Gallery Owner Attacked for Iraq Abuse Art

[OB Kenobi]

The "patriots" strike again...

Gallery Owner Attacked for Iraq Abuse Art
By LISA LEFF
Associated Press Writer

SAN FRANCISCO — A San Francisco gallery owner bears a painful reminder of the nation's unresolved anguish over the incidents at the Abu Ghraib prison -- a black eye delivered by an unknown assailant who apparently objected to a painting that depicts U.S. soldiers torturing Iraqi prisoners.

The assault outside the Capobianco gallery in the city's North Beach district Thursday night was the worst in a string of verbal and physical attacks directed at Lori Haigh since the artwork was installed at her gallery on May 16.

San Francisco police are investigating and have stepped up patrols around the gallery. But Haigh decided to close the gallery indefinitely, citing concern for the safety of her two children, ages 14 and 4, who often accompanied her to work.

Guy Colwell's painting, titled "Abuse," depicts three U.S. soldiers leering at a group of naked men in hoods with wires connected to their bodies. The one in the foreground has a blood-spattered American flag patch on his uniform. In the background, a soldier in sunglasses guards a blindfolded woman.

The painting was part of a show of the Berkeley artist's work that mostly featured pastel-colored abstracts.

Colwell stopped by the gallery Friday, but refused to discuss his work or the reaction to it, saying only, "I'm sorry if this is putting pressure on Lori."

Two days after the painting went up in a front window, someone threw eggs and dumped trash on the doorstep. Haigh said she did not think to connect it to the events at Baghdad's notorious prison until people started leaving nasty messages and threats on her business answering machine.

"I think you need to get your gallery out of this neighborhood before you get hurt," one caller said.

She removed the painting from the window, but the gallery's troubles received news coverage and the criticism continued. The answering machine recorded new calls from people accusing her of being a coward for moving the artwork.

Last weekend, Haigh said a man walked into the gallery, pretended to scrutinize the painting for a moment, then marched up to her desk and spat in her face.

On Thursday, someone knocked on the door of the gallery, then punched Haigh in the face when she stepped outside.

"This isn't art-politics central here at all," Haigh said. "I'm not here to make a stand. I never set out to be a crusader or a political activist."

In closing the gallery, Haigh was forced to cancel an upcoming show featuring counterculture artist Winston Smith.

For Haigh, who opened Capobianco a year and a half ago, having the chance to work with prominent artists fulfilled a lifelong dream.

"I kept thinking someday I'll have enough of a reputation where I could bring in my heroes of the art world, people like Guy Colwell especially," she said.

Haigh has received some expressions of support since closing the gallery. Her favorite: an e-mail whose writer said, "I'm sure that a few and dangerous minds don't understand that they have only mimicked the same perversity this painting had expressed."

[American Patriot]

Eh, the painting sucked.

[moughoun]

Where's all the "Freedom" we keep hearing about, free speech and the like :roll:

[Secret Squirrel]

can you imagine what would have happened to him if there werent 130,000+ troops fighting for our freedom in Iraq? She probably would have been killed if the troops werent over there. Thank God they are fighting for our freedom. :roll:

[usa320]

what a god damn shame.

rofl

Hey these hippies dish the horse**** out, and when they get nailed back they throw a ****fit.

[Secret Squirrel]

what a god damn shame.

rofl

Hey these hippies dish the horse**** out, and when they get nailed back they throw a ****fit.

Man you dont even get it. Your side claims to fight for freedom, but whats freedom if you cant excerise it? Oh no, a couple of paintings that showed REAL EVENTS that ACTUALLY occured. And someone beat up a woman and threatened her kids. I guess this leaves no questions about your character. So should we now lable Bush the great bringer of peace and censorship? rofl I guess dictators are back in style.

[American Patriot]

I don't know whether it was necessary to attack the woman but the person was probably a current or former memeber of the Military and went ape**** after seeing such slander

[Secret Squirrel]

I don't know whether it was necessary to attack the woman but the person was probably a current or former memeber of the Military and went ape**** after seeing such slander

How is it slander if its true? Whether you like it or not, the prison scandle, along with everything that came with it, is now part of the history of the U.S's occupation of Iraq.

