Constitutions are so last century
By Sean Aqui | Related entries in Bad Decisions, General Politics, Immigration, Legislation, NewsIn the spirit of “patriots” who want to criminalize flag-burning (thus missing the whole point of what the flag represents), I give you the small town of Pahrump, Nev.
The elected town board in the remote Mojave Desert community voted 3-2 on Tuesday to enact an ordinance making it illegal to fly a foreign nation’s flag by itself.
Flying another country’s flag, whether it is a British Union Jack or the flag of Mexico, is punishable by a $50 fine and 30 hours’ community service, unless it is flown below an American flag.
Let me tell you, all the folks up here in Minnesota that fly Swedish and Norwegian flags are going to be a tad upset.
The flag measure wasn’t the only piece of silly legislation to pass. Pahrump also made English the city’s official language, and outlawed town benefits to illegal immigrants — which cuts such immigrants off from…. nothing.
“We don’t have any” benefits, town manager David Richards says. “If we ever have any, they’ll be denied to illegal immigrants.”
So what sparked this muscular show of contempt for constitutional rights?
he ordinance’s sponsor, Michael Miraglia, a retired Illinois state worker, said the flag restriction was a reaction to nationwide demonstrations in May against a crackdown on illegal immigration. He said he didn’t like seeing protesters waving Mexican flags and demanding immigrants not go to work that day.
“In Pahrump, we had Mexican restaurants closed that day,” he complained. “Only one restaurant stayed open.”
I see his point. Perhaps the board’s next move should be to establish city-mandated hours of operation for all Mexican restaurants, to prevent such a thing from ever happening again.
This entry was posted on Thursday, November 16th, 2006 and is filed under Bad Decisions, General Politics, Immigration, Legislation, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
November 16th, 2006 at 6:46 pm
Only in Nevada…. my parents lived for years in Pahrump. Believe me when I tell you that as a piece of Pahrump silliness, this one’s not so bad. There was the time that the mayor decided to tax the cabbies hauling people from Vegas out to the hooker district (in Nye County prostitution used to be legal - and may still be, don’t know, haven’t lived in Nevada in years thankfully)….
November 16th, 2006 at 6:59 pm
Does Mr. Miraglia’s comment imply that he personally LIKES Mexican food? (If not, why was he miffed that the Mexican restaurants were closed?) Such a preference seems a little politically incorrect in today’s Pahrump. ;-)
November 16th, 2006 at 8:27 pm
double. you. tee. eff.
November 16th, 2006 at 9:20 pm
One of the regular visitors over at Midtopia lives in Pahrump, and she agrees with you, Vickie.
November 16th, 2006 at 10:17 pm
On the other hand, consider Greenleaf, Idaho. The town council has found it necessary to pass a measure urging residents to “keep a gun at home in case they are overrun by refugees from the Gulf Coast.”
http://kcbs.com/topic/ap_news.php?story=AP/APTV/National/a/a/GunLaw_a_a_—–
Sometimes it isn’t illegal immigrants so much as refugees from hurricanes in other states that one must worry about. At least in Idaho….
November 16th, 2006 at 10:48 pm
Sheesh, Sean…. looks like it’s a town on the edge - my mother would revolve in her grave (except of course she did cremation instead); my dad would be out there cheering on those advocating nastiness if your last name is anything approximating something Hispanic (he was a product of his time - I don’t generally make excuses for him because HE would revolve in HIS grave at my doing so - if he had a grave, but he opted for cremation as well….)
The really silly thing is, as your Midtopia correspondant relates, most of the honest to whatever “locals” are far more accepting than the recent (okay - recent in my lexicon goes back about 30 years….) move-ins from somewhere else.
We all have THAT cross to bear…. and I reserve my nastiness on that subject for my own blogs.
“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.”
-Plato
The new kvetch in town….
November 17th, 2006 at 3:59 am
You’re an Idiot. Why not just give illegal immigrants your house, your land, and your daughter because you just want to piss and moan and not protect it.
You’re a piece of shit and the founding fathers would have hanged you.
