Passion
 

The word passion literally means love of one thing, compassion meaning love of all. I am not at all certain that the 10 "artists" you mentioned had love in their heart - au contraire, having seen the biopic on Picasso, I am sure he didn't know what "love" was. To be transparent myself, I am not a fan of any of the artists you mentioned, and I have been to the Louvre, and saw Géricault's "Raft of Medusa" [no offense to Medusa of this site - :)]; it takes up the whole wall, not crazy about that one either - even if I could own it, I wouldn't want it... can you imagine having to look at that one every day...? The thing is I wouldn't want to shake hands with any of these people, nor would I encourage any of them. I find it interesting and weird that people value their works of "art". Procurement of such "art" has become nothing less than big business.

The thing is I am able to see love in art; and when there is no love, I feel nothing, same thing with music.

Insofar as finding "solace or grace" in works of art, I know someone here who has stared incessantly at a picture of the Virgin Mary (a very nice work of "art" btw), and then built his life around that, creating his own church, with himself as high priest, he even bought religious vestments and walks around in them (smh) - having done Christian "contemplation" incorrectly termed meditation. There are so many examples of people finding so-called "solace or grace" in detrimental habits, that I doubt there is any grace in what they do. To me, it's just another delusion - in other words, playing with something that isn't real. Of course, when a person chooses to follow and believe in whatever delusion they like, they must live with the consequences.

All I understand is that the brain can play tricks with itself and lie to itself. So, far be it from me to tell another how to live, or to tell another whether or not to boycott MJ or R Kelly (I saw his interview with Gayle King btw!!!), etc.

R Kelly's display was incredible, right? Having been accused of trying to control/dominate and influence the lives of so many of his young victims, nothing could seem to stop him from trying to control/dominate and influence his audience's view... geez!

Therefore, I cannot tell another to "boycott" MJ or R Kelly or whoever, I can only speak for myself.

When you say, Demonize the person, not their work, I can only say that whatever a person puts out in the universe is but a reflection of what is going on inside of them, and that is why this planet is in such a mess.

I only brought up this subject because I think it is important to think about the subject.

Addendum
 

Just to clarify, the entire interview that Gayle King had with R Kelly as well as two of the young women who live with him, will be shown later this week. CBS has been airing parts of that interview this week.

And now that we have thought about it, I will bow out.

Hola tina martina,

Im doing fine...and Im feeling well, all things considered... :seeingstars:

Anyway, I just wanted to share this video (especially with you and with Georgia Ma'am) ... not to debate or "dialogue" about it in here, but because I thought you might be interested in its content (also, I appear there ... look for me !! LOL :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g--PlKIr3OY

Loqui,

Bishop Grant Hagiya is a great voice for moderation, isn't he? Although not giving in to cynicism is a tall order! (for me, at least.) It was interesting to hear his POV as an attendee at the conference. I didn't realize quite how much some Conservatives want the Progressives and Moderates completely gone from the church before I heard this. It's heartening to hear that some Moderates and Progressives are willing to wait and see what happens over the next few months before leaving en masse. At least, I hope many will.

Thanks so much for posting this useful video.

While R.Kelly, MJ, and say, Woody Allen are recent examples, this debate of art vs. artist's character is as old as, well, art.

For example, D.W. Griffith's Birth of a Nation. Made in 1915, it reflected the attitudes of its time and the 1860's, when it was set. Griffith's father was a colonel in the Confederate Army, and young David must have heard stories. I have no knowledge if D.W. himself was a racist, but do we condemn this movie or recognize it as an art form and jump in movie development?

Or Wagner, of the operas? He was a vicious anti-Semite. Should we never thrill to his "Ride of the Valkyries" again? It's one of my favorites-does that make me awful?

I believe in letting adults use their common sense in what they want to read, hear, watch, etc., and don't want some outside group telling me what I cannot show my children (who have seen BOAN and heard Wagner performed). They realize both Griffith and Wagner were products of their time and place.