[Vance]

Like she really intended just to make a painting.

She knew what she was getting into.

Although I do beileve threatning her kids is wrong.

[Secret Squirrel]

Like she really intended just to make a painting.

She knew what she was getting into.

Although I do beileve threatning her kids is wrong.

Oh of course she had other motives...shes secretly leading an underground group of artists in their attempt to over throw Bush. How long before we have to salute Bush and the military with a straight arm?

[Vance]

Like she really intended just to make a painting.

She knew what she was getting into.

Although I do beileve threatning her kids is wrong.

Oh of course she had other motives...shes secretly leading an underground group of artists and street jugglings in their attempt to over throw Bush. How long before we have to salute Bush and the military with a straight arm?
And this pertains to my comment how?

[Secret Squirrel]

Like she really intended just to make a painting.

She knew what she was getting into.

Although I do beileve threatning her kids is wrong.

Oh of course she had other motives...shes secretly leading an underground group of artists and street jugglings in their attempt to over throw Bush. How long before we have to salute Bush and the military with a straight arm?
And this pertains to my comment how?

"Like she intended just to make painting. She knew what she was getting into." Whats wrong, you dont understand what you're saying? You justified her harassment and abuse because she represented an event that ACTUALLY happened. I guess historians better start editing out all the screws ups by Hitler...err...Bush during his administration.

[Vance]

Like she really intended just to make a painting.

She knew what she was getting into.

Although I do beileve threatning her kids is wrong.

Oh of course she had other motives...shes secretly leading an underground group of artists and street jugglings in their attempt to over throw Bush. How long before we have to salute Bush and the military with a straight arm?
And this pertains to my comment how?

"Like she intended just to make painting. She knew what she was getting into." Whats wrong, you dont understand what you're saying? You justified her harassment and abuse because she represented an event that ACTUALLY happened. I guess historians better start editing out all the screws ups by Hitler...err...Bush during his administration.
I NEVER said it was justified. I simply said she knew what she was doing making that painting...she knew she was going to upset people. She took that risk. Now am I justifying the actions that some people took? No, I am not. Stop putting words into my mouth and think before you speak.

[Tane Angle]

Regardless of the painting, we can't be beating people for expressing their free speech. The American way is not to hit women in the face for saying something different from us. That's assault.

Have a good one, and just some thoughts...

[Vance]

Regardless of the painting, we can't be beating people for expressing their free speech. The American way is not to hit women in the face for saying something different from us. That's assault.

Have a good one, and just some thoughts...
Exactly Tane. I sure wouldn't have done what any of those people did, eggs, phone calls, assault...any of that I would not have done. I just would have hung my head and moved on.

[Secret Squirrel]

Like she really intended just to make a painting.

She knew what she was getting into.

Although I do beileve threatning her kids is wrong.

Oh of course she had other motives...shes secretly leading an underground group of artists and street jugglings in their attempt to over throw Bush. How long before we have to salute Bush and the military with a straight arm?
And this pertains to my comment how?

"Like she intended just to make painting. She knew what she was getting into." Whats wrong, you dont understand what you're saying? You justified her harassment and abuse because she represented an event that ACTUALLY happened. I guess historians better start editing out all the screws ups by Hitler...err...Bush during his administration.
I NEVER said it was justified. I simply said she knew what she was doing making that painting...she knew she was going to upset people. She took that risk. Now am I justifying the actions that some people took? No, I am not. Stop putting words into my mouth and think before you speak.

Right, you said she knew what she was doing. Should U.S citizens now be afraid of expressing their opinions and thoughts? Do you know this artist personally? Do you know why he painted those paintings? Or why the gallery owner put those paintings in her gallery? Stop putting thoughts into her head and think before you speak.

[Vance]

Like she really intended just to make a painting.

She knew what she was getting into.

