NJ Neighbors Ordered to Cover Snow Sculpture of Venus de Milo

[villager]

Source: BBC

Police in the US state of New Jersey have ordered a family to cover up their snow sculpture of the famous nude Venus de Milo after a neighbour complained.

Eliza Gonzalez sculpted the snow-woman with her son and daughter on her front lawn in Rahway following a snowstorm.

Many people praised their creation, but a police officer told them a neighbour had found it too risque, she said.

When given the option of covering the sculpture up or knocking it down, she dressed it in a bikini top and sarong.

"We didn't want to have any problem with the police so we covered it up," Ms Gonzalez told the AFP news agency.

But she now thinks the snowy Venus looks "more objectified and sexualised" than it did before the authorities intervened.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8551528.stm

[ixion]

1. ...

:eyes:

It's things like this that make me believe there is no hope for humanity.

[villager]

4. Certainly little hope for Americans...

n/t

[ensho]

25. kick

nt

[WriteDown]

2. We wouldn't want people offended now...

:eyes:

[Ron Green]

3. We're about halfway between the Europeans, who are laughing at us, and the Muslims,

who are scowling at us.

[bluescribbler]

20. +1

[Solly Mack]

5. She needs a yard sign that proclaims, "My neighbor is an idiot"

[abluelady]

8. And if He Lived in My State

he probably carries a gun when he goes to a bar! Amazing what the right find offensive, isn't it?

[Toilet]

18. Who said

I was anyone from the right?

[Dogtown]

28. Your slippage

is freudian...

[Captain Hilts]

6. Britain's last laugh on us: deporting their Puritans and sending them to the New World. nt

[leftofcool]

15. And they were glad to see us go

[ensho]

26. kick

nt

[Cetacea]

55. Funny and sad.

[Fridays Child]

7. Marble would have been the way to go, here. Snow is SO pornographic.

Jeez. :eyes:

[unblock]

22. no, no, no... snow is HAWWWT!

[WillParkinson]

9. Risque? She's got washboard abs!

Hell, I'm just jealous.

[nyc 4 Biden]

10. picture police strikes again...

[Renew Deal]

11. Well, the covered up version is unique

And hilarious. :rofl:

[surrealAmerican]

38. Thanks for posting the pictures.

They did a really good job with the sculpting. The covered version looks more like seasonal commentary.

[KittyWampus]

40. Love the original. The drapped version would've been cool with cellophane

[Blue_Tires]

49. the proportions could use some more fleshing out

[Swamp Rat]

62. They should have used pages from Gideon's Bible.

[grilled onions]

12. The Fundies Strike Again

We wouldn't want them to have to explain to their offspring(or other fundies) that breasts actually do exist! Unlike the brest feeding mamas whom they banish into secure rooms lest someone might spy a partial breast these "snow breasts" need a hosing down or perhaps the FUNDIES need a hosing down if the site of snowflakes in a certain packed perportion send their senses reeling!!!! It's a wonder they have the fortitude to breed at all.

[COLGATE4]

13. Only in Amerika

could the cops "order" her to dress it up or take it down. There is no legal authority for them to do so, regardless of the neighbor's complaints. We have truly become a nation of sheep.

[apnu]

14. Its amazing how, in America, one prude can hold a whole community hostage.

Our culture is fucked.

[ensho]

27. kick

nt

[dmr]

57. Just like Congress

:crazy:

[Toasterlad]

59. Exactly

The correct response to such jackassery if for the entire neighborhood to surround the stupid cretin, and yell "Shut the fuck up!" until they shut the fuck up.

[MiniMe]

16. They should have just said that she was wearing a skin tight bobsled suit

In honor of the Olympics. I'm sure there are other skintight suits in the games, maybe a lugers suit.

To the neighbor who complained, don't take your kids to a museum, they may find great works of art too risque. *insert facepalm here*

[RantinRavin]

17. When did it become illegal to offend someone ?

Surely there must be some legal precedent for the police to be able to order someone to do something. What exactly was the law that was being violated ? Was it a judgment call ?

[jdlh8894]

23. Surely you jest!

Probably don't smoke either.:evilgrin:

[dixiegrrrrl]

19. Why I love Mr. d....

He read this, and said:
"if it was me, I would have made a whole nude art gallery out of the snow..
one day at a time.........and then kept them frozen."

