Posted on 09/18/2001 7:28:02 AM PDT by Constitution Day
Published: Tuesday, September 18, 2001 8:56 a.m. EDT
Chapel Hill makes restaurant remove banner
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- Zoning inspectors made a restaurant owner remove a banner proclaiming "God Bless America, Woe to Our Enemies" after at least three town council members complained.
The action against Top of the Hill restaurant was based on a provision of Chapel Hill's sign ordinance that allows downtown business to post temporary placards only if they measure 6 square feet or less.
The restaurant banner exceeded the size limit, said Town Manager Cal Horton and Inspections Director Lance Norris. The decision was made Friday.
Horton added that administrators weren't trying to suppress the banner's message.
"We don't care what the message is," Horton said. "What we were regulating was the size."
Town council members who complained said they objected to the message.
"Personally, I found the language offensive," said council member Bill Strom. "I didn't find the 'God Bless America' offensive and appreciate everyone's show of unity. But the implied tone of 'woe to our enemies' is not the message I have been giving my child."
Council member Jim Ward said he preferred a response by the country to last week's attacks that included "mature restraint."
Council member Kevin Foy said he worried the sign could send the wrong message to Arab-Americans. His brother-in-law is an Arab-American and is "very frightened by the current national mood."
Restaurant owner Scott Maitland, an Army combat engineer during the Gulf War in 1991,
said the town's policy of enforcing the sign ordinance on complaints invites abuse.
As soon as he put the sign up, Maitland said, about 14 people objected to the "Woe to Our Enemies" line and two didn't like the phrase "God bless America." About 150 called to praise the banner.
He also said the banner clearly violated the sign ordinance, but grocery stores violate the law daily. "Apparently no one is concerned that you can buy pork chops for $2.99 a pound," he said.
He said he is concerned about violent reaction aimed at Arab-Americans and agreed that the nation's leaders should think carefully about a military response.
"I hate to break the news to some people that sometimes evil requires violence (in response)," Maitland said.
This is yet another reason I'm glad I went to NC State, not the University of North Carolina.
FReep these creeps!
Chapel Hill Mayor & Council Members (Sorry, no e-mail addresses listed)
E-mail Chapel Hill Mayor Rosemary Waldorf
E-mail Town Manager Cal Horton
E-mail Inspections Director Lance Norris
Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery
E-mail restaurant owner Scott Maitland with your support!!!
.
FReepers... FIRE AWAY!!
Isn't that what the Clinton administration practiced while giving "deadlines" that were never followed through?
Now, listen up you carpetbagging yankee. Nobody gives a rat's @ss about what you are or are not teaching your child. This is private property you're messing with here. How dare you impose your preferences on others. There is a name for preventing someone from controlling what is and is not allowed on property that he owns - COMMUNISM.
Is he talking about the Taliban? Or the Nazi council members?
Many locals say that CARY stands for Containment Area for Relocated Yankees.
Maybe you mean, "Damn Southerners?"
I wonder what message he is giving his child? He doesn't say how old the kid is but I have a feeling this child may have a problem dealing with bullies in the future.
What kind of town you running down there? Your actions make me sick.
Does it hurt to be anti-American or is it painless?
Let Scott Maitland, an Army combat engineer during the Gulf War in 1991 post his sign
and get yourself an American history book. How many more people need to die before you and your town council members figure it out?
Too cruel to the animals, don'tcha know.
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