Although I do beileve threatning her kids is wrong.

Oh of course she had other motives...shes secretly leading an underground group of artists and street jugglings in their attempt to over throw Bush. How long before we have to salute Bush and the military with a straight arm?
And this pertains to my comment how?

"Like she intended just to make painting. She knew what she was getting into." Whats wrong, you dont understand what you're saying? You justified her harassment and abuse because she represented an event that ACTUALLY happened. I guess historians better start editing out all the screws ups by Hitler...err...Bush during his administration.
I NEVER said it was justified. I simply said she knew what she was doing making that painting...she knew she was going to upset people. She took that risk. Now am I justifying the actions that some people took? No, I am not. Stop putting words into my mouth and think before you speak.

Right, you said she knew what she was doing. Should U.S citizens now be afraid of expressing their opinions and thoughts? Do you know this artist personally? Do you know why she painted those paintings? Stop putting thoughts into her head and think before you speak.
Yeah, because every day when I get up I think "Hmm, I think I'm gonna go take pictures of a dude getting beat up in the park."

If that was me I'd be pretty morbid...

[Secret Squirrel]

Regardless of the painting, we can't be beating people for expressing their free speech. The American way is not to hit women in the face for saying something different from us. That's assault.

Have a good one, and just some thoughts...
Exactly Tane. I sure wouldn't have done what any of those people did, eggs, phone calls, assault...any of that I would not have done. I just would have hung my head and moved on.

You do realize that a man painted the painting and that the woman assaulted was merely the owner of the gallery right?

[Vance]

Regardless of the painting, we can't be beating people for expressing their free speech. The American way is not to hit women in the face for saying something different from us. That's assault.

Have a good one, and just some thoughts...
Exactly Tane. I sure wouldn't have done what any of those people did, eggs, phone calls, assault...any of that I would not have done. I just would have hung my head and moved on.

You do realize that a man painted the painting and that the woman assaulted was merely the owner of the gallery right?
I must of overlooked that. My stance is still the same.

[Tane Angle]

Maybe you both are right? I think both are outraged by the violence, correct? Vance does have a point that the piece was probably made as a form of expression, perhaps to raise awareness or to protest the abuses. It's like an editorial, but with colors. It was very likely meant to get attention. However, as I think you both will agree, people shouldn't be beat up for putting up someone's painting.

Have a good one, and just some thoughts...

[Secret Squirrel]

Every country has its black past. I dont understand why people cant look at this and see that it represents a couple soldiers abusing prisoners instead of thinking "how dare someone paint a picture of what a few soldiers did in Iraq".

[ßå$tĮТHÏ¿ð]

I dont know if that happened in my country I'd be fecking ashamed, thats retarded someone would actually punch someone in the face over a picture. What is this world coming to? If America is so "free" as it claim's to be people wouldnt have to worry about there sons/daughters beign hurt when going to work over something as lil as a painting...

[DE_Six]

I dont know if that happened in my country I'd be fecking ashamed, thats retarded someone would actually punch someone in the face over a picture. What is this world coming to? If America is so "free" as it claim's to be people wouldnt have to worry about there sons/daughters beign hurt when going to work over something as lil as a painting...

Let's not get too removed...a deranged individual threw a Molotov cocktail through the window of a Second Cup coffee shop because the name of the place is english, right here in Canada...retards and thugs live all over the world...

Anyway, what happened to this woman is a shame and should never happen, but there is a bright side to everything. Exercising freedom of speech will rouse and anger some people, and such sad events are bound to happen. As I said, deranged individuals will simply not go away. But we have laws to protect our freedoms and I am sure the local law enforcement agency is investigating this crime.
Is one thug a threat to freedom of speech nationwide? Hardly.

