Hi, Edward,

of course, Ukrainians have to fight for their cause of freedom and have to defend the actual rest of it. My point is another. I'll try to make it more clear.

Freedom (personal rights, of the press, free elections, freedom of speach, of justice etc.) are political rights, rights of the first degree. I was questioning if it it reasonable to start exhibitions which will be problematical also in many western countries, just in a state where these rights of the first degree are not fully protected and guaranteed. Also in many western countries it is forbidden to exhibit pictures offending religious feelings of the majority. In some also of minorities. In some countries exhibition makers avoid this conflict  between art and religion und prove "political correctness".

Freedom of the arts does not seem a right of first degree everywhere. From time to time exhibitions even in western Europe are closed because it could be stated that religious feelings have been offended. Because the freedom of religion is been treated as higher right as the freedom of arts and "pornography" in some media is a regular statutory offense. As long as Ukrainian politicians can point with the same right to western states, we better mind our own business instead of signing obscure petitions.

The real question is: Are enlighted democratic states having the duty to protect any utterance of intolerant religions which incorporate basic assumptions being altruistic, non-democratic and directed against certain groups of the society? This is the point we should change - everywhere (within the religions and the public law).

Best


Christian



Am 30.03.2012 22:40, schrieb Edward B. Reddrop:
[log in to unmask]" type="cite"> 
Christian, 

Indeed, those who put on provocative exhibits should understand, to some degree, the political and social "risks" involved. Does that mean the discussion they seek to generate is any less valid? As I understand it (and I admit I'm no expert), Ukraine has seen a troubling pattern of challenges to basic rights very recently. Consider how Freedom House downgraded Ukraine from "Free" to "Partly Free" last year.

Now perhaps more than ever, Ukrainians have to test the limits of their freedoms. This exhibit is one way to do that. So while the exhibit organizers may have to face consequences, that doesn't mean their work is invalid. On the contrary, I think they've helped expose a big challenge not just to museums but any democratic society—the limits of speech. And it gets stickier in the public/private realm.

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