Anti-Free Speech Thuggery
I can't tell who this was a painting of (maybe Gaddafi?), but even if you or I find person pictured the worst human being ever and highly offensive to display on a wall, painting is speech.
You neither have a right to silence somebody's speech by yelling over them so they can't be heard nor by vandalizing their art.
As I've posted here many times before, answer to speech you don't like is more speech -- picketing the painting, writing an op-ed about it, posting signs condemning it around the neighborhood, or any number of other options.
The only person with the legal right to do anything about that is the owner of the ummm fence, wall, whatever physical medium used as a "canvas". I'm presuming the artist has permission to do the work.
Or the local government with an ordinance...
I R A Darth Aggie at February 13, 2014 2:41 PM
Free speech was a felony in the country this painting was located in. If you picketed it while Gaddafi was in power, a van would drive up, you'd go off, and your family might or might not ever hear what happened to you. Write an op-ed and the whole paper would permanently be out of business the next day.
With a paint bomb and a mask, at least you'd have a chance.
kenmce at February 13, 2014 4:24 PM
This painting is located in Southern California!
Amy Alkon at February 13, 2014 4:35 PM
And I believe the guy who lives and works there (and has for at least 10 years) is in some creative field. I'm guessing he painted it.
Amy Alkon at February 13, 2014 4:36 PM
Hey, the guy in the painting is holding a gun. 21st century American pornography right?
Think of the children.....!!!!
Isab at February 13, 2014 4:41 PM
I'm on the side of hanging lists to either side saying why he was the worst person ever.
Straight vandalism is not the answer.
Way back when NBC had the V series on. I can't find the video, if it even exists. Late in the last episode an older couple was walking past a couple of teens just spray painting out the visitors posters as a random act of outrage.
The old man steps up and says, paraphrased, "No, no son. That's not how you do it." He then grabs the kid's hand and makes a red "V" on the poster. You can see a number tattoo on the old man's arm. The kid says something along the "Yes sir" and then leaves.
That left an impression on me to this day. People can go out and riot or commit crimes because "X" happened. (Rodney King, Vietnam War, 9/11, Chicago Blackouts, Katrina.) But until you learn that damaging other people for stuff that is not their fault does not help your cause you have not learned an important lesson.
Jim P. at February 13, 2014 6:50 PM
I get the sentiment. I really do. But if I lived near it, it would be SO HARD to resist paintballing Gaddafi in the face.
Yeah - yeah, I know.
But - Gaddafi. In the FACE.
Lamont Cranston at February 14, 2014 6:29 AM
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