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A municipal court judge in New Jersey who apparently doesn't understand either the First Amendment or local ordinances has just ordered a resident to take down some f-bomb-laden signs from her yard. (h/t Peter Bonilla)
A municipal judge on Thursday ruled that a Roselle Park homeowner’s owner’s anti- President Biden flags including the F-bomb on her fence were obscene and must be removed because they violated a borough ordinance.
Roselle Park Municipal Court Judge Gary Bundy ordered the Willow Avenue homeowner to remove the signs with profanity within a week or face a $250-a-day fine. Patricia Dilascio is the property owner but her daughter, Andrea Dick, had the signs, three of which include the F-word, on display.
The signs, which can be seen in this photo, are certainly colorful in terms of language, and very definitely convey their owner's displeasure with the current regime.
(More information in link to original article.)
Opinion:
The first amendment absolutely prevents the government from censoring your speech, ESPECIALLY political speech. That is its entire purpose. ESPECIALLY political speech. Because we no longer have a king, nor do we want one. (unless it is Trump)
The 1st amendment does not limit private property owners, nor corporations from controlling their own platforms and moderating as they see fit. But it absolutely does (A) limit government, and (B) ESPECIALLY when you are displaying speech from YOUR OWN property (not someone else's property, where they could choose to not allow your speech on their property).
If people do not like Biden, they should have the right to say so as loudly and even offensively as they wish. (clue: a clear non offensive message can be more persuasive) A mildly offensive message can be effective in expressing one's outrage, without suggesting any intention of harm.
The problem here seems to be that there is a town law which forbids the use of offensive language. I like to avoid such words, for example, not using them on SN (other than quoting someone) because IMO it lowers the intelligence level. But that's just my preference. I happen to understand that other people are fine with using such language.
Perhaps this law should be focused on offensive messages rather than specific language or words. An obscene message is one thing. An F-bomb may be something different entirely, even if it could have been better worded.
In the 1977 Star Wars movie, after R2D2 emits a series of tweedle-beeps, C3P0 tells R2D2 "you watch your language", without needing say something like "watch your F'ing language".
N.J. woman must remove anti-Biden F-bomb signs or face $250-a-day fines, judge rules
F-bomb, bird flipping anti-Biden flags outside house near N.J. school infuriate neighbors
N.J. homeowner with F-bomb, anti-Biden flags ticketed, given court date
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 21 2021, @07:06PM (7 children)
Pretty much all the replies above think you are pro-censorship when all you said was you have no sympathy for a loser MAGA that would be shrieking over a Fuck Trump sign. Pretty hilarious how thin-skinned they are and leap right to mUh RiGhTs!@!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 21 2021, @08:12PM
Shut up Karen! [dailydot.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 21 2021, @10:50PM (2 children)
Apparently political speech is obscene now.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 22 2021, @06:02AM
Now? Those arguments have been before the courts since the 60s at least.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 26 2021, @12:42PM
Always was. What's your point?
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 21 2021, @11:37PM (1 child)
"They only want the obscene banners removed."
This is the part that is being objected to as censorship. Because it is censorship. Banning them is exactly as wrong as banning "Fuck Trump" signs.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 23 2021, @09:37PM
I agree with you, but this thread wasn't started about the ethicality of the anti-obscenity law. Was a good scarecrow though, got all the bird brains agitated!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 22 2021, @04:07AM
Ooh another gaggle of Karens, complete with their own documentary! Keep that fear going suckers, you'll never again understand what is actually going on around you.