Opinion Letters
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Important new twists
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Published: October 27, 2009
In the recent "controversy" over public art in Winston-Salem ("Testing the limits," Oct. 11), this much is clear: The various actors assumed roles similarly occupied for a century -- the "edgy" artist and his champions attempt to advance issues and engage viewers in ways that sometimes cause discomfort. The more conservative sections of government and community respond with hair-trigger readiness to be offended or disgruntled. The two sides have long thus defined one another.
But there are some important new twists: Since the culture wars of the 1980s and '90s, and especially since 9/11, the art created specifically to challenge the public has become tamer, while a very small but vocal section of the public expresses outsized outrage to it.
Meanwhile, under this withering fire, newly skittish cultural institutions no longer act to fully support the work and the artists they present, for whatever duration. They are as prepared to withdraw as their detractors are willing to lunge. There is a strong whiff of fear in these responses.
The community of Winston-Salem, while it supports the performing arts well in various ways, has a long way to go to be a "City of the Arts" if visual art is included in that calculation. We need to approach work like that which spawned the controversy with less fight-or-flight response. We need to realize that visual art is more than some nicely thrown pots.
Some pots, nicely thrown; now there's a real provocation.
PAUL BRIGHT
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, THE CHARLOTTE AND PHILIP HANES ART GALLERY
SCALES FINE ARTS CENTER
Winston-Salem
Too many lawyers
Over one half of the 100 U.S. senators and 216 members of the House of Representatives are lawyers. Many of these lawyers chair the most powerful congressional committees. There is no doubt that lawyers in Congress control or influence all of the laws that are enacted. This is the primary reason that laws are not written in simple, clear, straightforward, understandable language. Laws are written with the objective that people will be forced to hire professional help (lawyers) to interpret them.
Lawyers are the biggest contributors to politicians and the way laws are written is the payback that they receive. Lawyers in Congress create the convoluted, incomprehensible, contradictory, ambiguous laws they depend on for their lucrative incomes. It is not in the best interest of the legal profession to solve problems, but to create and perpetuate them.
Having lawyers control the laws of a nation is much worse than using a fox to guard the hen house. It is obvious that lawyers in Congress have a direct conflict of interest and should be banned from running for election or holding a seat in any legislative body, including state and local governments.
A 1,000-page health-care bill could be reduced to no more than 50 pages of clear, simple, understandable language if engineers were tasked to rewrite it.
In the next election, let's not vote for lawyers of any political party. If possible, let's encourage engineers or scientists we know to run for election.
DONALD L. GARREN
Lambsburg, Va.
Southwest has advocate in Besse
During this municipal election season, it's been interesting to watch men in bowties and suits gallop into the Southwest Ward from the wilds of Buena Vista.
While these interlopers may not possess many qualifications to represent the Southwest, or any real experience in advocating for our actual problems here, they are easy to spot decked out in bowties and suits, and when they trumpet their firm conviction that the chamber of commerce knows best. "Trust us," they coo, "we'll look after you fine folk," especially if your backyard doesn't back up to a business, or if your property isn't contiguous to a lot they want to rezone.
Folks in the Southwest already have an excellent advocate in Dan Besse. We know him. He has been responsive to our needs, requests and questions. While he may not own a bowtie or tool around in a Beamer, Dan has proved over time that he can deliver for us in the Southwest. He has been our conduit to city services and government, he is available to listen, and he gets you answers. He's never voted to increase property taxes. He believes in progress through planning and increased efficiency.
Isn't this what a city councilman is supposed to do? So vote early and send the limousine lawyers packing, back to BV where they belong.
HAYES MCNEILL
Winston-Salem
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