Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Norse v. City of Santa Cruz (9th Cir. - Nov. 3, 2009)

Giving a Nazi salute ain't exactly nice. It can also properly get you kicked out of a City Council meeting. Or so the Ninth Circuit holds today.

Judge Tashima dissents, arguing that the salute was silent and far from disruptive, and hence that the plaintiff's ejection might well have been in retaliation for his viewpoints.

Regardless, I must say that I strongly encourage everyone to keep Nazi salutes to a minimum. At City Council meetings, at anti-Obama rallies, and pretty much everywhere else for that matter. I have a vague sense that they're -- how can I put this -- in poor taste. Since analogy to six million dead is pretty much, well, a bit overstated, if you know what I mean.

Trust me on this one.