The freshman lawmaker had kept a low profile until his proposed legislation targeting low-riding pants became a media sensation. Now he can hardly keep up with his fan mail.
Since his bill, HB1981, generated a torrent of publicity in January, Howell has been deluged with calls and e -mails. The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, he said last week.
“Ive been hearing not just from my district, but from all over Virginia and beyond,” Howell said. “People say, ‘It’s tough doing this, but stick with it. Were behind you.'”
Shameful. It’s absolutely shameful.
As if to punctuate the point, Linda Smiley, a white General Assembly office worker, hailed Howell as he was finishing an interview and commended him for his efforts.
“I told my son, ‘If you walk around with your underwear showing, I won’t wait for a state law,'” Smiley said. “Ill fine you $50 myself.'”
That’s more like it — the private-sector approach.
I don’t see how Howell or his bill is shameful. No matter what side of the aisle we all fall on, our society needs to have limits on a lack of decency. This reminds me of Bill Cosby’s comments on the use of ebonics within the Black community. He said something along the lines of “A kid who continues to say things like ‘Yo, that’s wack!’ probably won’t become a doctor.
I see the same errs here. Have you ever seen a lawyer argue before a judge with half of his ass hanging out of his pants? You haven’t, and I’m sure the judge would hold the lawyer in contempt.
If sagging pants is a family value, then we’ll never agree.
Well then, by all means, let’s make the word “whack” illegal, post-haste.
When did public government become the arbiter of public decency? I’m certain our founding fathers did not require this in the initial Articles, nor in the Bill, nor in anything that came from the Convention of 1789.
On a personal note, I am offended by pontificating white males sporting tight collars and wearing the inevitably ubiquitous neck-tie. Should I ask my legislator nix the neck-tie?
Better yet, if we employed the police to fine all those who chose to dress in this offensive manner, we would quickly settle our public debt and have excess funds to maintain a war in Iraq and Iran simultaneously. Call it the stuffed-shirt dividend.
Folks, it’s not about the duds, but the inappropriateness of Rep. Howell’s supercilious legislation.
As Voltaire no-doubt would say, “While I don’t rag out in baggy breeches, I would defend to the death your right to do so, dude.”
To descend, for a moment, from the lofty plain of principle, I ask, as a sidebar to all you good Virginians:
Just what did it cost, in hard-earned tax dollars, for the Hon. Rep. Howell and his copious staff to develop and deliver this poignant piece of puerile public policy? Are the people of Virginia now free from all the problems that plague the rest of us as to now tackle the pressing political issue of a state-wide dress code?
Will Virginian males next be required to wear suspenders and a belt? Film at 11.
You have my condolences.