A bizarre chapter in the Columbia, SC flag controversy.
April 18, 2002 11:24 AM Subscribe
A bizarre chapter in the Columbia, SC flag controversy. It's not so surprising that this happened, but the guy's choice of costume is what gets me. It's been pretty warm here lately for that kind of getup.
That's correct and we don't need pepper spray in Mayberry.
posted by BarneyFifesBullet at 11:45 AM on April 18, 2002
posted by BarneyFifesBullet at 11:45 AM on April 18, 2002
"An officer attempted to use pepper spray on Eddy, but the mist instead fell into the eyes of other officers."
*laughs like Nelson*
posted by rodii at 11:48 AM on April 18, 2002
*laughs like Nelson*
posted by rodii at 11:48 AM on April 18, 2002
If he gets fined the $5000, I would be more than happy to donate to a fund to help him out...
posted by hummus at 11:57 AM on April 18, 2002
posted by hummus at 11:57 AM on April 18, 2002
This article has "wacky" all through it....
"While reducing the cotton-silk blend banner to ashes,..."
And the flag material is relevant because...?
"...legislators say they are puzzled that officers did not question a man sitting near the flag on an extension ladder and wearing a black Santa suit in near 90-degree weather."
It sounds like that mock news radio voiceover from the opening credits of WKRP...
posted by jalexei at 12:02 PM on April 18, 2002
"While reducing the cotton-silk blend banner to ashes,..."
And the flag material is relevant because...?
"...legislators say they are puzzled that officers did not question a man sitting near the flag on an extension ladder and wearing a black Santa suit in near 90-degree weather."
It sounds like that mock news radio voiceover from the opening credits of WKRP...
posted by jalexei at 12:02 PM on April 18, 2002
I am out raged that they mentioned that the flag was a cotton silk blend but completely ignored the fabric make up of the santa suit. I'll bet it was made of a synthetic and they are too afriad to reavel that fact.
posted by amphigory at 12:13 PM on April 18, 2002
posted by amphigory at 12:13 PM on April 18, 2002
I dimly ("dim" being the key part of that) recall there being some "controversy" a few months ago on the fabric of the flag that flies at the memorial.
Should it be all cotton?
Should it be silk?
Should it be a blend?
(Insert yawning here, please.)
I get the impression that's why it was mentioned. But then, given the dubious quality of The State newspaper, one never knows.
posted by ebarker at 12:18 PM on April 18, 2002
Should it be all cotton?
Should it be silk?
Should it be a blend?
(Insert yawning here, please.)
I get the impression that's why it was mentioned. But then, given the dubious quality of The State newspaper, one never knows.
posted by ebarker at 12:18 PM on April 18, 2002
Let me explain about the mention of the fabric blend used in the flag....
A few months back, there was great outcry when somebody in state government, I'm still not sure who, ordered a faded all-cotton flag taken down and replaced with a new one at its prominent Confederate Memorial site in front of the SC State House, facing the intersection of Gervais and Main streets.
While it seems like a no-brainer to swap out a faded flag for a new one, it apparently either violated the letter of the law on the flag compromise (off of the rotunda's flagpole, but still on the grounds in a position of "honor") or simply put someone's nose out of joint because no one had thought about the issue of maintaining the flag's appearance.
In the ensuing dust-up, legislators who really have better things to worry about (like paying our teachers enough, SC's environmental issues, etc., budget problems in general) bickered about whether the flag should be all-natural cloth or something that would withstand exposure to the elements better, like polyester. They apparently compromised on a cotton-silk blend, which is all-natural but more durable than cotton.
Like I always say: Down here our state motto ought to be "It's not the heat; it's the stupidity."
posted by alumshubby at 12:29 PM on April 18, 2002
A few months back, there was great outcry when somebody in state government, I'm still not sure who, ordered a faded all-cotton flag taken down and replaced with a new one at its prominent Confederate Memorial site in front of the SC State House, facing the intersection of Gervais and Main streets.
While it seems like a no-brainer to swap out a faded flag for a new one, it apparently either violated the letter of the law on the flag compromise (off of the rotunda's flagpole, but still on the grounds in a position of "honor") or simply put someone's nose out of joint because no one had thought about the issue of maintaining the flag's appearance.
In the ensuing dust-up, legislators who really have better things to worry about (like paying our teachers enough, SC's environmental issues, etc., budget problems in general) bickered about whether the flag should be all-natural cloth or something that would withstand exposure to the elements better, like polyester. They apparently compromised on a cotton-silk blend, which is all-natural but more durable than cotton.
Like I always say: Down here our state motto ought to be "It's not the heat; it's the stupidity."
posted by alumshubby at 12:29 PM on April 18, 2002
alumshubby: well put. I sometimes wonder exactly how much time and public money has been expended on this unbelievably silly issue. When the fracas was ensuing a couple years ago, I had the urge to hop in the car, drive 120 miles up I-26 to Columbia and slap some sense into every state legislator.
And that's a powerful mess o'slapping, let me tell you.
posted by ebarker at 12:42 PM on April 18, 2002
And that's a powerful mess o'slapping, let me tell you.
posted by ebarker at 12:42 PM on April 18, 2002
In Wednesday's incident, legislators say they are puzzled that officers did not question a man sitting near the flag on an extension ladder and wearing a black Santa suit in near 90-degree weather.
Because the officers would have been accused of harassing the man ... that's why.
posted by jlachapell at 12:49 PM on April 18, 2002
Because the officers would have been accused of harassing the man ... that's why.
posted by jlachapell at 12:49 PM on April 18, 2002
In the ensuing dust-up, legislators who really have better things to worry about (like paying our teachers enough, SC's environmental issues, etc., budget problems in general) bickered about whether the flag should be all-natural cloth or something that would withstand exposure to the elements better, like polyester.
Heh- not really, alumshubby- as a fellow South Carolinian I always loved the flag debate because it kept the legislature busy, and safely away from interfering in anything that mattered. We've too many damn laws and regulations already... anything that occupies the idiots in the state house and distracts them is wonderfully fine with me.
posted by dissent at 1:41 PM on April 18, 2002
Heh- not really, alumshubby- as a fellow South Carolinian I always loved the flag debate because it kept the legislature busy, and safely away from interfering in anything that mattered. We've too many damn laws and regulations already... anything that occupies the idiots in the state house and distracts them is wonderfully fine with me.
posted by dissent at 1:41 PM on April 18, 2002
"An officer attempted to use pepper spray on Eddy, but the mist instead fell into the eyes of other officers."
Man I just get the best visual of a bunch of Chief Wiggums standing under the ladder. "Hey come down now... OK...here comes the pepper spray. OW! OW! My eyes!"
posted by patrickje at 2:30 PM on April 18, 2002
Man I just get the best visual of a bunch of Chief Wiggums standing under the ladder. "Hey come down now... OK...here comes the pepper spray. OW! OW! My eyes!"
posted by patrickje at 2:30 PM on April 18, 2002
This pretty much sums up the absurdity of the whole controversy. I love it.
posted by Foosnark at 9:39 AM on April 19, 2002
posted by Foosnark at 9:39 AM on April 19, 2002
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Would this officer have been Barney Fife, perhaps?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 11:36 AM on April 18, 2002