If we as a people go down the road of banning things left and right because of the artist's actions, or-and it's not a huge jump to monuments and statues-because the subject didn't have the "right" opinions based on 2019 standards, then we are on a perilous road indeed where we are told what to think and what is "right". Dissension will be punished. There are a few societies, none of which are/were pleasant to live in, in which that was tried.

Paul Manafort sentenced to 47 months .......


You try committing bank fraud & tax fraud and see what you'll get!

They'd probable lock the average Joe up and throw away the key!

Bill Shine Abruptly Resigns From White House To Head To Trump Campaign
 

His departure to become a senior adviser to Trump’s 2020 campaign shows how laser-focused Trump is on reelection, though it’s unclear exactly what spurred Shine’s sudden resignation or why the announcement was made without a replacement lined up to fill his position.

“Bill Shine has done an outstanding job working for me and the Administration. We will miss him in the White House, but look forward to working together on the 2020 Presidential Campaign, where he will be totally involved,” Trump said in a statement. “Thank you to Bill and his wonderful family.”

Banning? I think that's a good way to approach the work of an active perpetrator such as R Kelly. There are other approaches that work for me. Right now my personal policy is refusing to support abusers with my money, and opting for compassion for survivors. For instance, I have adamantly refused to spend another cent on anything that might provide Woody Allen with profit. The daughter he abused is a living person who is injured each time her abuser is held up for praise.

I'm an enormous fan of the work of Rodin. When his artistic and romantic partner, Camille Claudel, balked at her erasure from and lack of credit for her contributions to their collaborative pieces, he had her committed to an insane asylum. Rodin was in strong company. Rembrandt had his housekeeper committed to an insane asylum when she sued him in court for breach of contract after he refused to marry her. They had become lovers after the death of Rembrandt's beloved Saskia. Yes, I continue to enjoy the art of those two men, but I never view their work without acknowledging just how craven those men were. Could I enjoy their work if either woman were still alive? Probably not.

Jackson's many victims are very much alive. I can't imagine how painful it is for each of them to hear his work played on the radio. Without warning, many times a day, each of those people might be forced to hear the music, or see the image, of their abuser. Anywhere, anytime. Who knows besides the abused men which songs or images might trigger them? It must be excruciating for many. I choose not to torment survivors of abuse.

I occasionally work with a man who was sexually assaulted by that dumb f*ck, Kevin Spacey. I'm a survivor myself, so I had already recognized his haunted, hunted look before he ever told me about what happened to him when he was a teenager. I no longer have that look myself. Time has been an ally for me. But my co-worker is clearly sent into a terrible place when his abuser is mentioned. Compassion for survivors should be part of our process whenever we discuss how to handle the art of abusers.

But who gets to decide for everyone else what is banned? If a statue triggers someone, should it be pulled down even if the person's descendants objects? Who would decide for me what I can't see, watch or read?

I too am a survivor. But I don't want to live in a sterile world free of triggers. I don't want compassion. I want the whole world of art, as messy and controversial as it is.

I think the movement to stop R Kelly, for instance, is just and empowering. If you want to support his art, go right ahead. His victims/survivors have a right to appeal to any and all to NOT support his art. As long as R Kelly is making money he has power and influence. Unless the law finally catches up to a man who abuses black women, he will face no repercussions. He's shown himself to be someone who feels entitled to abuse women, so I feel good about his downfall.

I think we should be precise about our language, too. I know you haven't done so, Grainne, but whenever this subject comes up, butt hurt men come screaming out of the woodwork to decry the supposed trampling of their right to free speech. When we say 'ban' in reference to a recording artist, we're not talking about any government stopping him from doing his work under penalty of criminal prosecution. We're saying that reputable, compassionate people have decided that the only way to stop this man from victimizing other young women is to cut off his supply of funds. You can have all the messy artists you want, but I'm committed to stopping the careers of active, unrepentant abusers.

