Posted on 07/03/2005 1:59:30 AM PDT by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
A church has asked for a citywide ban on low-hanging pants and gold-capped teeth, saying they promote a thuggish image.
Changing the image of young people could help Jacksonville cut unemployment, racial profiling and a rising per-capita murder rate now the highest in the state, said Richard Burton, deacon of Epiphany Baptist Church.
The 250 member independent Baptist church approved the resolution last month.
"They were tired of seeing kids' underwear," said Burton, who serves on the NAACP's national board.
Jacksonville city officials have yet to take up the measure, although Councilwoman Elaine Brown said she was willing to discuss it with church members.
Others were less encouraging.
"I think it's unenforceable," Councilman Daniel Davis told The Florida Times-Union for Sunday's edition.
Duval County public schools have banned sagging pants and exposed underwear, but not removable gold or silver teeth caps.
Dentists say the caps can help breed tooth-rotting bacteria.
A proposal to ban exposed underwear died in the Florida Legislature this spring. Lawmakers in Louisiana and Virginia have also failed to ban exposed underwear.
GROWING???????????
In some parts of the country, this stuff is downright adult. It's been going on for 20 years or more. There was a reason why my parents sacraficed a lot to send us to private high schools. Where I live, annually, teachers go through police training on what the latest gang crap is. I worked at the local pool, and we had police around to deal with it. My question is, this is JUST NOW becoming a problem in Jacksonville?
It reveals that the wearer believes those little adjustable plastic holes are attractive AND that it is the back of the neck that needs protecting.
I live in Jax as well. Funny you should say that about the running! Two of these baggy pants wearing individuals stole the stereo out of my car at my office park last year. A witness saw them running away, holding their pants up awkwardly as they ran. Grrrr!
The only thing offensive to me is the government trying to tell people how they can wear their teeth and clothes. Anyone who doesn't see this as gross violation of idividual rights in not a conservative, or a libertarian for that matter. If you don't like the way someone looks, look the other way and leave them alone.
The story was posted sans comment (as most are, hereabouts). Anything you chose to read into that, for whatever reason, is entirely your own problem, and (thankfully) none of my own.
It's a message board, kid. Get a grip.
And yet, when an Iman or Mullah demands something stupid, where's the plea for no Mohammadan bashing?
How about this for a novel solution. The city can confiscate the offending 'property' for a public benefit.
Ok then why have bans on public nudity? If a person chooses not to wear anything, shouldn't they be allowed?
One cannot wear hats in malls in Atlanta?
What are we proper Southern ladies to do? One does not venture out in public without proper headgear, after all.
Right now, for instance, as I'm preparing to go pick up a few groceries, I'm contemplating a darling little pillbox I have that's covered with pheasant feathers in blue, turquoise, and purple.
I suppose that it'd be more to the point for me to express indignation at Jacksonville instead of Atlanta, since after all we're discussing the former. My bad! ;)
You raise a valid question.
Hmmmm. How to solve the aesthetic problem they pose while still taking advantages of the identification properties?
Just wear your underpants and all should be fine.
If you put that hat on ebay, I know someone who will bid...
LOL. I got used to seeing pants riding a few inches below the waist, but lately I've seen boys w/their pants down on their thighs, covered by oversize shirts. I don't know how they keep them on. And yes, the kid may just be a dedicated follwer of fashion and not a criminal, but he looks like one. No way would I hire someone coming in dressed like that.
What gets me is that I'm seeing this more and more on older guys, guys out walking their kids. It's one thing to be stupid and 14, another to be in your twenties and still dressing like a clown.
Check this site out: www.removeablecaps.com. Sorry, I'm too HTML challenged to post a real link.
My bad, www.removablecaps.com. Need more coffee.
"Those caps sound pretty disgusting to me too. I've never liked seeing baggy pants either. The only ones who did that when I was growing up where the "pillow people."
Well, where would my friend go? He has gold-capped teeth and, because he has a bladder problem, his pants bag. He's 68 years old. He would apparently not be welcome in this Baptist church. He also a Baptist.
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