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| Fifth Column | |
| Soldier's Uniform Hangs From Noose In Front Of Home | |
| 2005-02-09 | |
| 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. Aaah Sacramento... Urban Northern California... Why am I not surprised. 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. Can anyone in the neighborhood spare some dog poop? I know a front porch that needs decorating... Watch that first step - - it could be smelly... In a community full of patriotism, this view of the war in Iraq has not gone unnoticed. "I think it's the ultimate sign of disrespect. We have troops dying for us," Land Park resident Mark Cohen said. "(I'm) annoyed and disgusted. I think if this is the way someone feels they can find a better way to vent their opinions," Land Park resident Pete Miles said. Yes gents, you are most correct, but this is a fact that is lost on the people who live there... 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." And a lack of wisdom is allowed too... Some neighbors agree. "Even if you don't agree with it, he has the right to state his opinion. I don't find it offensive at all," Land Park resident Cece Williams said. Cece was a proud owner of a new lobotomy scar which she immediately showed to all who would look...
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| Posted by:BigEd |
| #24 It is no accident that the first L in LLL stands for "lying." I thought it was "loony" but "lying" works too :-) |
| Posted by: Rafael 2005-02-09 10:46:25 PM |
| #23 "Of course, like most LLL, this couple can't even explain what their 'Statement' represents." -Sarge nailed it. I say to my fellow RB'rs , fuck the pearcy's, they're not even worthy of your contempt, ignore and move on. -my yoda parable for the night: Attention whores they are, sadistic I am, no attention from me they get. |
| Posted by: Chase Unineger3873 aka Jarhead 2005-02-09 9:15:28 PM |
| #22 For rwference, Land Park is a fairly ritzy section of town just south-east of downtown. Definitely Limo Liberal territory, especially near the park itself (which is where the Sac Zoo is). NIMBYland, too. Haven't seen this in the Bee, but then I don't read that rag anyway, so I wouldn't... |
| Posted by: Snoluck Thruper8432 2005-02-09 8:58:34 PM |
| #21 Heck with dog poop, this calls for a chicken bomb. Does practical joking, even if stinky, constitute vigilante action? My favorite ingredients are equal parts chicken guts and live culture beer, sugar, a little salt for added reactivity, and a loogie for good measure to the halfway point of a tightly sealed mason jar. It can take up to a week to go off, and works great to make a very ill scented point. |
| Posted by: Asedwich 2005-02-09 7:34:52 PM |
| #20 I have argued that the Pearcys' action is outside the realm of free speech. By the same token, however, nobody has the right to resort to vandalism or vigilante action over this. It seems likely that Pearcy's real intent is to provoke such vigilante action. This is a calculated act, a wealthy left-wing contract lawyer would not do it otherwise. A legal showdown is unlikely in California, so a media hit on the political opposition is the more probable objective. I would bet that the house is insured to the hilt. One response might be to put the property under 24/7 surveillance to make sure he doesn't burn it down himself, destroy his own vehicles or spray graffiti on his own walls. |
| Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy 2005-02-09 6:22:36 PM |
| #19 KJI - Is that encouraged with quotation marks? i.e. "ENCOURAGED" |
| Posted by: BigEd 2005-02-09 6:21:09 PM |
| #18 Thx AC, the circle closes. I am off Friday and will swing by and see if it's still hanging. Anyone have any garbage they need dumping? These LLL are all alike and land park is really a nice place to live. I bet once this is seen on the news they will be encouraged to take it down. |
| Posted by: Kim Jong Il 2005-02-09 6:05:11 PM |
| #17 More of Pearcy's work (suggests a legal strategy for sabotaging police sting operations). It doesn't surprise me that this probable child-molester would be interested in these cases. |
| Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy 2005-02-09 6:00:50 PM |
| #16 The Pearcys are an interesting couple. Note that they married when he was 36 and she was 18, after he had been her "tutor and mentor" for several years. Pearcy is also a correspondent of the communist People'sWeekly World and a signatory of the NION petition (imagine my surprise). Note that his letter to the PWW deals with a defense of protestors preparing for violent confrontation. |
| Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy 2005-02-09 5:56:12 PM |
| #15 We've had so much of this mememe lefty bullshit over the last few years that I'm pretty much immune to it by now. In fact, I appreciate it when assholes like this take the time to exercise their First Amendment rights and expose the fact that they're assholes like this just so I know who they are and what we're dealing with. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2005-02-09 5:09:51 PM |
| #14 Pardon me [no only the governor can pardon you - rim shot], did the Supreme's rule that burning a cross on your own property is oky-doky? |
| Posted by: Phique Spoluper4664 2005-02-09 5:06:26 PM |
| #13 "Did you know.... Motor oil may be used to fertilize your lawn?" -Fight Club |
| Posted by: Mark E. 2005-02-09 4:57:49 PM |
| #12 I can see an upside-down US flag on the inner door of a jeweler's office in my Chicago Loop office building as I wait for the elevator. I'm not happy, but will limit my disagreement to explaining to anyone waiting with me what it means (Most don't) or discussing the matter with anyone who walks out of the office. So far, nobody yet. |
| Posted by: chicago mike 2005-02-09 4:55:27 PM |
| #11 I always wished that the idiots who walk among us would wear a sign so they may be identified. Didn't think it would take a declaration of war to get my wish. |
| Posted by: BH 2005-02-09 4:49:06 PM |
| #10 Given how homeowners associations can steal your home for flying the american flag, perhaps their neighbors need to start reading up on their own neighborhood. Such a display might qualify them for fines and even confiscation. |
| Posted by: Silentbrick 2005-02-09 4:46:40 PM |
| #9 No prob, DB-they're Dems-beloved by all the world's criminals. They won't get attacked-they don't own guns! ;) 2b-I like your idea. |
| Posted by: Jules 187 2005-02-09 4:30:24 PM |
| #8 It will just be real interesting if someone does something to their house, and they make a police report. A lot of cops are veterans. I'm sure they'll work real hard to bring the perps to justice. Right after lunch. Sometime next year. If they don't have some filing to do. |
| Posted by: Desert Blondie 2005-02-09 4:19:32 PM |
| #7 I love how they hide behind that "free speech" mantra. If this was depiction of a Black soldier being hanged, that 'free speech' argument would be thrown out the window. Of course, like most LLL, this couple can't even explain what their 'Statement' represents. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2005-02-09 4:14:47 PM |
| #6 Heck, My HOA wouldn't allow that. Unless it was one of the approved color schemes that match the decor. I've always wondered if I raked My leaves into a pattern resembling the American flag, would the court rule that I be allowed to burn them then? |
| Posted by: jackal 2005-02-09 4:08:53 PM |
| #5 Friggin idiots. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2005-02-09 4:04:57 PM |
| #4 I wonder how these asshats would feel about Effigy's of Steve and Virginia hanging from their neighbor's rooftop...... Yes free speech is a right -- it is also a responsibility. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2005-02-09 3:59:01 PM |
| #3 "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." Is this stupid strawman the best these asshelment authoritarians can do? Opposition to this display=generalized attack on free speech. It is no accident that the first L in LLL stands for "lying." Scum like this directly incite terrorist barbarism by persuading terrorist power-seekers that appeasement will follow. A message for the Pearcys: Remember Julius Streicher. Follow his path, share his fate. |
| Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy 2005-02-09 3:53:52 PM |
| #2 I know they have a right to say what they want and so does Cece... But her I don’t find it offensive at all I find as evidence of the lobotomy scar... Also my major BOOBOO - Hat Tip Drudge... |
| Posted by: BigEd 2005-02-09 3:50:37 PM |
| #1 Too bad it made national news. Those attention whores probably love it. You just have to wish that the local townsfolk would place little panoramics on their lawns of Steve and Virginia smiling and shaking hands with Saddam, surrounded by little replicas of Saddam's other tortured victims. |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-02-09 3:48:37 PM |