Man Hangs Noose in Yard as Decoration

Man Hangs Noose in Yard as Decoration

PUNTA GORDA, FL -- A homeowner in Punta Gorda doesn't understand why someone might take offense to a decoration he put up in his yard.

The decoration is a noose and it's hanging in the front yard of Michael Whiteaker's home. he calls it an ornament and a conversation piece. The noose has been there for years and no one has complained until now.

"I fought in 'Nam for this country, and if I want to hang a hangman's noose in my yard, I ought to be able to do it," he said.

The noose is not illegal. Whiteaker says he's not prejudiced, but an anonymous caller told a local newspaper the noose is offensive.

Neighbors say Whiteaker never bothers anyone and he can do whatever he wants on his property.

Whiteaker says it's not even a real noose since it has ten knots instead of 13.

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/strange/news-article.aspx?storyid=93458

It's his yard, he hasn't broken the law, and he publicly stated he is not prejudice. There is nothing more anyone can do unless they want to try to talk to him about it. And now, since he was hassled about it, he has decided to keep it where it is. :D

still needs a "sensitivity chip."

I'm sure The Bush Mob would approve of the act.

That's why these things will continue to be overlooked. Our Resident/MOB approve of the signals that come from such behavior.

I wouldn't want to live next to that racist asshole. And it is racist, no matter what he says. Fuck him. Maybe it isn't illegal but it most certainly is racist and he should be ostracized and shamed for it.

Nooses were being used long before your country existed so trying to portray them as a universal symbol of rascism is crap.

it can be classed as free speech. It doesn't necessarily mean to him what it means to every black person.

He is being an racist asshole, no matter what he says. Personally I assume that everyone who has a noose in their yard must be a member of the KKK or at least in sympathy with them.

thats one hell of a preconcieved notion about people. if the guy was racist and trying to prove a point then he would just state he is racist. maybe the noose has a different meaning to him, maybe it is a connection to his past. who knows. but what alot of the people in this country don't want are goose stepping thugs barging on our property wanting to change something about us. we dont want the repubs from doing it to use why should we want to do it to someone else who is not bothering anyone and is not doing anything illegal.

... suicidal urges or something -- like the bullet carried around by Mel Gibson's character in the first Lethal Weapon movie.

Judging from the "beware of dog" sign in the picture accompanying the article, I take it he isn't fond of visitors. I've seen houses that had signs reading "trespassers will be shot" and other similar sentiments.

I would want him to take it down for safety reasons, though. I imagine he'd be mighty upset to wake up one fine morning and discover that someone had used his pre-made noose to commit suicide.

"To be honest with ya, I would've took it down, but now that I got somebody aggravating me about it, I ain't taking it down."

That's about as stupid as leaving a fridge at the curb with the doors on.

with the mullahs of Iran and President Ahmadinejad. It does look like a makeshift gallows.

I am offended by his noose and I bet he would be offended by my flag burning.

And so it goes.

....if we weren't having the whole Jena 6 thing right now......would this even be an issue?

He's had it up for years, NOW suddenly everyone remembers that nooses = lynching?