It began approximately 35 years ago…<\/p>\n
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A unique, fairly sensational photograph was a winner of the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art’s “Awards in the Visual Arts” competition.\u00a0 The 1987 photo focuses on\u00a0 a small cross… with Jesus Christ nailed to the boards.\u00a0 Christ and the cross are then submerged in the \u201cartist\u2019s\u201d urine.<\/p>\n
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One more detail…\u00a0 The competition was sponsored in part by American tax dollars, as the National Endowment for the Arts was involved in the funding.<\/p>\n
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Having been since damaged after being exhibited in multiple international museums, the artwork \u2014 entitled \u201cPiss Christ\u201d \u2014 is returning to Manhattan this coming Thursday.<\/p>\n
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Interesting.<\/p>\n
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Meanwhile, across the globe, Muslim extremists are fighting and protesting and engaging in anti-American, violent behavior.\u00a0 In Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Lebanon, Libya, Kashmir, Malaysia, Indonesia, Germany, Jordan, Yemen, Sudan… tens of thousands of protestors are burning American flags and effigies of President Obama.\u00a0 There\u2019s startling video of children in Pakistan, out on the streets, shouting \u201cDeath to America!\u201d\u00a0 The outrage \u2014 and extent of the outrage \u2014 is troubling indeed.\u00a0 Some days the possibility of world peace seems so incredibly unattainable and far away.<\/p>\n
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The American government\u2019s response has been fascinating.\u00a0 They continue to focus on a brief video made by one American.\u00a0 They have denounced the video that some purported to have spontaneously fueled the protestors\u2019 passion; however, most intelligence now acknowledges that the initial 9\/11 Islamic attacks were intentional, planned, and possibly coordinated; the video was not the primary instigator.<\/p>\n
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Our government, no less, has denounced this video.\u00a0 Pres. Obama and Sec. of State Clinton have even appeared on Pakistani television \u2014 paying for commercials that publicly share their stern denouncement; they do not approve.<\/p>\n
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The truth is, the Intramuralist doesn\u2019t care for the video either.\u00a0 While I will always advocate for a factual analysis of faith \u2014 noting what\u2019s inherent in any<\/em><\/strong> religion that prompts such erratic, brutal behavior \u2014 I will also advocate for a respect for all religions.\u00a0 Let me be clear; respect is not the same as acceptance as equally good and true.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The challenge for me today then is this…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Our government has clearly denounced any disrespect for Islam.\u00a0 Since his early days in office, Pres. Obama has been very supportive and consistent in reaching out to the Islamic world.\u00a0 America is not at war against Islam.\u00a0 We are not.\u00a0 We are at war against terrorism \u2014 which in this instance, has been initiated by Islamic fundamentalists.\u00a0 Pres. Obama has attempted to mend many of the misconceptions within those efforts.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yet in what seems to be a very intentional approach, I remain fascinated…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We denounce the video that seemingly disrespects Muslims.\u00a0 And yet… we are quiet about something labeled as \u201cart,\u201d that defiles the Jewish Messiah in Manhattan.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Our government is quiet.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I don\u2019t totally get this, truthfully.\u00a0 I mean, I know there are partisan faithful who talk so loudly on radio and TV that they try to influence the rest of us in this area.\u00a0 I get kind of tired of hearing them.\u00a0 (Yes, I often fast.)<\/em>\u00a0 But it seems to me there is some sort of added sensitivity of the Muslim world and faith that our government does not freely nor generously extend to other religions…\u00a0 I don\u2019t understand how our government called the shooting in Ft. Hood by the Muslim man \u201cworkplace violence,\u201d but the Sikh temple shooting in Milwaukee by the caucasian man was instantly referred to as \u201cterrorism.\u201d\u00a0 Aren\u2019t they both terrorism?\u00a0 Can\u2019t we call them that?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What are we afraid of?\u00a0 Are we afraid of how the extremists will respond?\u00a0 Are we trying to ignore the violent extremists \u2014 and attempting to promote Islam as always peaceful?\u00a0 And if the government is wrestling with how to truly separate church and state, shouldn\u2019t they be supporting both<\/strong><\/em> the Muslim video and the defiling of Jesus Christ in the name of free speech? \u00a0… or denouncing both?<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 Why one and not the other?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I don\u2019t understand.\u00a0 I don\u2019t understand whether this is actually respect or hyper-sensitivity.\u00a0 I\u2019ve simply observed that the treatment is not the same.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Respectfully,<\/p>\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It began approximately 35 years ago… A unique, fairly sensational photograph was a winner of the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art’s “Awards in the Visual Arts” competition.\u00a0 The 1987 photo focuses on\u00a0 a small cross… with Jesus Christ nailed to the boards.\u00a0 Christ and the cross are then submerged in the \u201cartist\u2019s\u201d urine. … <\/p>\n