Hello... is that you God???

[DeSwiss]

Woman Told to Remove 'Messages From God'

SAN MATEO, Calif. (Feb. 27) - A woman who has covered her roof and property with painted slogans she calls messages from God has been ordered to remove them or face possible fines or jail time. The San Mateo City Council unanimously ruled last week that Estrella Benavides' writings violate city codes regulating the size of signs. The writings allege vast government conspiracies, among other warnings.

Benavides, 47, who also broadcasts the messages from a loudspeaker on her car's roof, has said the messages come to her from God through a statue at her church and from the Bible. She claims the city's ruling violates her free speech rights.

"They're telling me based on the San Mateo sign code that I'm violating the law," Benavides said. "I'm telling them based on the U.S. Constitution that their sign code violates the law."

The council ruling orders Benavides to remove the slogans or face fines of $50 a day starting late next month. If she refuses to remove them or pay the fines, the city will sue her or file criminal charges, City Attorney Shawn Mason said.

http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/woman-told-to-remove-messages-from-god/n20070227222909990012

*** - You know, I've been hearing voices in my head telling me that there are "vast government conspiracies" for a long time. Ever since about 2000.....

:think:

[MADem]

1. Medication can help that condition, I imagine

I imagine her neighbors aren't too delighted, especially if they're trying to sell their house...!

[DeSwiss]

3. MADem, you make a good point....

....clearly she needs Kool-Aid detox.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

2. Benavides' rights to free speech

only last as far as the boundary between herself and others, and if she is violating someone else's rights by making her house like like a filthy, graffiti-ridden dump, that affects her neighbors.

Besides, why hasn't someone gotten help for this woman if she's hearing inanimate objects talking to her?

[DeSwiss]

4. Some people are of the opinion....

...that if religion is involved, man's laws just don't matter. But then I'm never surprised how these same people often will wrapped themselves up in the flag and the Constitution to protect their supposed rights to inundate others with their blather, while simultaneously destroying the rights (and often the lives) of others.


As for getting "help" for her and the statue voices... maybe the city council could step in and acquire the property through eminent domain. Then they can set it up as a tourist attraction like the Oracle at Delphi. Should really bring in the tax dollars....