I hope this is a joke

This entry was published at least two years ago (originally posted on March 18, 2003). Since that time the information may have become outdated or my beliefs may have changed (in general, assume a more open and liberal current viewpoint). A fuller disclaimer is available.

I really, really, really hope this is a joke, but the website looks all too serious. In a move even more mind-bogglingly stupid than the call to rename the second Lord of the Rings Movie, “The Two Towers,” due to post-9/11 trauma, a guy by the name of Josh Wander has posted a petition to give the Statue of Liberty ~~back to France~~.

Located in New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty was a gift of international friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is one of the most universal symbols of political freedom and democracy…

Now it is time to give it back!

They can have their damn Statue!

On the bright side, though, while the petition already has almost 500 signatures, it looks like the majority of them are from people who take this idea about as seriously as I do. Here’s a smattering…

I’ve been joking about it since Freepers starting pouring French wine down sewer grates, but now this nutter’s made it reality. So, I figured I’d better sign the petition. I mean, what with Ashcroft and Ridge running the Department of justice and the Office of Fatherland Security, we clearly have no use for symbols of freedom. I think we also need to take the blindfold off of Justice and stuff a big wad of \$100 bills onto one side of her scales, and stuff the Liberty Bell in a basement in Fort Knox. Since dimplomacy is over, I think pretense should be, too.

I propose a trade — they get the statue, I get Audrey Tautou.

…and let’s give back any stuff we got from the Germans too. And the Russians, Mexicans, … um, all of ’em damnit!

I think we should aboslutely give the Statue of Liberty back. We’ve had it with those commie pinko ideals of freedom, democracy, and equality! Bring on facism, christian zealotry and rampant ignorance! USA! USA! USA!

Yeah! Give it back! And stop drinking Pasteurized milk, too!

Hey, maybe they are more deserving of the Statue of Liberty since they DON’T want to bomb the holy hell out of a third world nation for NO APPARENT REASON. Sounds like their democracy’s in good shape and ours is the one that needs some help…

Ah, well. Hopefully, it’s just a hoax, and the guy’s angling to get some attention. If he’s serious…well, I guess we need people on both ends of the bell curve.