sad story, happy ending

Although this story has a happy ending, it is quite tragic. It is cute that Garoian keeps changing his rationale, but it is even cuter that fine arts departments claim to have some degree of moral superiority when it comes to the free flow of “ideas.” Finally, Mr. Ahmad needs to get used to the US, and understand that � the benefit of free speech is being able to hurt people, and if Muslims want to dispel the idea that they are all “brothers” in terrorism they are welcome to do so, too. I suggest that he hold an art show. (Hint: if you want to get more people to come to your art show, be sure and include some nudity and distribute free wine.)

Larry, at 7:40 am EDT on April 27, 2006

Twisted Logic

I must comment on one of the loopier, and dangerous, statements quoted in this article. Aqsa Ahmad, a junior at Penn State, states “Stulman’s exhibit may have been directed toward Palestinians, but because Islam promotes the idea that everyone is each other’s sister or brother, all Muslims become victims of this propaganda.” I’m wondering if this sharing of experience extends to the actions of suicide bombers, which is a crime in this country. Of course, felony acts, as opposed to artworks, are not supported by free speech laws. And if Mr. Ahmad’s statement does indicate this connection, whether Mr. Ahmad, a student and presumbably a citizen of the United States, should be arrested for his involvement in such crimes? Or does Mr. Ahmad pick and choose the direct connections that he shares with other Muslims that causes him to support the suppression of free speech in certain cases like this one? If Mr. Ahmad does lend support to suicide bombers, of any kind, then of course at the very least he should be immediately expelled from Penn State for his support of such felonies.

Gary, at 9:40 am EDT on April 27, 2006

It is scary that Aqsa Ahmad cannot differentiate between Palestinian Islamist terrorists who slaughter innocent Israelis (Jewish and Arab Israelis alike) and Islam as a whole. To him, an attack on Palestinians (he does not use the word ‘terrorists’) is an attack on Muslims. A frightening development considering Ahmad is a college student in the United States and should be able to acknowledge the importance of free expression and to identify terrorism.

Colin, at 10:05 am EDT on April 27, 2006

Mr. DeFelice, I am not a bigot

Professor DeFelice, I write to respond to the suggestion that I am a bigot. I am not. In fact, I recently won an award for my work on behalf of the cause of “not being a bigot.”

Moreover, I certify that if I was not married I would have no compunction against dating someone of any race or religion who was female (provided that they were my age, fun-loving, and liked the same things that I did). I hope that this proves that I am not a bigot. In fact, I briefly dated a Palestinian who wasn’t nearly as uptight as you. We broke up because she didn’t like my rants about Linux. Also, I am kind to animals.

Second, there is some debate within Islam whether wine is absolutely prohibited. Whatever the case, lots of Muslims drink alcohol, and some even own establishments that sell liquor. If you are denying that free wine would entice people to coming to a art show, then I think you are either naive or just don’t want people to come to your art openings.

Third, I also think that there isn’t an absolute prohibition against nudity in Islam as well. (Though I admit that I am a little hazy on the details here.) But, whatever the case, if Mr. Ahmad wants to get out his political message, he can’t do it in a way that will bore or drive away the vast majority of people out there that like booze and nudity. I mean, who is going to want to see his message (which I will assume is not “look at me, I associate with bad people”) if it is boring? He needs to jazz it up. (I have a few suggestions for slogans. How about “We put the FUN in FUNDAMENTALISM"?

Fourth, there is plenty of wine and nudity at Bob Jones. They don’t need my help.

Larry, at 11:15 am EDT on April 27, 2006

Maybe not a bigot, but a bit simplistic

As a graduate of Penn State, I would like to thank President Spanier for preventing the attempts at censorship. And I would like to express my disgust with the individuals in the Penn State/Centre County community responsible for the anti-Semitism expressed in regard to this controversy. This is an unfortunate incident on campus. Hopefully the results will lead to more dialogue, understanding and the increased exchange of opinions, and not increased division, on campus.

I would, however, also like to express some frustration with those who read this article and focused solely on the comments made in The Daily Collegian by one student, Aqsa Ahmad. After reading Mr. Ahmad’s brief letter, I cannot comment on his personal, political, or religious beliefs. How can any of the individuals making comments in this forum even attempt to do so? It is simply unfair, irresponsible and presumptuous.

Additionally, it is unfortunate to read the thinly veiled anti-Muslim sentiment expressed in these comments. Larry states, “if Muslims want to dispel the idea that they are all ‘brothers’ in terrorism they are welcome to do so”. Must we (Larry? The US? The “west”?) make Muslims (as a whole? as individuals?) dispel the notion that they are brothers in terrorism? Colin writes, “to him, an attack on Palestinians (he does not use the word ‘terrorists’) is an attack on Muslims”. Yes Colin, Mr. Ahmad refers to Palestinians and not terrorists. It may come as a surprise to Colin, but there are Palestinians who are not terrorists. Just like there are female Tamils who are not suicide bombers in Sri Lanka, or Catholic men in Northern Ireland who were not members of the IRA, or Americans who do not support the foreign policies of this country. The list could go on. So let’s please move beyond these generalizations and work towards a critical yet open dialogue about such issues.

Jon, PSU Alum, at 2:45 pm EDT on April 27, 2006

Hee Haw

Logic dropouts? Perhaps so:

“His paintings cover such topics as the backgrounds of Palestinian leaders, the impact of terrorism on Israelis, and the way mothers of suicide bombers are honored by Palestinians. Stulman said that he believed that terrorism was supported “only by a minority of Muslims, a minority of Palestinians,” but that it was important to be able to criticize that minority.”

Palestinians (in general?) honor mothers of suicide bombers? If true, it seems that Stulman is quite generous to the liberal fault of splitting hairs, no?

Must be a “Hee Haw” somewhere in all extremist beliefs Larry; whether fundamentally reactionary or radically separatist/indivualist.

Dr. F. Gump, at 9:05 pm EDT on April 27, 2006

What’s Art Got to Do With It?

The art school, Garoian wrote, “is committed to promoting cultural diversity and assuring opportunities for democratic dialogue within the context of its classrooms and its exhibition spaces. I believe that Josh’s work does not promote those tenets.

How did an “art school” acquire this particular political mission, as opposed to the mission of training people to draw, paint, and sculpt? Did the Pennsylvania legislature grant a charter to the ‘art school’ to do this?

What expertise does Mr. Garoian possess that he should be paid an agreeable salary by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to ‘promote cultural diversity and democratic dialouge’? Would the Pennsylvania legislature have ever explicitly appropriated a sum of money to hire an ‘arts administrator’ who doubles as as a sort of group-therapy/focus group leader?

Does the task of ‘promoting cultural diversity and democratic dialogue’ have any operational measures of competence?

Who planted in the mind of the student in question the notion that one should forego the written exposition in favor of a work of art in the advancement of a political or historical thesis?

If art is to be an instrument in this way, why am I not permitted to promote cultural homogeneity and royalist monologue with my art (or ‘art’), courtesy the taxpayers of Pennsylvania?

Art Deco, at 6:50 am EDT on April 29, 2006