Just my .02$

[SOG]

Every country has its black past. I dont understand why people cant look at this and see that it represents a couple soldiers abusing prisoners instead of thinking "how dare someone paint a picture of what a few soldiers did in Iraq".

well the problem is everyone is focusing on the negative. paintings are being done only on the negative. ""im sure"" a painting with a us mil killing terrorists, storming buildings, handing out food and aid, building new facilities, ""would have made it into that gallery"". cmon. its controversial, she knows it, san fran has a huge number of military personell, any half brain would have at least figured on threats being made.

oh, im so innocent, im just gonna put this here paintintg up and hope nothing happpens. yeah, lets see someone put up a painting of mathew shephard getting his **** kicked in and, "hope to not get any threats". either shes really that stupid or she knew what she was doing.

yeah, lets focus on something less than .01 percent of what went wrong and preach it form the media, the radio waves, lets have a huge outcry, lets protest about it, and of course, do art exhibits showing how big and bad these mean us soldiers were, you know, because not everyone has a copy of the photos published worldwide multiple times.

oh, and i like the way your trying to pigeon hole america, like we arent for ""freedom of speech"", when a few nutjobs out of 300 MILLION PEOPLE get upset at some dum hoe. hey, theres a hick in ohio who still thinks blacks should be slaves, all rural white people must be like him! oh gosh, a few people out of millions have a prob with this chick and said painting, now americas freedom of speech is in question? by all means, judge the few for the voices of millions!


Should U.S citizens now be afraid of expressing their opinions and thoughts?

should people be accountable for thier ACTIONS? should people think before they do? would you walk into a gay bar and call people faggots? would you walk into a biker bar and call people faggots? freedom of speech right!? i mean, they should be man enough as you walk in and jive them to just drink and walk away! do you live on earth? would you put up a highly controversial painting during a heigtened time of mil operations overseas in a very large military town and expect no one to go bonkers out of millions of people!? unbelievable!

what if someone drew a pic of the american who had his head cut off with the scum who did it smiling? it would get the same result! congrats for glorifying and categorizing a miniscule negative aspect.

not to mention the same thing is happening in jails world wide, rape, smuggling, beatings, hazings, but of course you dont care because the media doesnt blaze it across your television set. congrats. yeah, this is such a huge smudge on the US's record :roll:

this from someone who cant believe the "rules of war"-read convention, lets you manhandle terrorists legally.
:roll:

lets put everything the US does under a microscope and bitch and whine about it till we get our feel good validation and smoke eachothers poles. congrats, you are the forums newest bitch.

[Secret Squirrel]

Every country has its black past. I dont understand why people cant look at this and see that it represents a couple soldiers abusing prisoners instead of thinking "how dare someone paint a picture of what a few soldiers did in Iraq".

well the problem is everyone is focusing on the negative. paintings are being done only on the negative. ""im sure"" a painting with a us mil killing terrorists, storming buildings, handing out food and aid, building new facilities, ""would have made it into that gallery"". cmon. its controversial, she knows it, san fran has a huge number of military personell, any half brain would have at least figured on threats being made.

oh, im so innocent, im just gonna put this here paintintg up and hope nothing happpens. yeah, lets see someone put up a painting of mathew shephard getting his **** kicked in and, "hope to not get any threats". either shes really that stupid or she knew what she was doing.

yeah, lets focus on something less than .01 percent of what went wrong and preach it form the media, the radio waves, lets have a huge outcry, lets protest about it, and of course, do art exhibits showing how big and bad these mean us soldiers were, you know, because not everyone has a copy of the photos published worldwide multiple times.

oh, and i like the way your trying to pigeon hole america, like we arent for ""freedom of speech"", when a few nutjobs out of 300 MILLION PEOPLE get upset at some dum hoe. hey, theres a hick in ohio who still thinks blacks should be slaves, all rural white people must be like him! oh gosh, a few people out of millions have a prob with this chick and said painting, now americas freedom of speech is in question? by all means, judge the few for the voices of millions!