[Mira]

21. First I recommend it

Then I laugh
and then I hang my head in shame for the stupidity of the "puritans".

[NC_Nurse]

24. Pathetic.

[OnyxCollie]

29. Here's a spoon.

Gouge your eyes out. Problem solved.

[gratuitous]

30. I've always liked snow globes

And I'm really disappointed that it took until this post for someone to say that.

[queerart]

31. People Really Do Have Pent Up Problems....

This reminds me of the day before yesterday I had some books (about 50 or so) that I didn't want any longer....


In my neighborhood (which professes to be progressive... 4 blocks from 2 colleges), it's not unusual for people to put something out on the side of the house that they no longer need to give away.....


So I put out the stack of books (and I even put up a sign warning that the art books may have nude paintings from the National gallery, ect)... also, within the stack there was one (1) Gay themed book "50 Fabulous Gay-friendly Places to Live"

here is a link to the cover of the book:

http://www.amazon.com/50-Fabulous-Gay-friendly-Places-Live/dp/1564148270


So someone comes along, ripped the cover off the book... tore it into little pieces, and tossed it in the yard...


So this persons snow sculpture story doesn't surprise me one bit......

[reggie the dog]

56. grown adults in love and walking together

THE HORROR THE HORROR !!!!!!!

[Dogmudgeon]

32. Think of the CHILDREN!

(Just not too much.)

--d!

[Bluebear]

34. The neighbors were up in arms!

:silly:

[Bluebear]

33. Just wondering under what authority the police told them to take this snowlady down?

[Liberal_in_LA]

52. My thought exactly. The homeowner should have refused.

[Name removed]

63. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bluebear]

65. nodding

[Beetwasher]

35. I Would Have Responded By Making A Giant Snow Penis

And telling my neighbor to "sit on it".

Then, I would demand that the police tell the neighbor cut down their "unseemly" labia-shaped shrubbery.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

36. Even better: Name it Jesus' Penis.

[Lochloosa]

37. I would go out a buy a replica of the real thing and put my mail box on top.

It's what we do in the South.

[W T F]

39. So isn't this a free speech issue?

[tammywammy]

41. They should make a David to go along with Venus. n/t

[Kievan Rus]

42. No wonder the Europeans kicked all their puritanical types out....

When we colonize the Moon and Mars, can we send all the puritanical types there first? It worked for the Europeans to send all their fundies here 400 years ago.

[Sheepshank]

43. Reminds me of a recent issue in our City

A guy was building a house. A neighbor complained that her was building a house in his direct line of sight to some picturesqu mountain scenes. The guy building the house made huge big assed windows on the side of the house facing the complaining neighbor in the shape of "the finger". Priceless

[spanone]

44. the STUPID never stops

[LWolf]

45. Is her neighbor John Ashcroft?

[sakabatou]

46. Just what I was thinking

[alp227]

47. Wow, did Janet Jackson teach us anything?

It doesn't look like so.

(sigh) Welcome to America, where archaic superstitions are more popular than science!

[Flaneur]

48. Was it the snow boobies that were too hot to handle?

This shit is just ridiculous.

[Blue_Tires]

50. Ashcroft lives in NJ now??

[Ignis]

51. Get thee to an artery, Officer Ignoramus!

:banghead:

[JerseygirlCT]

53. She's right - it does. nt

[a la izquierda]

54. culturally devoid prudes

god forbid one has to look at (snow) breasts. it might mean one has to have a conversation with their child about human bodies and objects of art.

[Toasterlad]

58. Stupid, STUPID Country.

[TK421]

60. I hope we get one more major storm....just so I can build a giant snow penis n/t

[Swamp Rat]

61. I The neighbor who complained should have their identity revealed to the public,

and be forced to wear a scarlet letter 'A' for 'asshole' on a dunce cap. :dunce:

[Trillo]

64. If we have a vicious dog in the neighborhood,

out of its yard, striking fear into kids riding bicycles down the street, animal control does little more than note it in a database. If several people call, then they take it more seriously.

Yet, if you have a nude statue in your yard, one negative call about it gets action.

Which, however, is more dangerous? A vicious dog threatening people, or a nude avatar made from snow? Our various systems are so screwed up it's hard to believe.

[buckrogers1965]

66. Don't the police have actual crimes to investigate?

If not, then maybe we need to cut back on the number of cops we employ.