Freedom

by Jimmy Ettele

Created on: October 07, 2007

Once again, those in the free market, with an open mind, empty canvas, and a modicum of talent have decided to go after our morally righteous friends kneeling in the pews. And, like clockwork, those kneeling, have stood up and cried foul.

We need to remember that this is art. This is the expression of someone's thoughts and ideas, laid down for an audience to see. Because of this country's founders understanding that language and art, at times insightful and thought provoking, may also turn to offensive and in bad taste, will need protection too, let's hear it for the 1st Amendment to the Constitution.

I saw the ad of the Last Gay Supper. It really wasn't a dinner party I would be attending but to throw a white cloth over it to hide it then sling accusations of slander is ridiculous. First of all, to indict this picture of slander would be wrong. Slander is defamation of character through oral or written medium(we'll throw art into that too). Well defamation is an attack of one's character. Well who are we attacking? Jesus? Are we are talking about slandering a religion? Something that is neither based in truth nor provable as a good lie to intelligent free thinking human beings. How in the world can you be slanderous to an idea? How can you attack something we can't even prove ever happened? Wait, the bible said it did, it must be true because the bible is the infallible word of the Lord. So we are to believe that our planet is 6000 years old and humans lived to be over 900 years old and the Earth was completely flooded and the only survivors were 2 of every animal, Noah, and his posse? You might as well begin chirping about comic books and cartoons too.

Artists express themselves. They use their medium. Kanye West, Bruce Springsteen, and other singers make a CD. Artist slap something down on a piece of paper and show it to people. There is a reason they are listed as "starving artists". No one really cares enough to purchase any of the garbage they make on a daily basis so why not go for some controversy and some publicity. Publicity, good or bad, is still publicity. It brings attention the artist and his work.

And another thing...relax. You can really tell just how insecure and on edge religious zealots are when they go bonkers after their precious Last Supper is mocked by an artist. Make a precise, thoughtful, calm statement about it, and move on. Their ranting will only generate more attention to it and more people to have to look at that piece of waste.

The church needs to let it go. In your unwavering faith, why would something like this get you so upset? Wouldn't Jesus be the first to offer a mellow and reasonable passage about something like this, maybe something along the lines of turning your cheek? Was it in bad taste, yup. Kind of funny? A little bit, more for the reaction than the actual piece of art. Slanderous? You have got to be kidding me. We have free speech for a reason. Curbing expression and thought, no matter how offense, is exactly how young kids in Germany got together for their bonfires of books in the 30's and 40's.

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