NUMBER 40: The Distruction of Art

Today, for no apparent reason, I've been thinking about the destruction of art.

I think, if my memory is right, when our troops invaded Bagdad during the Iraqi war the troops hooked a cable or chain around a large statue of Saddam Hussein and commenced to pull and break it down. One image in the news showed the head lying in the street severed from the body of the statue. To me it was a gut wrenching feeling watching them destroy a work of art.

I understand the rage against such a tyrant, a despot, and the urge to eradicate every image or memory of his presence in the world, but I also understand, or at least believe that that was not merely a statue of Hussein, it was a part of the history of Iraq, it was the hard work of a man, a sculptor. The sculptor himself may have been an enemy of Hussein and in spite of his connection to Hussein I feel confident that the sculptor also felt a somewhat gut wrenching feeling as he watched them topple the statue off its pedestal and drag it through the streets.

Most people have seen many fragmented pieces of statues from ancient times in museums, and thought them awesome, but what if you could see the statue in its original state, when the sculptors finished them? I think it would speak volumes to the artistry of man.

Some of these statues were destroyed by wars, some by earthquakes and then by just plain old vandalism. Some people to this day have this propensity to vandalize art. I don't understand this kind of mentality except that they must, within their hearts, be the worst kind of censor. I'm sure that part of it is brought about by pure envy.

Censorship is the root to despotism. Censors wish to destroy your right to free press, free speech and freedom of expression in any form if they don't like or approve of your expressions. These are the most dangerous citizens in any society that is trying to secure freedom.

Isn't it sad that right here in the United States we have to fight for our freedoms daily within our families, our workplaces, our townships, our counties and our states and at the federal levels also?

Just think for a moment, the artists are the ones most often bombarded by the censors. Censorship stands up against speakers, painters, sculptors, writers, movie producers, musicians and dancers,and even the poets.

We might be surprised in the future, for they might figure out a way to censor other ways of life such as cooking, bowling, playing baseball or football and all sorts of non-controversial activities. That may sound like a stretch but be careful who you offer that beer or glass of wine to, for the spirit of prohibition is still alive today. Fanatics will try to rid society of anything they do not approve of. Censorship most often evolves out of what some people consider a "SIN" thing.

We don't like to think of it but most families occasionally have a few of these censors over for diner. Some may be your favorite aunt or uncle, or a favorite cousin or maybe your own children or mother and dad. Lets not forget our brothers or sisters or it could be your spouse, but not mine, ha!

Now I'm not talking about my family @*$(#!. Let me make myself clear, I'm talking about your families. Always be careful what you do or say around people. It could turn around and bite you in the rear end.

Remember that censorship can be a verbal attack from your loved ones.

One last thing about the destruction of art is that I wish troops would not destroy the art of the people we go to war with. I'm not judging them but I wish they would not destroy the art of our adversaries.


Finton