Midwest Voices

Lewis Diuguid

The Kansas City Star

Art is supposed to inspire people, and the statue at the Overland Park Arboretum certainly does that but not in a positive way to some.

The controversial statue of a figure snapping a picture of its topless self has caused a group to file signatures in court to get a judge to convene a grand jury to take action against the art. Aren’t there better things that the judges, the courts and everyday citizens could be doing?

The American Family Association of Kansas and Missouri thinks the statue violates state law against promoting obscenity to children. The group has filed 4,700 signatures, though it needs only 3,700 valid ones, The Kansas City Star reports today.

The park in southern Johnson County is a peaceful, inspiring place. More people should go there to check it out. The rancor that has come up over the harmless statue just doesn’t fit the area.

The American Family Association’s outrage would be better harnessed to go after websites that offer far more distasteful material for kids and adults. Oh, but that would violate our constitutional guarantee of free speech. Let’s hope the same thing applies to protecting the arboretum statue.

Comments

1. 

   Kent Mueller

   8 months, 3 weeks ago

   The devil himself may need a sweater, but I agree completely with Lewis.

2. 

   Steven Fetter

   66223

   8 months, 3 weeks ago

   I checked it out this weekend. This, and other pieces throughout the park, seem completely out of place in a nature preserve. I am not offended, just not impressed. Guess I just do not get art.

3. 

   Brian Berry

   8 months, 2 weeks ago

   Look on the bright side at least, the AFA are using the democratic process, to address their grevence. The muslems would have already rioted and, destoryed the statue. Also, the maker, of the statue, would be dead or on the run.

4. 

   Mark Hastert

   8 months, 2 weeks ago

   OMG! Lewis, me Steve, and Kent all on the same side. Watch out for flying pigs!

   I don’t think the Muslin slur was necessary or accurate Brian. Just ask any of the 20,000 +/-Muslims living in Johnson county.

Sign in with Facebook to comment.