I am in total agreement with you Tom.
Twain would have been extremely amused. I do not believe censorship is a sensible path but I do think that we need to do what we can in a participatory democratic system to see to it that we can also change fundamentally and try to make our walk match the talk.

AA

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 27, 2015, at 4:20 PM, Tom Fine <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> Hi Aaron:
> 
> I think you're correct that we should strive to "do the best we can to see that the ongoing dignity of our fellow Americans is central to our purpose."
> 
> However, this ideal is not and cannot be the basis of "accepted" or "acceptable" artistic creation and expression. Art, as expressed historically and definitely in the past century plus, is often about offending people or making people uncomfortable, upsetting norms and pushing boundaries.  In fact, relevant to our current conversation, I'll cite a prime example -- "Huckleberry Finn." That book was none too subtle about poking at and mocking then-common perceptions of race and human dignity. Ironically, because today some are offended by some language spoken by some characters in that book, it is now banned by some academic institutions. I'm sure Mark Twain would chuckle at the irony of his art being "offensive" to both ends of a spectrum.
> 
> -- Tom Fine
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Aaron Levinson" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, April 27, 2015 4:05 PM
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Pittsburgh's Stephen Foster Memorial Museum
> 
> 
>> Dear Vincent and Tom-
>> 
>> I think that in reality you are both correct and that what you are saying is not mutually exclusive. I completely agree with Tom and short of shouting "Fire" in a public place the 1st Amendment got it's place in line for a damn good reason. Let's not lose sight of that fact no matter what else we choose to do.
>> 
>> But Vincent is absolutely correct in that we need to examine all things about our culture and do the best we can to see that the ongoing dignity of our fellow Americans is central to our purpose.
>> 
>> Accordingly we must promulgate the kind of society that is moving toward the goal of equality and fairness for all citizens as it is in fact the cornerstone of what a democratic society is ultimately about.
>> 
>> That's not paying "lip service" to anything my friends...
>> 
>> AA