November 17th, 2006 at 9:47 am
Are you implying that illegal immigrants HAVE constitutional rights?
November 17th, 2006 at 10:38 am
Just: Nope. That was a reference to the flag law.
November 18th, 2006 at 5:12 pm
If they want to pass laws to prevent future problems I say great. Liberals are the same as sheep. Feed me, shelter me, and I don’t care if you kill me. JUST DO NOT TELL ME THINGS I WONT LIKE. Bush won the elections? Yes, despite liberals throughing out military votes. John kerry Wanted to go to war with iraq and the camel humpers. Liberals supported him, Bush Went to war and got sadam. If you don’t like america then go worship mo mo and ali (the pedophile). Islam has created nothing. Islam takes over and claims everything good is there doing. Islam is for powermongers, pedophiles, sadist, and eliteist. I think any one who hides in a hospital and shoots at people are cowards and should be killed. The people responsible for 911 should be fucked by pigs. Then killed? YES!!!
November 18th, 2006 at 5:28 pm
America is for those who want freedom and liberty. Those who march in the streets and follow with out question and sheep. Sheep are to be slaterd. Look in the peaceful countrys islam. They raise children to think of dieing and not living. The more you kill the more women you have to serve you in the hereafter. In america we are angerd be children being hurt or harmed. We in america do not ever think killing prostitutes is ok. Sadly you wish to follow the group and say we are right you are wrong. Both sides are corrupt. Chose the lesser of to evils? Yes.
Americas military is volintary. Theese MEN & WOMEN piss me of all the time for their bravery and courage. I think theese people are heros. Buricrates are worthless. Hitler was a nice friendly guy just like north koreas head pedophile and dictaor. You have the ability to change things by your vote and actions. Yet you bitch and moan. Spread your ideas. Talk to people, be friendly and look for solutions. Do not stick your head up your ass or keep it there. People will listen but not when you act like a petulant child.
If you want to change things then do so. Do not help enemys to harm others, like jane fonda. Support your country and try your best to make it better. Do you want to be remembered as a screamer or as a calm and thoughtful person. Will you want to have children who scream and rant or listen and respond by trying to find and implement solutions
November 18th, 2006 at 9:13 pm
Dam straight. I too was upset to see the Mexican flag waved in our faces and on our soil. If you can’t get riled over that tough. Its about respect. And I don’t see it when its another country’s flag.
November 21st, 2006 at 9:35 pm
ok…this thread seems to have been taken over by redneck hicks with about 6 brain cells between them…immigration is what made this country great. However, each new batch of immigrants has been regularly dissed by the last batch of immigrants, ad nauseum.
I don’t believe we should allow unrestricted immigration, but I do believe that the current situation with over ten million illegal immigrants is due to a combination of economic necessity and moronic immigration policies.
As much as it hurts to say it, I think Bush is partly right on this one issue (among thousands he’s screwed up)- we need to have a guest worker program, and we need to crack down on companies that hire illegal immigrants, but we also need to make the process for legal immigration less ridiculously expensive and arduous. A border fence is pointless - all that will do will drive the immigrants into more and more dangerous territory, causing more needless deaths. Not to mention the fact that a physical fence is far more expensive and less useful than modern surveillance techniques…it just consoles the technologically ignorant into thinking they’re safe from “them thar Meyixacans.”
Regarding flags - frankly, I’ve been far less than proud of our own flag for the past decade or so, considering our dismal record in international relations and domestic economic and social policies. I would be far prouder to call myself a Canadian than an American at this point. Hopefully with a new Democratic majority that will change…at least once Bush gets kicked out.
February 21st, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Hooray for Pahrump,Nev.It’s not a fake city invented by TV writers.Free speech does not mean that multiple national flags should be flown in our country(with the exception of the U.N). Such an interpretation of our national constitution has always been wrong headed,if not treasonous or blasphemous.Now someone needs to have a serious chat with all those neo-nazis flying the confederate rag,the Mexican flag,and any other inappropriate national rag.Post 9/11,no other flag needs to be tolerated ever again.