Posted on 05/03/2002 5:57:43 PM PDT by Betteboop
You also forgot:
1) the peaceful Muslims, against their pacifist religious ideology, fought the British and gained independence for the American colonies
2) Mexicans, not Germans, came up with the All-American Hamburger
3) Snoop Doggy Dog and South Park Mexican, not Elvis and The Beatles, had the greatest influence on American music.
Gee, I need to send a flame e-mail to this mural artist....he is a true bigot!!
Quick! Name the black counterparts of these people.
Women of achievement include Mother Theresa, a generic mother and child and a hippie girl blowing bubbles.
LOFL!!!
Man, that should bring the clucking feminists out from under their rocks, haha...!
Mural shall 'shine like a beacon'
May 17, 2002
Letter to the editor
To the editor:
I feel that I must respond to criticism issued by Dr. David Abalos with regard to the recently completed mural at Hightstown High School.
Since work on the mural began, I have received only positive comments and encouragement from students, staff and community. I never expected that the only problems concerning the mural would come from someone who chose to "showboat" his negative comments to the press instead of talking to me about his concerns. Dr. Abalos' criticism was not about art-related matters. Rather, it was about the way certain cultures and ethnic groups, in his opinion, were not represented.
My original intent was to pour positive thought and constructive imagery into the mural. It started out to simply be a unique wall decoration but then grew into a concept of challenge, discovery and celebration of life with multiple levels of symbolism. Not one culture or person was portrayed in a negative way. I tried to choose the finest enduring visual images of many cultures and time periods.
Dr. Abalos seems to have taken offense that every ethnic group, culture and important figure should have been included within that 40-foot mural area. His criticism also suggests that one area of the mural is more important than another. This approach was unthinkable, as our attempt was to show how everyone and everything is interrelated.
As I stated in the article ("Questions raised over mural's ethnic inclusiveness," May 3, 2002, Page 3A), "when someone criticizes (the mural) they are criticizing me." I take personal affront to his remarks, but they almost seem laughable because, among my professional achievements, I have received a state award from the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights.
Dr. Abalos apparently has the need to see his name printed in public view at the expense of my reputation. What angers me the most is that his insensitive comments placed me in a very difficult position in the classroom. Students became quite outraged and vocal at his critical remarks. Thankfully, the integrity of our students remains intact for they understand this was only the reaction of one person and is not shared by others.
I hope that in the future Dr. Abalos concentrates on his own political agenda and refrains from his role as art critic, the latter showing that his lack of knowledge of symbolism in art history is only overshadowed by his insensitive interpretations. Any great work of art is usually surrounded by controversy and I suppose I have Dr. Abalos to thank for creating that. His reference to the mural as "a very narrow beam of light" is incomplete, however, for when light is focused in a concentrated area, it can become more powerful and is able to travel a greater distance. I know that the positive spirit in which this mural was created will shine like a beacon, go the distance and will be strong enough to withstand any criticism.
William S. Plank Jr.
Hightstown
Where was Dr. Abalos when the painting of the Blessed Mother had feces smeard on it where it was Displayed in the Brooklyn Museum? And where was he when another painting call "Yo Mama's Last Supper"? He is a poltroon and a phoney.
Response to letters concerning mural
May 17, 2002
To the editor:
In a spirit of openness and fairness to all involved I would like to respond to the concerns raised by those who wrote letters regarding the mural at Hightstown High School and to provide the background to the article that appeared in the Windsor-Hights Herald on Friday, May 3, 2002: "Questions raised over mural's ethnic inclusiveness."
Several weeks ago I received a call from Chris Karmiol, a reporter from the Windsor-Hights Herald, who asked me if we could discuss several topics that he was working on for possible articles. One of the topics was a mural that was being painted in Hightstown High. I replied that I had seen the beginnings of the mural but I did not know much about it. He then discussed some of his impressions of the mural and asked me if I would be willing to comment for an article that he planned to write. I was told at the time that there would be others who were being contacted to get their views on the mural so as to provide a balanced article. He told me that he had an outline of the mural and that we could use this to discuss the mural. The discussion lasted for about an hour-and-a-half. Before I left I made it a point to ask Mr. Karmiol to be sure to convey my comments in the spirit with which they were made — one of openness and fairness.
During our conversation I gave my personal observations regarding the mural. At no time was there any display of emotion and certainly no personal negative comments were made about the artist. The freedom of the artist was never questioned. I have heard that the artist is a good teacher and a very fine artist. I do not doubt that. But that is not the point. I disagreed with the perspective of the artist, not his ability as a teacher or artist. Ther is a difference between not agreeing with an artist and asserting his or her right to paint or write according to their vision. A school, however, is a public space and everybody has the right to comment on a mural both before and after it is displayed.
I hope that this background information helps to put the article in perspective. Finally, I would be glad to participate in a public forum to discuss the issues raised by the mural. There is no better way to interact with students than to invite them to join in a dialogue in which they can participate and see the democratic values of citizenship in action.
Dr. David Abalos
East Windsor
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