Insufficiently Independent to Hold an Independence Day Parade- Mark Steyn

Steyn Online ^ | 6 July 2015 | Mark Steyn

[Rummyfan]

So, no, since you ask, I didn't have that Glorious a Fourth. I almost wrote about it yesterday, but was too sad to find the appropriate tone. I'm still very sad, so if you want to cut to the chase and get on with your day, the takeaway is America might as well hang a sign on its door saying, "Final Three Days! Everything Must Go!!! Ultimate Storewide Blowout!!!!!"

As readers may know, the Steyn worldwide corporate headquarters is located in Woodsville, which is part of the township of Haverhill, New Hampshire. Actually, the only reason readers would have any cause to know it at all is that an hilariously inept attack poodle called Bernie Quigley wrote in The Hill that I had no idea what the real, authentic America was like and to demonstrate the point plucked three real, authentic, entirely random American places off the map (well, two off the map and one off his LP collection) and said that Steyn would "would get a rash in real places like Tobaccoville, N.C., Haverhill, N.H. or Luckenbach, Texas".

What are the odds of that? Of all the bazillions of pinpricks on the American map, Quigly takes a blind stab and hits mine.

[hosepipe]

Sorry Mark the days of subtle innuendo are so 10 minutes ago..

[zeugma]

This part is also worth quoting:

But it's not cute at all, it's pathetic. The Caledonian Record's story has a choice (but paywalled) passage:

Godfrey, who has served 22 years as constable, said it was an unfortunate situation but he stood by his actions.

"We hated to do it," he said, "but we didn't want to see anyone get hurt."

In the past he put out parade detour signs. Now only AOT employees can put signs on state highways, he said, and those signs must meet federal guidelines for size, color, dimension and lettering, according to state highway officials.

"In the past we put [the signs] up. But you can't do that anymore," said Godfrey. "The law says you have to have certain kinds of signs."

This is the wretched passivity of a supine people. The local government can't do anything unless it's got permission from the state government and the state government can't do anything unless it complies with the national government (there's nothing "federal" about a sign law that prevents a village holding a parade). But "we didn't want to see anyone get hurt" - so just stay at home and shelter in place until a federally-approved sign can be installed by a state-credentialed official. For this you threw off a king?

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I think that pretty much sums up everything quite handily.

[Cuttnhorse]

Excellent! Classic Mark.

[kvanbrunt2]

he shines a laser light on his home town and about 400,000 others equally as degenerate.

[Gritty]

What an insightful but discouraging article. It's no wonder we can't muster a peep against flag banning (except the "gay" flag) or the forcing of perverted marriage down our throats by an unelected cabal of 5 distant lawyers, 2 of whom should not even sat on the case.

We can't even hold an Independence Day parade because the signs don't meet "State standards".

Forget it. American freedom and Liberty are what is cooking to a crisp next on the July 4th BBQ...

[gr8eman]

Had, say, the Dearborn Ramadan Parade or the West Hollywood LGBTQWERTY Parade taken a wrong turn, like Bugs Bunny at Albuquerque, and wound up on that Connecticut River bridge, do you think they would have submitted to Constable Godfrey's diktat?

Classic

[spodefly]

Sad story ... “a mediocrity of spirit” sums up 2015 USA.

[Lurker]

Brilliant.

[Intolerant in NJ]

LGBTQWERTY Parade...excellent....

[Cincinatus' Wife]

This is the wretched passivity of a supine people. The local government can't do anything unless it's got permission from the state government and the state government can't do anything unless it complies with the national government (there's nothing "federal" about a sign law that prevents a village holding a parade). But "we didn't want to see anyone get hurt" - so just stay at home and shelter in place until a federally-approved sign can be installed by a state-credentialed official. For this you threw off a king?

BTTT!