Posted on 07/29/2005 5:24:15 PM PDT by Impeach98
The Art of Politics, Patriotism
SacUnion.com Staff Report Published: July 29, 2005
(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) A painting titled "T'anks to Mr. Bush!" by attorney-artist Stephen Pearcy, is displayed in the Department of Justice cafeteria in Sacramento. ** (Photos from Thursday’s protest are located below.)**
The California Department of Justice building has become ground zero over a collection of artwork that critics have attacked for being ‘anti-American.’ The most controversial painting depicts the U.S. flag in the shape of the United States being flushed down a toilet.
Thursday night the debate was elevated to new heights as more than 600 hundred people gathered to both support and oppose the display titled “A Creative Merger: Artists & Lawyers”.
Law enforcement officers stood in between the two sides to keep the peace, with emotions running high at times.
On one side were those who felt the controversial artwork was not appropriate for display in a public building that is supported by taxpayer funding.
Move America Forward in conjunction with Sacramento radio talk show host, Mark Williams of KFBK 1530, put together the “I LOVE AMERICA” art exhibit on the sidewalks in front of Attorney General Lockyer’s offices. The purpose was to show what they called a ‘pro-American alternative’ to the controversial exhibit inside.
After Move America Forward announced their plans for the event, anti-war protestors put out a statement saying they would counter with their own protest. And both sides turned out in force.
Move America Forward’s supporters sang the national anthem, chanted “USA, USA, USA” and performed the pledge of allegiance.
“It dumbfounds me that the State Attorney General would sponsor an anti-American art exhibit and put it on display in a taxpayer funded facility,” said Melanie Morgan, Chairman of Move America Forward.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacunion.com ...
Mark Washburn addressing a crowd of supporters.
Supporters of Steve Pearcy and his art work present art of their own.
George Schaefer speaks to the crowd about patriotism.
Donald LaCombe leads a group in a rally chant.
Anti-Bush protestors show their feelings.
Pamela Barnett presents her own artwork.
If I were closer, I'd piss on it and call it performance art
Thanks!
One of these times this kind of thing is going to get out of hand. While I don't advocate violence toward the terroristlovingleftwingscumbags I understand why it could happen. Some of these terroristlovingleftwingscumbags are just looking for a fight and one day they'll find it.
I’m out here for freedom of speech. Just because art doesn’t say what you want it to say doesn’t mean it should be disallowed,” explained Velvet McKenzie of Antelope.
Velvet McKenzie. Why do I get an image of of dirty unwashed hair, hairy legs, and no visible means of support.
This is not art, this is political speech, and as political speech it has no place in a Justice building.
Not only can you not hang the Ten Commandments, but what about other forms of art. Remember recently when the California National Guard offices had to get rid of some posters because a bunch of lefties found them offeeeeennsive? I'd bet those were the same people (all 12 of them) who counterprotested Move America Forward. Any they have the nerve to call us "censors."
This is a bit hard, given the framing, (either Anti-War or Pro-America/Pro-Troops).
I'm both Pro-America and Pro-Troops. That Calif. state artwork
is anti-Bush, not anti-American to me. Take a deep breath, and follow
how this artwork speaks to me. It's about Bush, flushing the U.S. future down the
drain re: Iraq. He was spot on with Afghanistan: did just the right
thing, and the U.S. had worldwide support, going after those who had
attacked the U.S. on 9/11. Even deep in the Mid-East, the U.S. had some
'street' support, because we had the right to defend against an attack. I'm
very Pro-War/Pro-America/Pro-Troops here.
But Iraq didn't attack the U.S., nor did they have any W.M.D.s. We didn't
have worldwide support, we had worldwide condemnation. Bush had no
right, to wage war on Iraq.
I believe, Bush's war on Iraq will cause great damage and grief to the U.S.
for years to come.
I just don't see being Anti-Bush, equal to being Anti-American. I love this
country. That artwork, is about G. Bush flushing the U.S. down the drain.
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