Oh what is a lib to do? Flogging, how barbaric! On the other hand, the offender isn’t being incarcerated. The authorities took the trouble to wrap a rug around the tree, so the tree wouldn’t get hurt. Go green!

Basic black is just so butch. A little S&M is stylish. Maybe flogging isn’t so bad. Consenting adults and inclusiveness, you know.

Try hard enough and anything can be rationalized.