We are proud to name as this week’s Laura Lee and Cutter Weenie of the Week, Flag burner Steven Paltzer of Appleton for taking down a pride flag in front of the Outagamie County Criminal Justice Center and lighting it on fire. Then resisting arrest and generally causing a stir in between the two buildings in Appleton guaranteed to be filled with cops.
Steven saw a flag he didn’t like, took it down even though it wasn’t his, soaked it in gasoline and tried to set it on fire outside a courthouse. That’s not a political statement, that’s a tantrum with extra steps. Imagine being so upset by a piece of fabric that you decide the best use of your day is committing property damage in front of law enforcement. If a flag makes you that angry, maybe the flag isn’t the problem.
This is one of those situations where you have to wonder what was supposed to happen next. Did he think everyone would suddenly gather around and applaud? Did he think the courthouse staff was going to say.. You know what, a random guy with a gas can really changed our minds today.
It should be noted that he has not been charged with a hate crime but since they don’t have a law against stupidity or the “adults throwing toddler style tantrums” law he was charged with criminal damage to property, because he did destroy that wasn’t his, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, which is the adults throwing toddler style tantrums law.
So for anyone who thinks anger is a “strategy,” this is a good example of why it isn’t. For publicly burning a pride flag while privately surfing grinder (allegedly) and for future law studies, I’m not sure “Steven vs cloth” is gonna make the list.
We are proud to name this fiery fairy flag burner Steven Paltzer of Appleton as this week’s Laura Lee & Cutter Weenie of the week
