying. (This has some very limited exceptions, such as the infamous "shouting fire in a crowded theater", but being anti-American is not one of the exceptions.)
16 - MCH
Here are a few more examples of the "mocking a soldier":
"...to listen to giant thalidomide baby Max Cleland tell it..."
- RJ (Bobby) Elliott, 7/31/04
"...he kinda sorta does look like a giant flipper baby..."
- RJ (Bobby) Elliott, 7/31/04
"Max Cleland can't fucking juggle."
- RJ (Bobby) Elliott, 7/31/04
(taken from RJ Elliott's blogcritics post "Kerry Dissed by Marines," July 31, 2004)
17 - Bill
The display is mocking American citizens who believed the Bush administration lies. We are now spending billions of tax dollars which has resulted in over 1447 soldiers deaths. People are offended by the display because deep down they know they themselves are responsible!
18 - Jim Carruthers
I guess I can infer that pretty much all of your day, RJ, is occupied by shitting in bags and leaving them on people's doorsteps.
Maybe you should find a new hobby.
19 - patriot but no idiot
anybody who actually "supports" the troops wouldn't have sent them on this
mission based on a pile of lies in the first place!! DUH. and to add insult
to injury, without proper equipment -- and ~then~ cutting the funding for
supporting our poor soldiers' families back at home!! DISGRACEFUL.
you say that ya support Bush's policies (lies) without thinking, just 'cuz he's
your President?? well get your ass over to the recruiting station and join the
service and put your own butt on the line, you jerk.
and be sure to bring along your over-18 kids as well 'cuz we're going to need
all the cannon fodder we can get, for as long as we're over there.
20 - Joseph M. Stewart
In Bush's world, anyone not a true believer in his policies doesn't have a seat at the table and any dissent is corralled into "free speech zones" out of sight and out of mind (like the flag-draped coffins returning from Iraq).
In Bush's world, you are either with him or you are with the "terrorists" thus formulating the dangerous equation: Bush policy = patriotism. This has allowed his supporters to brand any opposition as "anti-American" and "treasonous" which they have done with a McCarthy-like fervor.
In Bush's world, it makes sense to wage the vague "war on terror" because it gives a blanket excuse for any action associated with it, it makes it difficult to measure success or failure, and it cows much of the public (including the Press and the Democrats) with fears of unknown, faceless boogiemen.
And to the poster who thinks that some of us don't know what has been happening in Iraq for the past 15 years, I suggest he go back and study what has been happening to Iraq since the end of WWI. The UK and the US have been screwing around with Iraq and that part of the world ever since the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. If it weren't for us, Saddam would never have been there in the first place.
It seems to me it is the people objecting to BushCo who have a better understanding and love for American Ideals than those attacking us for not falling in line behind the neocon's dreams of empire.
21 - John Medcalf
If you can't live with the First Amendment you are truly anti-American.
Love it or leave it. Canada to the North. Mexico to the South. No stinking First Amendment supporters.
22 - Jon
I am a decent person and do not find the display offensive.
I find the casual, pointless killing of human beings offensive.
I find the cheap display of 'patriotism' offensive.
I find knee-jerk loyalty to authority figures to be offensive.
I wonder if anybody out there has the slightest idea what the American revolution was about.
23 - bhw
Taxes, baby, TAXES.
24 - Dave Nalle
Well put, BHW. And there were a lot of hanging military uniforms around in the revolution.
Those currently in power and those seeking power should keep your message in mind, because IMO it's still all about taxes.
All Americans really care about - or at least the first thing the majority care about - is freedom and the bottom line of freedom and the one quantifiable measure of it is how much money the government takes from you.
Dave
25 - Ralph
I live two houses down from Steve and Virginia. They're good friends with some people in my house. I'm a little annoyed that people automatically assume they hate America. They wouldn't be living in America if they hated it. America, however, is not perfect. I'll never apoligize for saying that because it's true. These people are trying to speak out agains what they think is wrong, just as "right wingers" often speak out against gay marriage and abortion (I was trying not to generalize like that, but I had to simplify it). Knowing these people personally, I can tell you that they don't hate America, and they aren't mocking the troops. I have family in the Army, I wouldn't want to mock them (Though I wouldn't commit crimes against people who were, I just wouldn't like those people too much). My family went into service to protect this country, but this war (According to some people, your opinions may differ) was not about defense. It was an attack. My family didn's sign up for the army so they could be made disposable pawns in a regime change. I also don't see how someone who claims to support America so much could think it's right to break AMERICAN laws in order to stop other people from exercising the constitutional rights our soldiers SHOULD be fighting for.