Stupidest Shithole in America: Pickens County, South Carolina

By Michael J.W. Stickings

(We haven't done one of these in months. Needless to say, though, there are many, many shitholes all across America -- like Nelson, Georgia; Mississippi; Dietrich, Idaho; and Burkesville, Kentucky -- so let's get back to it.)

Sorry, people of Pickens County, South Carolina. Whether you're part of the problem or not, it's your sheriff who gets you on the map this time:

Rick Clark, the sheriff of Pickens County, S.C., vowed on Friday to defy President Obama's order that U.S. flags be lowered to half staff in honor of deceased South African leader Nelson Mandela.

Clark made his promise in a Facebook post to keep flying the flag at the Pickens County Sheriff's Office at full height.

"I usually don't post political items, but today is different. I received this notification today, 'As a mark of respect for the memory of Nelson Mandela, the President orders that the flag of the United States be flown at half-staff effective immediately until sunset, December 9, 2013,'" Clark wrote. "Nelson Mandela did great things for his country and was a brave man but he was not an AMERICAN!!! The flag should be lowered at our Embassy in S. Africa, but not here."

Well, at least the guy's not explicitly anti-Mandela, at least not publicly, but his excuse is still incredibly stupid. The U.S. has lowered its flags for non-Americans before, and I think it's fair to say that Mandela was more than "just" a South African. And of course it doesn't help matters that this is happening in the South, where, you know, slavery, Jim Crow, etc., etc.

It looks like there's some beautiful country down your way, Pickensians, or whatever you're called, but some of your humanfolk leave rather a lot to be desired.

(Cue banjo.)