Actually, artists I have talked with feel the museum community has not = had a great record on freedom of expression issues. I tended not to agree with them, but am starting to think I need to reconsider. If all that "art student-y", provacative work "just went away", where do you think the = work representing "previously neglected viewpoints" is going to come from? Margaret Pezalla =09 Over seventy years ago Marcel Duchamp signed a urinal, hung it on the = wall, and called it art. During the 1960's and early '70's many artists = used the flag and other patriotic symbols to protest the Viet Nam war. = Ten years ago the Chicago Art Institute exhibited a flag laid on the = floor in a student exhibition. To stuff a flag in a urinal and call it = art at this stage in the process is hardly ignoring "previously = neglected viewpoints." For many artists the museum community has a great record on free speach = issues only to the extent they support the work of that artist and the = art work he or she likes. Does the role of an art museum mean instantly = mounting exhibitions reflecting the cause du jour.=20 It seems to me that the educational component of museums, art museums = in particular, extends to educating the artists. We have done a less = than exemplary job educating the general public about the significance = of much in modern and post-modern art. At the same time we have done = virtually nothing to educate artists and others about the importance of = symbolism. Utilizing flags, crosses, or images of Jesus in a work of = art utilizes the power of those symbols. Used in a negative way will = inspire the wrath of the millions of people for whom those symbols are = there connection to the reality behind the symbol. While there are = important and valid reasons to use transgression in an art work, too = often the symbols are used only to insure an emotional response with = little or no concern about the resulting fall out. If the museum community has a role to play in this kind of art, it may = be more in the area of discussing symbolism and transgression in art: = what artists have effectively worked in this arena, what role(s) can it = play. Additionally, could museums foster a discussion comparing the = right of the artist to manipulate these symbols and the right of = religious, patriotic, or other audiences to value and protect these = symbols.