In this day of split-second media, ever more increasing demonstrations of idiocy seem to be on the rise.  Take for example a news item reported by Katie Stallcup of Auburn, Alabama (“Councilman removes Confederate flags from graves, “Opelika-Auburn News, April 23, 2009).
 
City Councilman Arthur L. Dowdell believes that being elected to a city-wide post allows him to be above the law.  On Thursday, April 23, the “Honorable” Dowdell Pulled his car into the Pine Hill Cemetery in Auburn and proceeded to “pull up” small Confederate flags placed on the graves of Confederate veterans, which were recently decorated for Confederate Memorial Day, a State holiday celebrated in Alabama on Monday, April 27.
 
In fact, one of the flags was “snapped” in two by the Councilman.  Or, if one is to believe Mr. Honorable, the flag “might have snapped itself,” he said. “If it did, so what? If I had my way, I would have broke them all up and stomped on them and burned them.”
 
And what in the world could have given the Councilman the idea that he could simply march into a cemetery and begin removing private property?
 
Evidently, some City cemeteries have covenants restricting deed owners from placing certain decorations on the graves of the dearly departed.  However, Pine Hill Cemetery has no such covenants, and the graves are private property purchased by the individuals or the family of those individuals buried in the cemetery. 
 
But in the interest of “consistency,” the Councilman and Mayor will be looking into taking away some of the property rights of deed holders within Pine Hill Cemetery.
 
Let’s put aside the fact that Confederate flags were involved, and let’s use as our example a large, plastic pink flamingo. 
 
I live in a subdivision without covenants and without a Home Owners’ Association.  Let’s further say that I live next door to a lunatic who is gaga over pink flamingos.  In fact, this individual is so obsessed with the filthy beasts that his entire lawn is one vast sea of pink flamingos.
 
I am quite offended by this unrestrained use of lawn ornaments.  I am the butt of my friend’s jokes.  My children are frightened to go outside.  In short, I am being oppressed by the vile fowls.
 
Then what is a boy to do?  Run on my neighbor’s property and rip every last blessed bird out of the ground, crushing one into recyclable material for good measure?
 
No.  Simply because I am annoyed, insulted, hurt, and maybe even scarred, I do not have the right to enter upon my neighbor’s lawn and begin removing and destroying his private property.
 
Certainly, my neighbor would have me arrested, charged with a number of criminal offenses, such as trespass, destruction of property, assault on a bird, and so on.  In fact, he would undoubtedly sue me for civil damages as well, probably for more money than the pink plastic poop is worth, simply to teach me a lesson.
 
Why then does Councilman Dowdell think he is above the law?  The truth — he is an elected official.  Until Americans wake up and hold their elected officials accountable for their stupid actions in the name of the electorate, none of our fundamental rights will be safe.