31.8.2007 Tote Hosen and Sagging Pants

Now here is an interesting news item that caught my attention today.In his article in todays International Herald Tribune the writer, Niko Koppel, talks about how the authorities are struggling with Southern mostly Afro-American teenagers who love to wear their jeans hip-hop style.

In case you need some help with this take a close look at the photo.These two youngsters have allowed their pants to sag thus showing parts of their underwear.What would happen if some of the kids here in Paderborn were to imitate this latest US fashion? Would the police stop them? Would they be fined?Which law would be evoked to make them pull their pants up higher?

Well,the article goes on to inform the reader that in a small town in Louisiana wearing sagging pants is a crime and it carries a fine of as much as $ 500 USD or up to a six-month sentence in jail.Wow.I was thinking that if our German rock group the Toten Hosen came on stage with their pants way down we would have a double whammy! and then what?

So - just how safe are our three Paderborner teenagers in Belleville from being exposed to low hanging jeans? If we here allow folks to sunbathe in the nude in the Englischer Garten in the heart of Munich surrounded by strolling tourists and locals alike we will certainly be able to handle sagging - but I wouldn't be too sure about it.