As I was browsing the news on a break this morning, I came across this rather troubling article. In a time of supposed "enlightenment", I cannot believe that a law like this could be passed. If a person cannot dress the way they want to, we need to revisit the ideals laid down in the Constitution. Freedom of expression is a bedrock of our society and if that starts to be threatened, we should consider how things have come this far.
P.S.
I forgot to mention the racial profiling that this case brings about. Don't believe for one second that race matter doesn't in this country of ours, just look at post-Katrina New Orleans.
My Simpsonization
Here is what I would look like in Springfield
6 comments:
Sorry Chris, but I have to wholeheartedly disagree with you. I think it should be a felony to wear baggy pants. Do you know how stupid it looks? Come on!
Yes, it looks bad, but so do popped collars. My point is more about the civil liberty that we have to make choices. Plus, I think there is a large amount of racial profiling here, but that can be a story for another day.
This is not racial profiling. Is it racial profiling to have dress codes in schools that ban, say, ballcaps?
I mean, when you walk into a classroom (as a teacher) would you be fine with your students sitting around in nothing but thongs and pasties?
Sub-categorical arguments can be made about a whole host of things that people do that are not inline with what is viewed as 'good taste'.
Are old men wrongly ostracized for wearing dark socks and shorts while working in their yards? Does your Mom feel discriminated because the only display of your heritage in your house is a small flag in your bathroom? Should I feel like I have been targeted for being this good looking?
hehe
All of them are ludicrous. It all boils down to decency. And having your ass-crack hanging out, or your undergarments exposed is simply not decent.
I don't by the argument that this is about decency. If that's the case people would not be allowed to wear the heinous shirt that south siders wear featuring a large middle finger with a tasteless comment about the Cubs. This is just a modern attempt to deem what is socially acceptable. If we follow your standards Mr. Buka, we also need to persecute plumbers across America.
You did not address my question about walking into a classroom of that nature.
And, I wouldn't say that anyone is being persecuted. It is a behavior, and a decision, that is the topic... not the person. That is the inherent difference. There is no socio-economic stereotype being 'judged', but instead a behavior.
In reference to what is 'socially acceptable' - Isn't that how all decisions, laws, and practices are guided? By a set of terms decided on by someone, or a group of someones?
I see nothing that would make this much different than helmet laws for motorcycles. I mean, if a motorcyclist wants to endanger themselves by not wearing a helmet... why shouldn't they be allowed to be stupid? Because common sense, and ultimately the law, says that it is not the proper thing to do. Granted, this is for safety reasons, but then again safety concerns could also be made for baggy pants.
I agree that many laws that have been written are excessive, and often end up focusing on a smaller segment of the Nation. But that does not mean that they are necessarily profiling in nature, or in design.
On the sidenote of your plumbers... I can't say that I ever recall you coming to their defense on this matter even though they have been the topic of many jokes in regard to this. Why isn't anyone rising to champion the cause on their behalf? Lord knows they have some ginormous ass-cleavage.
Racially motivated? I see all races dressing like this: asian, white, black, hispanic. It boils down to respect. I don't think it's a racial thing at all. I think it's a ginormous mistake to make it illegal though.
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