By Mark David Blum

It is an East Coast / West Coast thing; to go or not go barefoot.

I am a native born Californian; raised on Santa Monica and Venice Beaches, and who like everyone else in my world, goes barefoot everywhere they can. Barefootin` is as common place on the West Coast as pizza and wings are here in the East. (By the way, NEVER eat a California pizza … ick). So many folks are barefoot in California, that most commercial establishments actually post signs that say, “shoes and shirt required.”

When I met the woman who is now my bride of almost 20 years and at peak of our relationship, I asked her to marry me. After saying “yes” (fool that she was), it was time to ‘meet the parents’. On a plane we got and for the first time ever, I set foot east of the Rockies. I met this thing called “humidity” for the first time. It was a wonderful week long visit to New Joisey.

On one of the days, we decided to go for a walk and off we went. It was a hot day and so, I went barefoot without thinking. When we returned several hours later, everybody in her family and the guests who had arrived in our absence were stunned, shocked, and totally flabbergasted that I had gone out walking barefoot. From then to this day, I am befuddled about easterners and their inability to understand the pleasures and freedom of barefootin`.

In the good ol summertime, whether here in Syracuse at the State Fair or in Alex Bay or just about anywhere, you will find me barefootin`. Give me a reason not to. It helps cool the body, it is a free feeling, and it is that much less clothing and gear that I have to deal with. Ferinstance, during recent downpours at the Fair, shoe’d folks would walk way out of their way to avoid the large puddles. Me, I just walked on through splattering water and cooling my feet and enjoying the shocked looks on people’s faces.

This year, Dan the Scam O’Hara, the self anointed Nanny, Mommy, and Daddy of the Fair, declared that the long standing Fair policy of shoes and shirts required was going to be strictly enforced. His justification is that in doing so, he enhances a ‘Family Friendly’ atmosphere. His causation and correlation logic eludes me, but it matters not.

I must confess that this year moreso than in previous, the New York State Police have been pretty cool and in relatively good moods. Their new lookouts all over the midway annoy me but that is normal and to be expected. After all, we have become a Police State so having Staties monitoring our every move is part of the new Fair experience.

But on the subject of barefootin`, it was not until yesterday that any Statie said a word about my bare feet. They acknowledged I was harming no one and let me be free and live my life in liberty. Even one pretty blonde with a nice bunch of junk in her trunk could not stop smiling at my Lawyer tshirt and barefeet. If she only knew how much I dig chicks in uniform.

Alas, but there was one. There is ALWAYS one – the hall monitor type. You know this guy; life by the book and who always tattles. This one State Trooper actually took the time to turn around and stop me dead in my tracks and demand I put on my shoes.

Obviously I complied; my precious youngest was there at my side and it was no time to take a stand. Less than fifteen minutes later, I had blisters on the back of my heel.

So, should I file a claim against the State? Medical necessity prevents me from wearing shoes now.

Apparently, my barefootin` has drawn local law enforcement attention as the subject thereof was part of a day long bickerfest on the Syracuse.com Crime and Safety Forum. In summary response to all of them, let me say that I go barefoot for my own personal pleasure and pursuit of happiness. I see neither attention nor accolades but really just want to be left alone to enjoy the Fair. Yes, there is a political spin to it because Mr. Blow Up Doll O’Hara is sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong.

Finally, yes it is disgusting on the Fairgrounds. My nemisis is not vomit or glass, but food. You people are just pigs. Even hot cigarette butts are an annoyance but it’s the gross amounts of food and drink you social do-gooders splatter on the grounds that I find most annoying. Oh, and yes, I do enter the bathrooms barefoot. Nothing on the floor in there is any more disgusting that what else is ranking in the walk ways. Finally, after four years, the record should remain absolutely clear that the ONLY times I have suffered any injuries to any part of my feet has been while wearing shoes. Otherwise, its just them tiny rocks that bug the crap out of me.

What follows are some of the opinions expressed by the public:

“Sandals could work, and cover up that blister before you end up spending an otherwise fun-filled Fair day in their infirmary!”

“A "lawyer" who breaks the rules. Big surprise there.”

“Ever think that wearing shoes at the fair is meant to protect you and others? With all the animals and such walking around and if you ahve a sore on your feet the disease you could get? Its why they tell you to wash your hands after feeding them. Or who is going to take responsibility whrn you cut your foot because you chose not to wear shoes? Oh I know you will sue the state for not picking up that pebble you cut your foot on. So lets see, we the taxpayers will pay the price foot your stupidity.”

“I already have a mother Don't need no government to tell me to put my shoes on.... Freedoms lost.”

“I just checked the state and federal constitutions, the Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence and Magna Carta. Can't seem to find anything about the right to walk barefoot on someone else's property. Couldn't even find anything about the right to walk barefoot at all. Tell me more about this right. Setting aside the obvious (that is, what kind of special idiot would even think of walking thru the state fair w/o covering on their feet), does the so-called right to walk barefoot trump a property owner's right, or the right of someone running an event, to set rules for admitance or a dress code, or reasonable guidelines to protect the health and safety of invitees?”

(Psst, according to Constitutional analysis, if there is no express limitation, then all rights and powers belong to the People. Your constitutional and legal analysis is backwards).

“I didn't realize the Fairgrounds were owned by a private individual.”

“Next up, no bare feet at Verona Beach?”

“It is onwed by someone or something. Everything is. God stopped making land long ago. There are no more undiscovered continents, and the land rushes are over.”

“The State Fair is run by someone on someone else's property. They sure have the right to set conditions on access to both the property and the events held thereon. If you come to my house for a party, you mean to tell me I can't tell you to take your shoes off (or put them on, as the case may be) because it violates some imagined "freedom" you think you have? Think again.”

“I was under the impression it was owned by the state of NY.”

“I realize that doesn't make it my property but it would make it our property. If I want to walk barefoot on 'my side' of it i will.”

“It is not your property. I don't know who actually owns it. It may well be owned by NYS or one of its many agencies or instrumentalities. If that is the case, then it is still not your property; it is NYS's property. You are not NYS. Being a citizen or resident of NYS does not make you an owner of state property. The state still can (and does) exclude people from its property, or place conditions or restrictions on entry into or upon its property.”

“And, there still is no right to walk barefoot”

“Hey, he wants to get some disease, Let him! Who cares?”

“Have just enough blue blood from your LEO days going thru your veins that you would think that such a foolish suit would be successful. Please, don't lump Lo in with the rest of us lawyers just like I wouldn't lump you in with the rest of the LEOs he complains of, although I'm starting to think you are one of them.”

“Anyone who would walk barefoot at the NYS fair has some major issues. I hate walking around that place with shoes ON! Yuck!”

“I had to weigh in on this one. Do you really walk into those men's rooms in bare feet? I knew lawyers were disgusting, but that has to be a new low.”

“Don't lump us all in the same group ok??? I even think its disgusting.”

“Protect the animals from getting hoof and mouth disease - cover those tootsies – lol”

“Are you honestly a lawyer? Do we know if this clown is truly a lawyer? His language skills always baffle me. Does he just do it to try to get attention? I don't get what point he is trying to make.”

“I believe LoS is really a lawyer-and you'd probably like him-bare feet and all-if he got you out of trouble.”

“You walk in bare feet at the fairgrounds? I think I/m going to gag. Say, if a throw up and ruin my compuer keyboard, because of somethign you did, can I sue you for damages?”

Folks, none of this is done for you. It is for me. Love it, like it, matters not. Bottom line is that Barefootin` is the only way to be free and to enjoy personal liberty.

See at the next mud puddle. Stand aside or you will get wet.