The right to bare straps

Britney Spears and her exposed thong strap are already unwelcome in several Louisiana places.

 One of the first Louisiana towns to enact an ordinance against showing undergarments is Delcambre, La., where residents who expose their underwear in public can face fines up to $500 or six months in jail.

 A proposed Atlanta ordinance, which would make exposing undergarments illegal in public, may further limit Spears’ traveling plans.

 If the ordinance passes, showing boxer shorts, bra straps, and of course, the thong strap, would be banned.

Offenders will pay a fine to be determined if the ordinance passes.

 I personally dislike the trend. To me, it looks very disheveled and careless. When I see someone exposing their undies, I presume the worst about their personality.

But I do enjoy chuckling at others who follow it.

I vividly remember watching a priceless episode of “The Price is Right” a few years ago which featured a lively young man who enjoyed riding his pants low.

 After the young man spun the wheel and won $1,000, he celebrated by jumping until his jeans slid down and millions of people saw his baby blue boxer briefs.

 Besides the entertainment value, there are other reasons why underwear exhibitionists should be allowed to show their favorite pair of boxer briefs.

 I agree that underwear should be worn under clothes, hence the compound word underwear. But even if a person’s pant waist is hanging mid-thigh, the person is still wearing something to prevent others from unwillingly viewing private parts.

 The exception to this mid-thigh logic is the notorious thong and sheer undies.

Maybe these clothing articles, if fully visible, should be deemed indecent by law, but what is so scandalous about showing a strap?

 Banning visible thong and bra straps is also stifling freedom of expression, which many feel extends to clothing choices.

If some people choose to resonate a lack of modesty by showing underwear, it is their choice.

If they want to look like their favorite rap or pop artist, let them. It is only a fashion trend. As we all know, fashion trends fade away.

Remember plaid flannel shirts that were so hot during the grunge era? Or how about smiley-face T-shirts?

I do not think they survived, and I personally do not think visible underwear will stand the test of time.

This proposed law might hurt those who accidentally show a sliver of undergarment.

I have occasionally revealed my bra strap due to an improper fitting bra or shirt.

The ordinance may punish others who do not buy clothes that fit properly, a skill not everyone is lucky to possess.

It can also potentially punish people who lost a significant amount of weight and cannot yet afford a wardrobe that fits their new bodies.

I think the proposed law has little purpose and is a big waste of time.

Since when did politicians decide to become the fashion police?

If I were a citizen of Atlanta, I would be irate that my tax dollars were paying for this pointless argument instead of accomplishing something productive.

There are so many ills in our society that our elected politicians should be striving to eradicate, such as child predators and global warming.

Instead, they choose to waste time arguing and voting about how underwear should be worn.

It’s too bad that underwear takes precedent over children and the environment.