Land of Oz

Hometown hijinks

Update for Jan 24
It's interesting that the letter to the editor I sent has REALLY got people riled up. In the last couple of weeks since my letter appeared, there have been 4 letters that have singled me out by name to complain about me. If you're used to Editor's Letters, you'll know that attacks by name are pretty rare. It seems I've hit a sore spot :-)

Here's a diatribe of mine about a recent article in the local newspaper. I realize that the town being mentioned is doing this as some sort of founder's day promo, but the idea of passing a law making it mandatory to wear a beard just rubs me the wrong way. The article did mention exact numbers of adult males based on recent census reports who would be affected by the law and that they would have to report to be examined before they could take part in this event. I imagine they'll probably be photographed and fingerprinted to make sure no one cheats with their beard. Korans, I'm sure will be optional. Anyway, I fired off a letter to the editor of the newspaper in question, so we'll see if I can rain on a small village's parade. Here's the letter I sent:

The last thing we need is more laws regulating our private lives. I've never met any officials from Zilwaukee (in fact I'm not even quite sure where it begins and ends) but I'm going to assume they have good intentions. What I'm talking about, of course, is their plan to make a law requiring beards to be worn by their adult males. Isn't that a little intrusive? They are even using census records to identify all who may fall under this law. Failure to follow the law will only result in a minor fine, but that would also seem to result in a permanent police record of illegal activities.

This type of law brings to mind another place that has (or had actually) a similar law on the books. The Taliban in Afghanistan (and I'm not too sure where that begins and ends either) also required its adult males to wear beards. They had a special police force whose job it was to enforce that and similar laws.

It's not really my intention to compare Zilwaukee to Afghanistan. (I'm not sure which would disapprove more, actually.) It is however my intention to make a point that I'm really tired of the government intruding into my life in places it doesn't belong. Whether it's trying to tell me how long my hair can be, who I can or can't marry, or if I can carry around an almanac without fear of being questioned by the FBI, or if I can or can't have a nativity scene in my front yard, the government is getting its red-tape encrusted hands too deep into my private life. Don't tread on me!

2fers: Zilwaukee Stats and Taliban