College Exam Bust
 

actresses Felicity Huffman (known for Get Shorty, Desperate Housewives), Lori Loughlin (known for Fuller House, When Calls the Heart, Garage Sales mysteries, 90210, etc.) busted in college admissions cheating scandal, among many others conspired to help parents' kids to get into elite schools

https://nypost.com/2019/03/12/lori-l...ating-scandal/

bribery, fraud, money laundering, etc.... yikes

Cardinal Pell
 

Chief Judge Peter Kidd has sentenced Cardinal George Pell (highest ranking official of the Catholic Church in Australia - he is 77 years old) to six years in prison, with a non-parole period of three years and eight months, for the sexual abuse of two boys at St Patrick’s Cathedral in the 1990s. I watched Kidd read the sentence @45' online!

He retains (!!!) his title until his appeal is heard...

(cough)

Mass Terrorist Shootings in New Zealand
 

Right-wing (white supremacist) extremist terrorists shoot and kill in two mosques in Christchurch - watching news on TV (BBC), Jacinda Ardern (Prime Minister) said @40 killed, @48 at least wounded in hospital (approx. 20 seriously) - these numbers may change... in process. What a horror, in such a peaceful country!! Ardern said of those hurt, "They are us", which reminded me of Kennedy's "I am a Berliner", which one can relate to, as in, "I am you" - the youness. Of the 4 suspects who are in custody, she said of them, "They are not us". Really respect all that Ardern has already done in NZ, and understand completely what she meant by her statements, as I cannot relate to nor feel anything at all for those who are abusive.

All this reminds me of something I once read that the worse thing one can say to another is that one parts ways with that person, the separation between us and them.

Curious fact of my life is that life usually keeps abusive people apart from me, which was not the case prior to meditation, as I came from a not-so-perfect childhood. I have no idea whatsoever what one could say that would awaken people to their abusiveness. They seem to act out of choice (which arises from thought) instead of compassion (which arises from love). One understands that any gang like the above-mentioned 4 in custody always target someone to act out their hatred on. All such gangs are always exclusive, instead of being inclusive.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...XZ-NlJhJLN7F7A

Whistleblowers expelled
 

Oh good grief - Trudeau has expelled the two above-mentioned "whistleblowers" from the Liberal Party because Jody Wilson-Raybould was able to prove that there was pressure from Trudeau lackeys by introducing tapes (the brilliant woman taped some convos) and also introduced emails...

In Canada, it is not illegal to tape convos of which one is a part.

Trudeau's rationale is ugly, discussing "trust", i.e. loyalty (reminds me of Trump). His popularity is really plummeting. With elections approaching here in Canada, the alternative to Trudeau is worse... Oh dear....

Canadian Press:
Quebec’s Deputy Premier says citizens who see municipalities or school boards failing to apply the province’s proposed secular dress code can call the police to have the law enforced.

Provincial Public Security Minister Geneviève Guilbault told reporters at the Quebec National Assembly that it is the job of the police to enforce the law, and the province’s proposed ban on wearing religious symbols in some public service jobs would be no different."

See a bureaucrat wearing a hijab or a yarmulke call the police. See a bureaucrat wearing a cross on a necklace or earrings...ummm "gee nice jewelry".

This is Quebec today. The most "socially" progressive/liberal province in Canada while being the most "culturally" backward province in North America.

Want to have anal sex, no problem. Want to have anal sex while wearing a hijab, watch your ass.

I know, I know...the rules are for bureaucrats functioning in their official roles but it's a freaking slippery slope when the Government starts deciding how much of your beliefs you have to hide.

Be careful what you wish for.

Oh Canada, Oh Nova Scotia

"Under the Human Organ and Tissue Donation Act, all people in Nova Scotia would be considered potential organ donors unless they opt out."

Just so totally right.

Homeland Security chief Kirstjen Nielsen is out


Good ridden to bad rubbish!


Sidebar: When these idiots that worked for Trump leave and go on to their next job, who in their right mind hires them?