Display Stirs Controversy In Land Park -Soldier's Uniform Hangs From Noose

[Kadie]

Display Stirs Controversy In Land Park
Soldier's Uniform Hangs From Noose In Front Of Home

POSTED: 7:58 am PST February 9, 2005
UPDATED: 8:06 am PST February 9, 2005

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.

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.

snip...
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."

more...
http://www.thekcrachannel.com/news/4180042/detail.html

[babylonsister]

1. That's pretty radical, but

good for them for making a statement. Now how long will it be until someone comes up with a "viable" excuse to muzzle this couple?
Maybe it'd be a good idea if more of us showed our outrage in deed rather than on DU.

[Avalux]

2. We have troops dying for us?

No, we don't. The troops are being misused by Bushco to fight the PNAC war. I get so angry every time I hear that the troops are "fighting for us" fighting for our freedoms" fighting to keep us safe". They are victims IMHO and have died for an agenda of greed and power.

[VegasWolf]

3. Exactly, they are dying for OIL. n/t

[DrZeeLit]

11. Agree, and thank you.

I said the same about a week ago, and I was flamed all over the place.

It's not OPINION that they are not fighting for "me"... it's a fact. Troops are dying, yes, but not for me or my freedom. They are dying for oil, for Halliburton, for a president's macho idea of a response to a world he does not understand nor care to understand.

If our troops were at our borders defending me and mine, I'd be right there with them. I'm NOT against the troops. It's the assholes who manipulate them ... in "my" name.

So, thanks for being clear.

[atreides1]

4. "We have troops dying for us"

This is another one of the lies being perpetrated by BushCo. Those troops aren't dying for me. The troops are dying, because people like Mr. Mark Cohen, a Land Park resident, believe the lies that they've been told.

[hadrons]

8. will Mr. Mark Cohen be enlisting soon ...

I don't think so

[davidinalameda]

5. guess no invites to any block parties soon for these

it takes guts to stand up for what you believe in and these two are to be commended for their actions

[Orsino]

6. Another wave of blame-the-messenger.

I have to wonder whether those offended have grasped the statement apparently being made. It doesn't look to me like any sort of advocacy for killing troops. As far as I can tell, this is an indictment of the system that sends the troops to kill and die.

[B3Nut]

7. Nope, they don't get it.

That requires the ability and willingness to actually think about what one is seeing. These people have surrendered their cognitive faculties to Faux Nooz and Co.

Todd in Beerbratistan

[progressivebydesign]

9. The critics have it wrong... it's BECAUSE the troops are dying n/t

[makhno]

10. Wow

That takes some serious courage in the current atmosphere. I hope Mr. Cohen and other likeminded neighbors don't vandalize the house or set it on fire. You never know with rightwing scumbags nowadays, especially when they feel the cops will be looking the other way.