HOY: Art "is about that [expression]. . . When we think about this painting of Ron's, that is controversial, I think it gives us the opportunity to think about it a little bit. And I think that gives the painting a little more credence."

This statement is so full of.. nothing. IMO, it is typical of the void that exists in the minds of many of these leftist type, so-called artist frauds. "..the opportunity to think about it a little bit..."??? Think about what? Are we supposed to think about the possibility of Christ and his followers as being dog-like, or what? How utterly stupid can one be? This kind of 'art' is nothing but evil filth, and it should be rejected as forcefully as possible. Not doing so is to accept it, and accepting it is to reject Christ.

Some of you seem offended (or annoyed) by the hosts, but are any of you offended by the painting?

My girlfriend, as a veterinary tech., and dog lover, would love it. (I hope you all can avoid the temptation to ask if I'm the dog)

I'd also like to point out that most of us, as Freedom Loving Americans, think its ridiculous that in some cultures this would cause in uproar, yet here you are calling for one.

Censorship is a government act in suppression of free expression. A private person's decision not to display a painting depicting Christ as a dog is an act of good taste.

It's amazing how you have to mention that fact everytime there is a kerfuffle over something like this.

Just because the New York Times declines to print my letter to the editor does not mean I am being "censored." It's their toy, and they have a right to choose what they publish.

It's just that we conservatives cannot understand why BIG MEDIA is so selective in whom it chooses to offend in the name of free speech.

(and ultimately free speech does come down to one's freedom to offend someone!)

Muslims are not allowed to be offended or ridiculed, so the press will move heaven and earth and articles to achieve that goal.

But Christians are allowed to be offended and ridiculed, so the same press will move heaven and earth to achieve that goal.

The answer is socialism. But only if the question is:

"What's the fastest way to impoverish, enslave and destroy people?"

The line, while indeed vapid, deserves more description. It depicts a fundamental media cluelessness regarding private property rights and censorship that is VERY dangerous to those of us who'd like to do as we wish with our own private property. At the same time, I'm forced by big government into paying for various speech with which I strongly disagree, and THAT censors me, because I can't use the money I've been forced to pay for my own (true) speech. I'm annoyed enough about this forced (lying) speech to stage a possible tax protest on a certain narrow-issue, but I'm trying to make it so I don't go to jail just for speaking the truth, which looks distinctly possible, so I can't reveal it just yet until I've lawyered-up, and that's not cheap...
JMR

It's interesting to me the difference between "outrage" of Muslims vs. the "outrage" of anyone else. So, some Christians are upset about this piece of art. Well, the difference between these "outraged" Christians and "outraged" Muslims is that the Christians (or for that matter any other religious group) don't tend to blow things up to prove their point. Nope, all the Christians are doing is expressing criticism of the work. No bombed embassies.

Any religion can be criticised legally of course (except Islam). It's part of freedom of speech and expression. But I just wonder, where's the media's "outrage" with unfavorable depictions of Jesus, God (Jewish or Christian), Buddha, or any other religious figure that's not Islamic?

Anyway, on to my thoughts on the art itself. While I'm not very religious myself, I don't find this painting to be offensive. Sure, Jesus is depicted as a dog, but it's not in a mean-spirited manner. The intent of the artist seems to be pure, he simply likes to paint dogs. Now, onto my opinion about Jesus as a dog; are there any other dog owners here? If you've ever had a dog, there's a good chance that you know of the great love and nobility of these animals. They are capable of a love and kindness rarely found in other humans. Thus the depiction of Jesus, a person of great kindness, as a dog seems in a way to be almost appropriate. I've found that there is little greater joy than can be found by the love of a dog. But again, I'm not too religious. I'm just trying to point out that maybe this piece is more of a tribute of dogs (and maybe love) than an insult against religion. Remember, God is just dog spelled backwards.

Did someone mention art?

I think I’m having a lucid moment, so here are some of my favorite examples of Post-Modernism.

EXAMPLE A. The art of getting paid to drink

October 27, 2005
LONDON: A Japanese artist has been paid £5000 ($11,800) of taxpayers' money to drink 48 bottles of beer and then fall off a wooden beam.

