This morning I interviewed the Mayor of Wentzville, Paul Lambi, regarding a potential ban on mullets, the still popular 80's style haircut. This comes after Pine Lawn banned "sagging" because it is an indecent activity. I asked Paul why he is lobbying for a mullet ban, to which he responded, "Wentzville is growing every day. We want to be known as a city which is going farward and modernistic. The residents of our city find the mullet and its related activities like shooting guns, 4-wheeling, excessive beer drinking, and horseshoes, offensive. We want to be known as cosmopolitan, not a bunch of F-250 driving hoosiers. We want a new image and sense of place." Yet, this move is quite controversial and could potentially violate the 1st Amendment. For example, in Texas v. Johnson, Justice Brennan says "If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that government my not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea offensive or disagreeable." When asked about this concern, Paul Lambi said his community has a compelling interest to ban mullets, "...the ban protects the morals and welfare of our community...we find this to be a compelling interest."
Pine Lawn is a distressed community trying to fix its image. Their method is obviously to correct what they perceive as a threat to their image and it could be argued that this negative image deters reinvestment. Yet, banning sagging is about as ridiculous as banning mullets. Both are simply expressions of culture and individual preference. Personally, I don't find sagging or mullets offensive, although possibly lacking taste. What I do find offensive is a municipality trying to regulate the fashion and methods of expression which its citizens exercise. If residents of Pine Lawn have an issue with sagging then let societal actors and social institutions address the problem. Have churches preach about how sagging is a moral evil, yet government has no authority to regulate the dress of its citizens. When churches preach at least citizens don't have to listen or face penalty. When the government takes action everyone is subject to parental rule.
17 comments:
I saw that headline on the PD this morning on the way to work but hadn't had a chance to read it yet.
On the ride home last night we saw some guy with his pants so far down he had one hand on his belt and was waddling to walk. I thought about the idoacy of that.
Then again, it's a choice to be made. On vacation some kid came to the pool with his swim trunks sagging showing off his boxers. His dad walked by and told him to pull it up. He did...until dad left and they went right back down.
Regardless of how funny it may look to most, I often wonder how many do it for the shear reason that others think it's stupid? After all, they get a lot of attention from it don't they? Lord knows we never did anything growing up for the sole reason that our parent's didn't want us to!
Pine Lawn has much more serious problems than just sagging pants.
Yeah, sagging isn't that bad. My opinion is that it's its own punishment: you sag your pants, you look like a moron and everyone sees a more detailed view of your rear. I'll also note that among various cops and security guards I've worked with over the years, there've always been a few stories about "One time I was chasing this one guy, the pants were down his knees, and he tripped and fell and I caught him!" A couple of cops have even told me about seeing folks get shot because they tripped on their own pants. Sad, and preventable.
But yeah, way to support the young folks, Pine Lawn. I really don't think sagging would be so maligned were it not associated with young, black males. I mean, there are plenty of other grossly impractical fashions out there that don't draw nearly the same level of protest. My mobility and comfort were both pretty seriously hampered last time I put on a pair of stilettos, and I assume it drew more attention to my body (All three of these things are standard complaints about sagging, no?) but I don't see Pine Lawn legislating against impractically high and thin high heels.
And not that I ever sag my pants on purpose, but I have lost some weight lately, so... ahem, I'll make sure to wear a good, strong belt next time I'm thinking of venturing past Goody-Goody on MLK.
I guess what many people have against sagging pants is that they feel it emulates criminals whose pants were sagging because police had taken their belts away after arresting them. I have to admit that youth culture that increasingly finds criminal life "glamorous" is a major social problem in America.
Sure, there's always been some glamorization of crime in Hollywood and pop culture in general.
it is hilarious that my friend Jim's picture comes up as the first picture on The Google's image search for "mullet". God bless America.
Next thing you know they're gonna ban camel toes.
woo hoo! that's me! you should see how low my pants are sagging!
let the mullets be paul lambi!
I don't know about my pants sagging, but my bag sure as hell does... cause of my 12 folded, mmmhmmm. Thats my dad in the picture by the way.
I knew this girl once with a mullet who had a sagging camel toe, and in my opinion she boosted the morals and welfare of the community. I mean, she had an awesome mullet and a visibly sagging camel toe which were real head-turners. It makes me happy just thinking about her.
Such colorful comments.
perhaps a compromise could be agreed upon - that sagging pants are allowed if and only if the wearer had a substantial mullet. i mean a mullet so fine that people would stop and say "damn. maybe it's time i had a mullet again. i wonder what shampoo/conditioner/product combination he uses?" i realize this is subjective and bound to be riddled with arguement over the extent of a given haircut and the style presented, but perhaps it will fly.
This should be national news. Jim has a right to wear his mullet. I'm emailing bill O'reilly. We have a first amendment people, please.
This is a record for number of comments on my blog. Lets see how many we can get on this thread.
You're right dude, Jim has a right dude. I'm emailing Bill O'Reilly too... He'll help us. He'll stick up for Jim and defend his first amendment right to have a massive mullet. This aggression will not stand, man!
Jim's mullet is nice but you should see his comb-over.
can i cut hair or what? mullets and comb-overs, i do it all!---rob
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