Should U.S citizens now be afraid of expressing their opinions and thoughts?

should people be accountable for thier ACTIONS? should people think before they do? would you walk into a gay bar and call people faggots? would you walk into a biker bar and call people faggots? freedom of speech right!? i mean, they should be man enough as you walk in and jive them to just drink and walk away! do you live on earth? would you put up a highly controversial painting during a heigtened time of mil operations overseas in a very large military town and expect no one to go bonkers out of millions of people!? unbelievable!

what if someone drew a pic of the american who had his head cut off with the scum who did it smiling? it would get the same result! congrats for glorifying and categorizing a miniscule negative aspect.

not to mention the same thing is happening in jails world wide, rape, smuggling, beatings, hazings, but of course you dont care because the media doesnt blaze it across your television set. congrats. yeah, this is such a huge smudge on the US's record :roll:

this from someone who cant believe the "rules of war"-read convention, lets you manhandle terrorists legally.
:roll:

lets put everything the US does under a microscope and bitch and whine about it till we get our feel good validation and smoke eachothers poles. congrats, you are the forums newest bitch.

There are paintings of progress in Iraq, as well as statues and all that. Blame yourself if you dont know about them or havent seen them. Do you see people who oppose the war going out and beating or threatening people who display those images? Thanks for the congrats, but i hope the irony isnt lost on you.

[ßå$tĮТHÏ¿ð]

Good point SS

[SOG]

There are paintings of progress in Iraq, as well as statues and all that. Blame yourself if you dont know about them or havent seen them. Do you see people who oppose the war going out and beating or threatening people who display those images? Thanks for the congrats, but i hope the irony isnt lost on you.

there are!? in san fran upscale art galleries getting praise and admiration from the elite? youve been there, seen em!? can i see also? DUH of course some people have drawn feelings on both sides of the war, I NEVER SAID THEY DIDNT! sorry, it must have been the overwhelming positive coverage of iraq that temorarily blinded me!


Do you see people who oppose the war going out and beating or threatening people who display those images?

well i havnt seen any beatings, but then again i havnt looked. i have seen some anti war protestors shoving around some people who didnt agree with them when they were the majority. im sure both sides have done some pushing and shoving.

also according to my ex boss at the military base i used to work at (mcas miramar), they have recieved many threats and emails, not to mention the protestors that build up at odd times once in a while and scream at the wives and husbands and children as they drive out the gates, of our men and women oversees and call them baby killers, and that they support killing children. but of course, the other side is blameless. pidgeon holing again? one side does, the other is blamesless? all sides, all people, do things wrong, do things stupid, and everyone storms the boards like, ah, how can this be happening, you evil oppresive mongers!

[Secret Squirrel]

There are paintings of progress in Iraq, as well as statues and all that. Blame yourself if you dont know about them or havent seen them. Do you see people who oppose the war going out and beating or threatening people who display those images? Thanks for the congrats, but i hope the irony isnt lost on you.

there are!? in san fran upscale art galleries getting praise and admiration from the elite? youve been there, seen em!? can i see also? DUH of course some people have drawn feelings on both sides of the war, I NEVER SAID THEY DIDNT! sorry, it must have been the overwhelming positive coverage of iraq that temorarily blinded me!


Do you see people who oppose the war going out and beating or threatening people who display those images?

well i havnt seen any beatings, but then again i havnt looked. i have seen some anti war protestors shoving around some people who didnt agree with them when they were the majority. im sure both sides have done some pushing and shoving.

also according to my ex boss at the military base i used to work at (mcas miramar), they have recieved many threats and emails, not to mention the protestors that build up at odd times once in a while and scream at the wives and husbands and children as they drive out the gates, of our men and women oversees and call them baby killers, and that they support killing children. but of course, the other side is blameless. pidgeon holing again? one side does, the other is blamesless? all sides, all people, do things wrong, do things stupid, and everyone storms the boards like, ah, how can this be happening, you evil oppresive mongers!

feel free to post some articles of people against war abusing people who support war.

[American Patriot]

The other side prefers to be victimized more.

[Secret Squirrel]

The other side prefers to be victimized more.

Which side are you on AP? I seem to recall you saying a certain Isreali strike as being a failure because a civilian was killed. Is this another example of your double standards?

