Profane Pumpkin Creates A Stir

wlky ^ | 10-31-03

[wheelgunguru]

13-Year-Old Girl Carved Words 'Just For Laughs'

DETROIT -- There's an empty spot on the porch at a house in Warren, Mich. where a pumpkin used to sit.

The profane pumpkin, crudely carved and on the front porch of the home, was taken away after it created a stir with neighbors.

The pumpkin was carved by 13-year-old Christina Hall and said the crude display was "just for laughs." The pumpkin contained the words "(expletive) off."

"That's just inappropriate," said Carrie White, an outraged neighbor, who lives next door to the cursing pumpkin.

She called Warren police and sent an e-mail to Mayor Mark Steenburgh, who promised to contact the chief of police.

The response was "Sorry, we can't help you," White told WDIV TV. It seems the pumpkin is protected by the First Amendment and it's a case of freedom of speech.

The pumpkin is now gone, however. Warren police changed their position on the issue, saying if the object causes a public disturbance, they can remove it or order it removed.

In this case, the family removed it themselves Thursday night before police arrived and it's now in the trash.

[FeliciaCat]

her parents allowed this!?!?!?!?

[GSWarrior]

Good to know kids are practicing spelling during non-school hours.

[Treebeard]

Oh NO, you don't want to make Carrie White mad. Just ask Piper Laurie...

[discostu]

She called the cops on a pumpkin?! It never occured to her to go chat with the neighbor and ask them to take it down?

[DumpsterDiver]

Some people just don't like sharing their candy. (I'm one of them.)

[Koblenz]

[StolarStorm]

The kind of neighbor that would allow this sort of thing isn't someone you want or should talk to.

[KantianBurke]

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

[Tijeras_Slim]

[punster]

""That's just inappropriate," said Carrie White, an outraged neighbor, who lives next door to the cursing pumpkin."

However, it might be appropriate if William Judas Clinton lived across the street. It certainly would be an fitting message for him.

[KantianBurke]

that's hilarious! where can I find that pic? :>

[Koblenz]

Extreme Pumpkins

[CyberCowboy777]

Public disturbance on Private Property?

What a crock. Could political signs be called a disturbance? Bumper stickers? Newspapers?

[Tijeras_Slim]

http://www.dumptv.com/holidaze/halloween/hallpix/pumpkin_moon_med2.jpg

[CSM]

"The pumpkin is now gone, however. Warren police changed their position on the issue, saying if the object causes a public disturbance, they can remove it or order it removed."

Yep, time to nix the 1st, another in a long line of progression to the police state!

[TexasRepublic]

if the object causes a public disturbance

Now, there's a excuse that could be tailored for any occasion of abuse. Goodbye, 1st amendment.

[SquirrelKing]

[Zevonismymuse]

Could political signs be called a disturbance?

During the Lewinsky affair I had a life size Bill Clinton mannequin on my porch. Attached to the rail, right infront of the fully clothed mannequin's crotch, was a beauty school practice head wearing a red beret.

The local sherriff's office came by and told my husband to remove the display because they had received a complaint. We had received hundreds of compliments, but being a law-abiding type, my husband complied.

The next morning I resurrected the display. I told my husband I was willing to take it all the way to the Supreme Court if need be.

The police never returned. I guess they spoke with their lawyers.

[boris]

One's a cactus; the other is a gourd (sort of pumpkin-related):