Thursday, November 29, 2007

READER COMMENTS: RACE, POLITICS AND ART APPRECIATION

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The argument over the rightness of a Chinese creative person sculpting a testimonial to one of America's top heroes, St Martin Martin Luther King Jr., spilled over from the pages of The History onto SFGate on Wednesday. In improver to the racial and political dimensions of the controversy, readers also project a critical oculus on the aesthetics of the monument.

Below is a sample, edited for space, of the remarks registered on SFGate Wednesday. For more than remarks and a nexus to the original narrative travel to sfgate.com/ZBQS. To see sentiments from The Chronicle's Two Cents pool of readers, travel to sfgate.com/ZBQT.

Brothas and Sistas halt crying over this. We have got WAAYY more of import issues to worry about. The sculpture looks good and shows what can go on if the words of King's dreaming were followed. Sure I'd like to have got seen a achromatic individual Pb the manner on this, but if this pick incarnates the best involvement of the project, then travel with it.

- Antony Moore, 34, Oakland

Sometimes I believe the NAACP is a spot oversensitive but in this lawsuit I believe their expostulations are considerable and appropriate. I be given to hold that the creative person should be American, although I don't really care what color. The stuffs should also be American. MLK may have got stood for worldwide freedom but his was a uniquely American voice and he wisely focused his battle locally.

- Dean Estes, 44, San Francisco

How can we state that this creative person stands for the repression of human rights because he is Chinese? It's an alibi on the degree of the (Berkeley) Tree-Sitters claiming that they are on top of a Native American entombment ground.

- S. Wilson, 38, Oakland

It's incredible how many American citizens bell in when issues involving ethnicity and race are front and center. Reading many of the (SFGate) posts, can you fault the NAACP for being paranoid?

- Rodney Jackson, 32, San Francisco

I inquiry the ground for this sculpture in the first place. King was a good guy, but he's not up there with Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson.

- Prince Albert Siewers, 53, Santa Cruz

The theoretical account is just apparent old bad art. Looks like any figure of old Soviet Union "hero" statues. Forget the human rights issues, name person with talent.

- Saint George Smith, 64, Whitefish, Mont.

The glowering, looming, weaponry folded stance is missing the mark. I differ on MLK's stature though. Our state lived a prevarication for manner too long. MLK brought us closer to realizing equality, and I give thanks him for it.

- Clay Bennett, 49, San Francisco

Yeah, I might not like the whole weaponry crossed tightly against his thorax 'cause it do MLK expression edgy and stiff. But for those people that are complaining about how the work looks like crap, I'd love to see you make better especially with sculpting granite! I mean, if you're going to criticise A piece of art, at least you can propose what the creative person can make rather than just saying, "It sucks."

- Jennifer Long, 19, San Francisco

That's a powerful piece of work, and an award to Dr. King. I can't wait to see the finished product. You acquire the best endowment for that type of sculpture, regardless of where he's from.

- Cliff Dunning, 51, Oakland

Ah, the beauty of life in America. We acquire to reason and contemplate freely on topics like this. If he is the most capable of doing this very of import and delinquent undertaking then he is the right individual for the job. That is the American way. Oh, and if he is cheaper, too.

- Javier Olazaba, 30, Martinez

Can you state outsourced?? Yee-haw, y'all.

- Toilet Tipton 51, Porterville, Tulare County

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