The "performance", which took place at an arts centre in Cardiff, has outraged members of the local council and caused bafflement among the public, many of whom do exactly that every Friday and Saturday night, without getting paid.
However, an arts centre spokesman said: "This wasn't just about a woman drinking a lot of beer. This was a powerful piece of art."
Tomoko Takahashi, 39, who performs under the name Anti-Cool, was once nominated for the Turner Prize for her installations of rubbish. She says her performance "comments on the availability and use of mass-produced products".
But she is now being accused of encouraging binge drinking.

EXAMPLE B. Andres Serrano's, Infamous ''Piss Christ". A crucifix in a jar of urine. mentioned in previous posts.

EXAMPLE C. “A painting depicting President Bush being sodomized. Artist Alfred Phillips said images of an oil barrel and a man wearing a Muslim headdress in the work are part of a political statement about the United States being abused by oil companies.

EXAMPLE D. A piece depicting Pope Benedict XVI with several swastikas in the background.

EXAMPLE E. "Papal on Pink" …an ”Oil painting construction depicting the Pope with [sic] serial killer William Gacy's clown face walking thru the arches of a golden walker… “ is not intended as a slam on The Catholic Church alone but on all established religion's misguided rules and doctrines that have created such devastating consequences in our society. It may have started with the Catholic Church but once others split off and became denominations of their own, the "If you don't believe the way I believe or you're going to Hell" doctrine pervaded them all. This is the same doctrine that fuels terrorism and hate crimes. I don't think this is what Christ gave his life for.”

EXAMPLE F “Autopsy Babies”! Created by Jeremi R. and Nicole Elise, depicting the creation of dolls painted to look like mutilated babies. These are the images and flowering of the dual imagination of a dredged desperation and morbid fascination with the culture of death.

EXAMPLE G. Art guild director Susan Buzzi proudly informed [the author] that the art exhibit is all about "raising consciousness" and is "extremely political." Translation: Virulently anti-Bush. Also featured in this year's exhibit is an insipid religion-bashing gem from Gerard Delaney titled "Liberty or Death?," with President Bush donning a pontiff's hat and a lapel button that reads "God hates fags." That's an Iraqi flag burning in the torch and a book titled "Presidency for Dummies" tucked under his arm: Buzzi told the Express Gay News that another past piece depicted Bush in a Nazi uniform. She also bragged to me that last year's exhibit included a piece featuring President Bush in a toilet seat.

EXAMPLE H. A Los Angeles artist with a history of mocking the Bush administration and conservatives including Rush Limbaugh is now going after the Fox News Channel with a new billboard and related website called ShoxNews.com. The billboard made its debut this week on Sepulveda Boulevard, south of Santa Monica, Calif., featuring a shadowy Uncle Sam figure controlling a handpuppet, as it proclaims in giant lettering, "Shox News Channel, We Distort, You Comply," an obvious send-up of the cable news channel's "We report, you decide" slogan.
The billboard text continues with the message, "Manufacturing news since 1995," and then provides its website address.
The campaign is the creation of Karen Fiorito, a self-described propagandist and culture jammer who says, "My art plays a subversive role in society, offering an alternative narrative to the dominant culture. I hope to initiate a dialogue in the community, not only about political issues, but also about the assumption that art and politics do not mix."

For anyone who is interested in reading about the state of the Art so to speak, visit The New Criterion. For the book The Rape of the Masters: How political correctness sabotages art by Roger Kimball.

Wish I could Stay, but It’s back to the rubber room for me
Tantalus the Insane

You can't imagine a segment with Mohammed because Muslims have proven themselves unreasonable in this department. Christians are more reasonable.

Christianity is under attack by libs and MSM but the problem is that Christians are not responding like Muslims, yet. As soon as one, just one wacko Christian or Christian group pulls a Muslim, then well see the how much hate these people really have for Christians.

In fact the MSM’s hate for Christians will far exceed their hate for Muslims and their countless atrocities. Muslims are expected to act like lunatics, but for Christians to get upset, well that’s a hate crime in itself and sever punishment for Christians will be in order.

I knew a guy who used to joke around about sombody doing this painting back in the 90's. It is pretty easy to think of something to paint that will offend somebody, but the sad part is to see it featured on GMA.