U.S Soldier efffigy taken from home in Land Park

[mctrotter5]

snip

The camouflage fatigues, noose and U.S. flag that was bundled as a head were partially ripped down by someone who fell off the facade of the house in doing so, according to neighbors. The rest was taken by someone on a motorcycle.

snip

Article published today,2/10/05, in the Sacramento Bee at www.sacbee.com

[oneighty]

1. Down with free speech

and self expression.

180

[bluestateguy]

2. Trespassing

If free speech is not allowed on one's private property then we really have slipped into totalitarianism.

I don't care if the effigy is offensive or not. It's not the kind of speech I would have chosen for my home, but the homeowner has the right to this display JUST as if a homeowner wanted to put a nativity scene on their lawn, or for that matter, a Confederate flag.

I thought conservatives favored proprty rights. I guess that only applies to corporate farming organizations, Big Oil, agribusiness interests and loggers.

If I ever catch someone doing that on my property I will reserve the right to use force to remove the trespassers.

[mctrotter5]

3. In the interest of free speech, would like to think of a symbol

which could be used by those in soldiarity with the Land Park couple on their right to dissent. It would wonderful if many neighborhoods bloomed with visual and connected protest in favor of free speech and dissent. Any help here, I am not such the hanging effigy really makes the statement?

[Ian David]

4. Put a photo of the hanging soldier on adhesive stickers and roadsigns

From FreewayBlogger.com

[MADem]

6. Conservatives DO favor property rights

Fascists don't.

That said, I find the display offensive, too, but I defend the right of the person to make the offensive statement.

[Sterling]

5. Could you link to the actual story plz?

nt

[mctrotter5]

7. Direct link for story in the Sacramento Bee

you may need to register.

http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/12291773p-13155557c.html

[RetroLounge]

8. Stephen Pearcy, 44

singer from RATT?

RL

[Xithras]

9. FWIW, there's a backstory here

There's a bunch of evidence that this guy didn't do this so much as a political protest against Bush, but as a provocation against his neighbors. Apparently they actually live in Berkeley and only bought the Land Park (which is a bit of a Freeperville type neighborhood) house recently. After a number of vicious political arguments with his freeper neighbors, he hung the effigy up in order to piss them off.

If true, both his actions AND the actions of the guy who pulled it down are childish and petty.