Newspaper Page Text
Suddenly realizing that my facial expression
that was intended to show appreciation might
be construed as a smirk, I looked down at the
magazine and turned the page. Ah, letters from
readers: a chance for the small to. for a glori
ous blink of an eye, fdel large. I scanned them
until the word "artists'' leaped from the page. So
someone was writing to the editor on the subject
of art—a misguided, though admittedly coura
geous, endeavor to be sure.
This particular letter was actually an attack
on a group of persons known as "local artists."
The writer was indignant that more of them had
not donated their work to something called the
Mental Health Benefit. Making the claim that
"egos in the local area have risen above humane
levels," this irate scab—who no doubt flunked
out of art school—proceeded to question my
values.
Certainly, it had been a while since I had
donated work to a fundraising auction. Probably
10 years ago, for a charity that had something
to do with lupus or shingles or some horrid dis
ease. I remember vividly how I'd been tricked
into participating. They'd sent a vivacious young
female who'd gushed about my recent exhibitions
and who'd claimed her parents were collectors
of art. I'd succumbed to flattery and given her a
somewhat unsuccessful little oil depicting farm
workers toiling in a cotton or soy bean field. Two
weeks later, I attended the auction incognito
and observed in utter horror as five or six intoxi
cated cretins made bids for my painting. It ended
up going for 70 percent of its market value. I
stormed out of the auditorium and vowed never
again to relinquish my work to an unappreciative
non-profit.
I've kept my vow to this day. I'm not unsym
pathetic to the needy and the less fortunate; I
just believe an artist's
obligation to his com
munity is to spend as
much time creating as
he possibly can. After
all, when an artist dies,
that's it. No more can
he satisfy the demands
of a hungry public, who
must be content to fight
for whatever precious
scraps that remain.
Basic truths like this are lost on types like
that tragically misguided letter-scrawler, who
probably hangs around coffee shops all day hop
ing to impersonate and derail people with real
talent. Looking up, I scanned the faces of the
other coffee sippers and realized with a start
I was probably surrounded by just that type.
Abandoning my coffee and rag, I fled the cafe.
Back at the studio, I revisited my canvas with
renewed vigor. My mission seemed ever more
clear; my path less obstructed. My brief dip into
the pool of mediocrity had served its purpose.
Greg Benson
Athens
CANARY RESPONSE
In his article on liberalism, conservatism and
gay rights being the "canary in the coal mine
for freedom and prosperity" (Comment. Feb. 22],
Mr. Wayne Besen shows an astonishing lack of
knowledge about the origins of his beloved pro
gressive beliefs and their consequences for the
American system, not to mention the frightening
similarities between modern liberals and modern
conservatives.
Besen likes to describe modern conservatives
as lacking rationality and fearful of true science
and reason. Yet these are exactly the qualities
that many modern liberals have. Despite the
polarizing rhetoric from both sides of the aisle,
the neo-liberal and the neo-conservative move
ments began around the same time, and centered
on the same group of people. The 1960s and
'70s were a period of great liberal revival, and
in the wake of the disastrous war in Vietnam,
Democrats took control of Congress. This marked
a period of, let's face it, moral relativism, where
everyone's opinion, not matter how insane or ir
rational. was not only heard, but actually given
acceptance and genuine analysis.
From this madness rose the neo-conservative
movement as we see it today. Every idea is given
quarter, no matter how much it flies in the face
of science and rationality. (Intelligent Design
anyone?) Now, with the help of this cultural
subjectivity, the neo-conservative movement is
attempting to foist the American system, with
the mindless consumerism and empty instant
gratification that this "freedom of choice" move
ment has brought us, upon other countries in the
name of "Democracy."
The Bush Administration's posturing about
homosexuals in the Deep South is nothing more
than vote-scrounging on a non-issue, because
when he begins talking about the only real is
sue anymore (America's empire-building in the
Middle East), he flounders. Bush doesn't hate
gays anymore than he hates blacks, Hispanics or
Iraqis, at least as far as his public policy goes.
He just loves votes and money more. Whether or
not modern liberals like to admit it. their ideas
have helped bring the neo-conservative war party
to power, and in the end, there is little differ
ence between them. Perhaps Mr. Besen should
research his articles more thoroughly before
spewing such mindless, idealistic claptrap onto
the pages of the Flagpole. He would save me
some time and himself some dignity.
David Reynolds
Email
DICTATOR?
Bush has threatened what would be the first
and only Presidential veto of his entire six years,
against a bill to protect America that is support
ed by Congressional legislators of both parties.
And what is SO very, very important to Bush,
that he would resort to
such drastic and unusual
action? The transfer of
security operations for
several major American
ports to an Arab com
pany, that's what!
I have a REALLY
bad feeling about this.
Just like the feeling I
got when the Soviet
Union collapsed, and I
said: "We need to buy all their nuclear weapons,
RIGHT NOW, and give their unemployed scientists
beach-front resort homes and a stipend to never
work again!" But nobody listened to me, and the
nuclear black market now proliferates. Or when
Rush was elected, and I said: "He's gonna start
WWIII!" But nobody listened to me, and we are
now in what jlush calls "The Long War," fomented
by our unnecessary invasion of Iraq, and other
unnecessary irritation of terrorists within Islam.
And now I've got that very same, creepy feel
ing, and it's saying: "Bush, with the cooperation
of 'terrorists' (his allies, actually) is trying to
facilitate the entry of a bomb into a U.S. port
that will explode just before the 2008 elections,
so that he can declare martial law and a police
state, cancel the elections, and the frightened
masses will give him anything he wants!" He
needs the transfer now, so that these uneducated
and emotional people will have forgotten about
it by election time, and focus on the disaster
rather than what facilitated it.
Michael Ruppert. ex-LAPD detective from a
family long involved in national security, the
CIA and police work, has written a book called
Crossing the Rubicon, which credibly details Dick
Chene/s aiding and abetting of the 9/11 terror
ists, knowing that such an attack would greatly
profit Halliburton and other defense contractors,
and provide oil interests with an excuse for the
United States to invade Afghanistan and Iraq.
(See www.copvcia.com for the details.)
I genuinely believe that Bush will do any
thing to remain in power. Beside his brutal
murder of children in Iraq, his destruction of en
vironment protections and constant lying, he has
publicly stated at least five times that he wishes
he were a dictator. Maybe this time someone will
listen to me. At least I won't be blamed for not
warning you.
Name Withheld
Athens »
BUMPERSTICKER OF THE WEEK:
I’d rather hunt with Dick Cheney
than ride with Ted Kennedy.
Thinks, Doc. Stickers welcome at 549-9523 or
benWIagpote.com.
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MARCH 1,2006 • FLAGPOLE.COM 5