Sic Semper Tyrannis 2008: Fine Art

War Against the American People - McClellan Speaks

"...in a chapter titled "Selling the War," he alleges that the administration repeatedly shaded the truth and that Bush "managed the crisis in a way that almost guaranteed that the use of force would become the only feasible option."

"Over that summer of 2002," he writes, "top Bush aides had outlined a strategy for carefully orchestrating the coming campaign to aggressively sell the war. . . . In the permanent campaign era, it was all about manipulating sources of public opinion to the president's advantage."

McClellan, once a staunch defender of the war from the podium, comes to a stark conclusion, writing, "What I do know is that war should only be waged when necessary, and the Iraq war was not necessary." " WAPO

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" "If I had served my God", the Cardinal said remorsefully, "as diligently as I did my king, He would not have given me over.." " (Wiki)

Change a couple of words and this probably will serve as an epitaph for Scott McClellan. Perhaps if McClellan had had the welfare of his country closer to his heart than the idea of service to his emperor then fate might have been kinder to him. Or perhaps not; duty is a hard thing. "Duty is the most sublime word in the English language" Apparently, McClellan has only recently developed a sense of duty that the epigramist would have understood.

McClellan's book will be believed by those who have known or suspected the truth of the massive and continuing propaganda campaigns waged by the Bushies and the Jacobin flatheads. It will not be accepted by those who still believe that Saddam hid his nuclear program in a lake somewhere, or in Syria or maybe in Ruritania. In the end his book will have little impact. I hope it makes him a few dollars. He will need them. In Texas where the easily deceived seem legion, he will find it hard to go home again.

I recommend meditation in the Rothko Chapel in Houston as a kind of way station on his journey to the future.

The administration manipulated the "sources" of public opinion? Really? Can that be? (irony alert) The administration and its Ziocon allies systematically drove truth speakers out of the public square? Really? Well, folks, the American people were stupid enough and gullible enough to have allowed that.... Are we to believe that the American people have become smarter and more discerning in the eternity of the last years?

The media? Has the catastrophe of our foreign policy changed the media? Let us see how much "play" McClellan's book receives. pl

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/27/AR2008052703679.html?hpid=topnews

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardinal_Wolsey

http://www.rothkochapel.org/

28 May 2008 in Current Affairs, Fine Art, Prose, Religion, The Media | Permalink | Comments (46) | TrackBack (0)

More on Ezekiel - Sidney O. Smith III

Moses Jacob Ezekiel is one of the greatest of American artists, and I must say that he has influenced my life. I cannot recall how I first found out about him, it may have had something to do with the book Killer Angels. But back in 1985, the National Museum of Jewish History had an exhibition of his works. It was titled: Ezekiel’s Vision: Moses Jacob Ezekiel and the Classical Tradition.

I never saw the exhibition but, in the mid 1990’s, I called up the museum and the lady I spoke to was very kind, and she sent me a catalogue that accompanied the exhibition. It explained much about his life and his works.

From time to time now, when I feel down about over our foreign policy, among other things, I pull out this catalogue and look at his works. His style was neo-classical and it far trumps neoconservative. If there is a neoconservative art form, it is about at the level of Rambo action-adventure, meaning imperial decadent.

But not Moses Jacob Ezekiel. He employed universal symbols that break the bonds of time.

Ironically, just this past week, I was checking out via the net the Confederate memorial at Arlington cemetery. It is a work of art created by Moses J. Ezekiel. The reason I was doing so is because Col. Lang’s novel has rekindled my interest (perhaps better worded as soul-searching) about the Civil War or War Between the States. As a Southerner with Southern roots (understatement), it is sometimes a difficult inquiry. But check out Moses’ work at Arlington at this website:

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/csa-mem.htm

What jumped out at me was a Latin inscription on the base of the memorial: “VICTRIX CAUSA DIIS PLACUIT SED VICTA CATONI,” I looked it up and it translates into “The victorious cause was pleasing to the gods but not to Cato”—a reference to Cato the Younger. This quote by Cato refers to his stance in support of a republic and against an empire of Julius Caesar.

I think this Latin inscription supports the idea that, at least at one level, the South was fighting against what it viewed as imperialism. (And if you check out the Confederate Seal, you will note that at the center is George Washington on a horse). These are surprising finds.

But the work of Moses Ezekiel goes well beyond the Confederate memorial at Arlington. One of his most famous works is one dedicated to “religious liberty”. It is worth contemplating as well. At its base you will see that the sculpture is dedicated to the People of the United States, the Order of B‘nai B‘rith, and the, “Israelites of America”. Of course in this day and age, I could not help but reflect: who are the true Israelites of America today? Norman Pod? Philip Weiss? Satmar?

I am going to take liberty at this time and mention that Philip Weiss at his blog very recently had an entry where he wrote that his “spiritual” home was the United States. Very courageous stance. So it is easy to associate Ezekiel’s tribute to religious liberty with Philip Weiss.

Moses Ezekiel lived before the time that Jabotinsky’s Zionism reigned supreme, so when you study his works you are not fettered by the all the dilemmas that Jabotinsky creates. And he had a mystical bent. Good grief…with a name like Moses Jacob Ezekiel how could you not have a mystical bent?

I don’t know how to say this but I will give it a try. I apologize up front if it offends. I have spent much of my life as a “secularist”. But I didn’t understand the immense power of Jewish love until I saw the works he did of Christ. Moses Ezekiel’s secret may have been an empathy that transcended boundaries. And for that, I am forever indebted.

One last point. He lived a great life. I must say, he figured out the good life. By all means, check out the works and life of Moses Jacob Ezekiel.

Sidney O. Smith III

26 January 2008 in Fine Art | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBack (0)

Moses Ezekiel - A Forgotten Man

""I hope you will be an artist, as it seems to me you are cut out for one. But, whatever you do, try to prove to the world that if we did not succeed in our struggle, we are worthy of success, and do earn a reputation in whatever profession you undertake," Robert E. Lee told a young Moses Ezekiel.

Although mostly forgotten by moderns, Moses J. Ezekiel was one of the most renowned artists of the 19th century. Ezekiel was an ardent American patriot and, at the same time, an unrepentant Confederate. He was the first Jewish cadet to enroll at Virginia Military Institute.

Stan Cohen and Keith Gibson's concise yet thorough book about the American artist and Confederate soldier provides us with a fascinating glimpse into Ezekiel's life and work. The book is divided into two parts: Part One is about Ezekiel's life." Wash Times

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Moses Ezekiel was knighted by the King of Italy, Victor Emmanuel. Consequently, it seems strange to me to see his name without the appelation "Sir" preceding it. When I was 18 and in my first year at his alma mater and mine, he was one of the gods whose name was used to conjure up a vision of the possibilities of accomplishment in life. I admire all his work but none more than the statue of Edgar Allen Poe at the University of Baltimore. pl

http://www.washingtontimes.com/section/CIVILWAR

26 January 2008 in Fine Art | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Check out this...

At "The Athenaeum." pl

22 April 2007 in Fine Art | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Cheerleader

I lot of us thought it was not a good idea to have women cadets at the Virginia Military Institute. Now we are not so sure. Watch the cheerleader with the headlock on the Citadel man. Yes. Yes. We are ruffians and violent to boot.