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By JEFFERSON WEAVER
Staff writer
Because of half-naked women, I had to miss church.
I assure you, it was not my choice.
A while back, Miss Ellen Bullard asked me to sing and speak at a special youth service. I was happy to say yes, since talking about Christ and praying with young people is always a good thing.
But I had to cover an emergency town board meeting.
Now, I don’t blame the townspeople of that community.
I didn’t blame my editor for handing me the assignment. I blamed the bad manners of the folks who wanted to open a strip club in that town.
As a newspaperman, I have something of a stake in any argument about freedom of speech – but free speech sometimes conflicts with common decency and good manners.
Sometimes we have to say or see or experience unpleasant things, because of someone else’s right to free expression. I don’t mean just newspaper reporters, but everyone.
We try to elect leaders who listen to how their constituents feel and what they want, then do their best to make the good decisions for their communities.
But we end up with folks who feel like their rights supersede everyone else’s. In some cases, I applaud such folks – dissension always makes us think – but in the case of the topless dance clubs, I question their motivation.
I have never seen the Bill of Rights tattooed on a dancer’s backside, and even if it was, I fear said body art would be covered by the dollar bills shoved into her undergarments.
The folks from one of the now-closed topless nightclubs in Delco approached the town in question about opening a similar establishment in the new town. Like many communities, the town didn’t have an ordinance to deal with erotic dancing. It had never been an issue. Most small towns are the same way.
The town had to scramble to come up with a way to deal with a problem that wasn’t created by its citizens. Like most towns, it already has enough trouble. The town needs jobs, infrastructure, and business that will grow and benefit the citizenry – not hootchie bars.
I have a confession to make: once upon a time, before I got my life right, I spent more time than I like to admit in those types of places. I never did anything illegal, but it was still wrong. While my previous bad behavior is a column for another day, it gives me some perspective about such places.
If the folks in that town had wanted a topless joint, I’m sure someone would have opened one by now.
Since the town board – the leaders elected by a majority of the residents – is against having such an establishment, they should be able to forbid it.
But the state and U.S. Supreme Courts have ruled that erotic dancing is somewhat protected as free speech. That I disagree with them is beside the point. Their job is to interpret the law and that’s what they decided (narrowly, to the credit of both courts).
Finally, the town came up with an ironclad, legal ordinance to effectively ban strip clubs. The best they could do was to strictly regulate adult clubs and carefully define where they can and can’t be built. This seems to be working for them.
The way I was raised, you do indeed have a right to free speech, but that right comes with a responsibility, too.
I do not expect the Constitution to determine morality; to do so would defeat its purpose. We should be able to determine the course of our communities, and respect the rights of others to do the same for their homes. We shouldn’t cry shame if (a) our ideas conflict with others and (b) we aren’t willing or able to convince a majority of people to agree with us.
Had I been able to sing and speak at that youth revival, I likely would have reminded the teens that they couldn’t have gathered were it not for the Constitution.
But I probably would not have reminded them that just as there are people who will twist God’s word for their own purposes, there are others who will twist the Constitution into an excuse to call indecency and immorality free speech.
Unfortunately, they’ll learn that soon enough – especially when they’re told prayer in school is wrong, but a naked woman climbing a pole is free speech.
Weaver is a staff writer for the News Reporter. He may be reached by calling 642-4104, ext. 227, or via email at jeffweaver@newsreporter.biz.
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