Censorship by the Bush Administration

[Mephisto]

I just finished reading the very interesting string on the "Life of Jesus" cartoonist fate should he ever step foot in Greece.

As an artist, I am very concerned with censorship of any type, and the most noteworthy artistic censorship in recent times came when the Bush administration duped Colin Powell into making a case for war in Iraq with the U.N.

This particular censorship was never covered by the mainstream media here in the U.S. which dispels any assertions that the media is liberal. I feel that this censorship was overlooked by most people who were concerning themselves with the apparent inevitablity of war.

When Powell gave his speech to the U.N. there was a large painting by Picasso (Guernica) that was covered during his speech. Picasso painted Guernica to show the horrors of war and aerial bombardment (something the U.S. hoped to engage in shortly), and the Bush administration rightly thought that perhaps this wasn't the best background to have while making the case for war.

http://slate.msn.com/id/2078242/

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0209-04.htm

It seems to me that everything bad about this administration was evident at the beginning, but most Americans were too preoccupied with, "kicking ass and taking names," to even notice the slow erosion of their rights. Freedom of speech and freedom of expression have gone down the tube along with the right to pursue happiness, next comes freedom of (or from) religion.

If the Greeks can try and convict a cartoonist that has never stepped into their country, can you imagine what Bush and his band of bastards are capable of?

Mephisto

[Elind]

Originally posted by Mephisto


If the Greeks can try and convict a cartoonist that has never stepped into their country, can you imagine what Bush and his band of bastards are capable of?

Mephisto

As an artist you undoubtedly have an advantage of imagination over those of us who don't have such talents as you allude to; but I would suggest that if you post a lot of words and links with only this as a conclusion, you can't be a novelist (some consider themselves artists also).

I mean no particular defense of Bush, but the thread would be a lot more fun if you would share some more of your imagination with us.

[Rob Lister]

Originally posted by Elind
As an artist you undoubtedly have an advantage of imagination over those of us who don't have such talents as you allude to; but I would suggest that if you post a lot of words and links with only this as a conclusion, you can't be a novelist (some consider themselves artists also).

I mean no particular defense of Bush, but the thread would be a lot more fun if you would share some more of your imagination with us.

Lighten up, Elind. This is obviously a young and inexerienced political rhetorician. I do think he should redo this assignment; not as punishment but as a learning experience.

[RandFan]

Originally posted by Mephisto
When Powell gave his speech to the U.N. there was a large painting by Picasso (Guernica) that was covered during his speech. Picasso painted Guernica to show the horrors of war and aerial bombardment (something the U.S. hoped to engage in shortly), and the Bush administration rightly thought that perhaps this wasn't the best background to have while making the case for war. This is called propoganda not censorship. If they had permenantly removed it I would agree with you.

FWIW, I am convinced that the Bush administration has engaged in censorship. I'm not certain how egregious it is but I do find it troubling. I don't draw the same conclusions that you do but I respect your opinion.

[aerocontrols]

Your articles say that the UN, not the Bush Administration, covered the painting.

[Elind]

Originally posted by Rob Lister
Lighten up, Elind. This is obviously a young and inexerienced political rhetorician. I do think he should redo this assignment; not as punishment but as a learning experience.

OK; sorry. I had just come off an Armstrong post and wasn't thinking cooly :)

[kimiko]

Originally posted by Mephisto
This particular censorship was never covered by the mainstream media here in the U.S. which dispels any assertions that the media is liberal. I feel that this censorship was overlooked by most people who were concerning themselves with the apparent inevitablity of war. This actually was covered in mainstream media here; I remember seeing a spot on tv about it. I think it was on CNN.

[Kopji]

The 'cover-up' seemed to be more at the request of the camera crew. Apparently the speakers would be filmed adjacent to a horses behind.

The media here are quite pro-bush, but I don't see much evidence of a cover-up conspiracy. (Although the literalism is delightful).

I'm not altogether sure Powell would object to being next to Picasso's work. He "gets it". I don't think Bush really would.

Some of the Greeks laws are due to the influence of the Orthodox Church. This seems quite controversial within Greece, and I can only be supportive of their attempts to modernize their laws rather than diss all Greeks.

[Mycroft]

Originally posted by Mephisto
This particular censorship was never covered by the mainstream media here in the U.S. which dispels any assertions that the media is liberal. I feel that this censorship was overlooked by most people who were concerning themselves with the apparent inevitablity of war.


Sorry, but I disagree that this was censorship. If Picasso hadn't been allowed to paint the painting, or if it had been destroyed, that would be censorship. As it was, all you describe is a stage being dressed properly for a speech.

[TragicMonkey]

Originally posted by Kopji
The 'cover-up' seemed to be more at the request of the camera crew. Apparently the speakers would be filmed adjacent to a horses behind.

Which would probably have been too much honesty in symbolism.

[Kopji]

Yeah. I hafta believe that Bush would look at a Picasso and wonder why all the people looked funny.

[Mephisto]

Originally posted by Elind

I mean no particular defense of Bush, but the thread would be a lot more fun if you would share some more of your imagination with us.

I know this isn't at all what you meant, but how's this?

http://airbrushartonline.com/album/index.php?cat=10006

[kalen]

Originally posted by aerocontrols
Your articles say that the UN, not the Bush Administration, covered the painting.

Because they were asked to, perhaps.

Last week, the US asked for the top human rights investigator in Afganistan to be fired. Guess what: link (http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/story.jsp?story=632719)

[Elind]

Originally posted by Mephisto
I know this isn't at all what you meant, but how's this?

http://airbrushartonline.com/album/index.php?cat=10006

Cool, but a bit scary. Do you anything go to sleep with?