Why is public arts funding so controversial in America?

Are we really so terrified that public money will be used for subversive and "obscene" art like Serrano's Piss Christ?

If so, can we justify depriving our country of artistic expression simply to protect the supposed sensitivities of a few people?

No, we can't and we shouldn't. More threatening to our society than the possibility of "obscene" art is not enough art.

While watching the Academy Awards last night, I noticed that a film called WAR/DANCE was nominated for Best Documentary Feature. Although it did not win the category, I was still intrigued by what I saw in the short clip, so I looked up the movie online and found the trailer on Youtube. It is quite powerful, check it out:

The vast majority of Americans would agree that George W. Bush is a pretty lousy communicator. He forgets his speeches midway, he stutters and stammers, and he still can't pronounce the word "nuclear" correctly. However, what he lacks in oratorical skills he sure does make up for non-verbally. President Bush has continually exhibited unparalleled prowess on the dance floor!

Once booming with music, dance, and nightlife, Bangalore, the trendy capital city of the Indian state Karnataka, was dubbed the "Rock City of India." For years, live bands from all over the world performed in Bangalore, making the city's nightlife some of the best around. But in 2005, everything began to change...

We all know Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton the Wellesley and Yale graduate, Hillary Clinton the lawyer at Rose Law Firm, Hillary Clinton the First Lady of Arkansas, Hillary Clinton the First Lady of the United States, Hillary Clinton the two-term New York State Senator, and Hillary Clinton the Presidential hopeful. But have you ever heard of Hillary Clinton the Dancer??

Dancer Readers,

I would like to preface this post by saying that my intent is to remain purely objective. I want only to bring to light issues that are important to me, then let readers draw their own conclusions. Thanks for reading!

-Lindsay

The race for the White House in 2008 has proven that Americans, especially the youth, are not nearly as apathetic about politics as we once thought. On Super Tuesday, voters came out to the polls by the thousands, excited to take advantage of their Constitutional right to decide who will lead our nation and command our troops. While this is undeniably wonderful, my fear remains that many young voters are not doing enough research to make truly informed decisions. As CNN put it, the issues are not the issue for many voters this year, especially the young ones. While leadership qualities such as charisma and likeability are definitely important, I believe it is in our best interests as a people to read up on where each candidate stands in regards to the issues that will affect our lives. I doubt many dancers, performers, choreographers, and company owners know that political elections are of paramount importance to their careers and livelihoods as artists.