[mocking_loudly_died]

See what happens when you take women out of the kitchen!

Trouble for all humanity.

[Trigger]

Now this took place in San Francisco right?

...hmmm, let's see we have an art gallery, some questionable artwork which mis-represents the U.S. Military as a whole, some spit in the face, and a black eye...

Sounds like 'performance art' to me.

[Secret Squirrel]

Now this took place in San Francisco right?

...hmmm, let's see we have an art gallery, some questionable artwork which mis-represents the U.S. Military as a whole, some spit in the face, and a black eye...

Sounds like 'performance art' to me.

the art work doesnt misrepresent the actual event that occured in Iraq. If you dont like it, pick up a paint brush.

[Early Chow Recruit]

The left is the master of the passive agressive attack. It never ceases to amaze me when liberals do wildly inflamitory things and then wail to the cameras about how their "free speech" is being censored. News flash kids, the First Amendment only prohibits the government from infringing on your speech. I don't think for a second that this woman nor the artist was completely innocent. They fired the first shot by trying to profit from the reprehensible actions of a few soldiers while smearing the rest in the process. The problem is they forgot the underlying premiss that every action has its consequences. In this case the price was a black eye and a bruised ego, what should be kept in mind is that this price was small in comparison and the law enforcement arm of government will sort the perps out. If this ever becomes a case I would like to see justice done not only to the dude who punched the girl but to the girl and artist as well in the form of being sentenced to one on one interviews (not recorded) with combat veterans at locations like Normandy, Iwo Jima, Bastogne ect.

The freedoms we enjoy come at a heavy price that is paid for physically by the men and women in uniform emotionaly by their families and mentaly by the nation that supports them. I for one have paid a small price in comparrison to the ones who served before me as well as those serving now and we owe it to them as well as their famillies to hold their service in the highest reguard not only on this memorial day but every day we live to to see the sun rise over a free America.

Sempre Fidelis
Clint

[Secret Squirrel]

I don't think for a second that this woman nor the artist was completely innocent. They fired the first shot by trying to profit from the reprehensible actions of a few soldiers while smearing the rest in the process.

Perhaps you could show us all what this "profit" they were aiming for? and how a painting representing a few solders abusing a few prisoners smears the entire military? Its amusing really that you paint a picture of this evil artist and gallery owner when your anger should be directly at your fellow soldiers. I mean honestly, if the soldiers never did anything wrong, would we have this painting? Why not put the blame where it really belongs?

[Early Chow Recruit]

Secret troll would be a better screen name, I think a little wall to wall counseling might help your antagonistic approach to discussion in general.

Even though I know it won't help you I will say it any way for the benefit of the readers. An art gallery exists solely for the profit of the artist and the owner and its viability is directly related to its recognition, this may be derived from a solid reputation of true art or by cheap stunts built around someones acryilc temper tantrum.

The mere fact that I must spell this out is further evidence that you sir are nothing more than a self absorbed child who will use your elastic morality and inscincerity to bolster your hollow ego.

In case this was a little over your head I shall spell it out in the proper Marine Corps vernacular


Go **** Yourself

Sempre Fi
Clint

[Secret Squirrel]

Secret troll would be a better screen name, I think a little wall to wall counseling might help your antagonistic approach to discussion in general.

Even though I know it won't help you I will say it any way for the benefit of the readers. An art gallery exists solely for the profit of the artist and the owner and its viability is directly related to its recognition, this may be derived from a solid reputation of true art or by cheap stunts built around someones acryilc temper tantrum.

The mere fact that I must spell this out is further evidence that you sir are nothing more than a self absorbed child who will use your elastic morality and inscincerity to bolster your hollow ego.

In case this was a little over your head I shall spell it out in the proper Marine Corps vernacular


Go f*** Yourself

Sempre Fi
Clint

Wow such a well thought out insult. rofl So again, how does a painting showing a few soldiers abusing a few prisoners showcase the entire military? And why again are you blaming the artist/gallery owner for showing something that actually occured? Or would you rather live in a dellusional world where nothing bad happens? Why cant you put the blame where it belongs?

[seruriermarshal]

I don't think for a second that this woman nor the artist was completely innocent. They fired the first shot by trying to profit from the reprehensible actions of a few soldiers while smearing the rest in the process.

Perhaps you could show us all what this "profit" they were aiming for? and how a painting representing a few solders abusing a few prisoners smears the entire military? Its amusing really that you paint a picture of this evil artist and gallery owner when your anger should be directly at your fellow soldiers. I mean honestly, if the soldiers never did anything wrong, would we have this painting? Why not put the blame where it really belongs?

Your WMD ?

:roll:

[mocking_loudly_died]

Now this took place in San Francisco right?

...hmmm, let's see we have an art gallery, some questionable artwork which mis-represents the U.S. Military as a whole, some spit in the face, and a black eye...

Sounds like 'performance art' to me.

And some free publicity to boot, now all the hippies will want to see it.

[California Joe]

1- Hitting women is never acceptable.
2- Art has a long history of holding up a mirror to the more inflammatory aspects of society to cause a reaction. Look up Francisco Goya or Picasso's "Guernica"
3- Obviously the deranged individual that committed the assault bears no resemblance to most of America so quit extrapolating that single act into an attack on free speech. That's retarded.
4- Mocking is right, loads of free publicity and the painting just quadrupled in price.

[Tane Angle]

Great post, CJ. About Point #2, what was Shakespeare if not a political commentator? The foolish, powerless Prince in Romeo and Juliet? King Lear? MacBeth?

Have a good one, and just some thoughts...

[Brozozo]

I don't see how this was an attack on free speech, the artist was allowed to make the painting, the gallery owner was allowed to display the painting and the attacker was allowed to express his opinion on the painting. Everybody got their opinions out, didn't they?

:P

[Haiw]

I don't see how this was an attack on free speech, the artist was allowed to make the painting, the gallery owner was allowed to display the painting and the attacker was allowed to express his opinion on the painting. Everybody got their opinions out, didn't they?

:P
Riiiight... just like Stalin 'expressed his opinion' on millions of people? :roll:

[Brozozo]

I don't see how this was an attack on free speech, the artist was allowed to make the painting, the gallery owner was allowed to display the painting and the attacker was allowed to express his opinion on the painting. Everybody got their opinions out, didn't they?

:P
Riiiight... just like Stalin 'expressed his opinion' on millions of people? :roll:

Geeze, take it with a grain of salt, I wasn't being completly serious.

[Fargin]

I see a bad moon rising I see trouble on the way. I see earthquakes and lightnin' I see bad times today ...

Dismissing freedom of speach, dismissing torture, dismissing the equality of man, makes me look at the horizon with consern.

[California Joe]

I see a bad moon rising I see trouble on the way. I see earthquakes and lightnin' I see bad times today ...

Dismissing freedom of speach, dismissing torture, dismissing the equality of man, makes me look at the horizon with consern.

NO ONE that cares about this country(USA) dismisses free speech, we are as appalled as our European brothers at the pics of humiliating Iraqis for sport, the equality of man is still a deeply supported belief here. You should maybe voice your concern to the departments that try to regulate psychotic behavior amongst a free populace. Oh yeah, this is America. We even let psycho's roam free cause we're worried about the rights of individuals.

[Fargin]

My consern is unfortunately not limited to US, but to western democracies as a whole.

[mocking_loudly_died]

One guy attacks a woman over a painting thus 200+ million people are painted as free speech fascists?
That's not a good theory.

[Secret Squirrel]

One guy attacks a woman over a painting thus 200+ million people are painted as free speech fascists?
That's not a good theory.

Agreed. One artist painted a picture showing a few soldiers abusing a few prisoners which was shown by one art gallery owner who was assaulted by one man(if you want to call him a man for hitting a woman)...its all kind of ironic isnt it? The perp. commited a crime because someone else depicted another crime in a painting.