"We will not be terrorised" .. Government gives in

[Demonatrix]

I agree.

However the Tate Britain Museum, funded largely by the government, gave into fear yesterday and cancelled plans to display a piece of art on the grounds "it could incite fanatics to attack the Museum" (quote from when this was mentioned on BBC news London this evening).

John Latham's work, 'God Is Great' features religious texts embedded in glass, aiming to represent unity in religious belief, and (quote BBC news TV) "to show their underlying original source despite segregation and conflict" (sic).
It featured a Bible, Koran, and the Talmud cut in half and glued together through glass (to make it appear that they are embedded in it) and joined together to show the underlying unity of Christianity, Islam and Judaism.
(These three religions all share prophets and some parts of religious text)

"It shows that all religious teaching comes from the same source, whatever name you give to it," he told BBC News.

Latham made the piece 10 years ago, he is now 84. The work was due to appear in the Tate's current British Art Displays exhibition.

Their particular concern was "it could upset radical Muslims after London's 7 July bombings." (sic BBC news TV)

The Muslim Council of Britain told the BBC News website: "We have not received any complaints about this piece of artwork.

"We would have preferred to have been consulted by Tate Britain before the decision was taken to remove John Latham's piece.

"Sometimes presumptions are incorrectly made about what is unacceptable to Muslims and this can be counter-productive."

Tate Britain plans to debate issues around the subject in a public forum on 8 November.

BBC News online article: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/4281958.stm
ABC News (American): abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1158650&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312


This is just simply cowardice and giving the terrorists what they most want: Fear to do anything that could possibly incite them, and reaffirmation of their power.

[DreamDangerously]

absolutely, we should promoting works like Lathams that celebrate cultural unity and do it in the face of the ignorance that caused 7/7

[matt]

I wonder if John's any relation.... hmmm....

[sparx]

why do the british always want to cover things up or try to subdue them, we're just a bunch of prudes (present company excluded)

[Kneetroll]

I hate the way the British government puts on a act of strength when it thinks it'll gain votes or publicity or whatever (for example the quote in my sig) however, they won't properly stand up to racial/religious attacks on native britons!? They won't even admit it's wrong any more for fear of not being PC

[sparx]

thats why as a nation we suck in so many ways, sometimes i just feel so ashamed to be english that i just want to hide my head in shame

[DreamDangerously]

I'm not ashamed to be English at all. In fact I'm quite proud. I don't see why the limitations of the few should taint us. How do we expect other countries to have a positive view of English people (ie not just the yob culture or wishy washy shady politics) if we don't project it and exude self loathing?

Despite all the problems in this country, we're a damn sight better off than most and we're lucky that we have the ability to effect changes in government and to openly express our views and opinions of how our country is run.

We have a rich and varied history, postive and negative, we have, despite the press, a thriving multi-cultural society and we have a voice.

I'm no screaming nationalist, far far from it. But lets face it, it's not being English that's the problem, its the government.

Our government just doesn't speak for the majority of people in the country. They ignore public opinion and follow questionable policies. Again thats nothing to do with being English/British, thats to do with the government being made up of some corrupt people. Thankfully there are some people on the government who DO speak for us and thankfully in this country we have a choice about who we vote in.

Sorry....

ranted again! It's just that British self depreciation gets me down especially when people wash their hands of their own nationality. Don't like it? Do something about it, use public forums to make your opinion heard. Your MP is at your disposal to contact.

[Kneetroll]

I'm not ashamed to be English, I'm just ashamed of our government. We're a TINY country but with so much power that they could use for good, but instead of helping THIS country they're always looking to forget their own people in favour of everyone else.

[DreamDangerously]

I don't think thats strictly true, I just think they have slightly twisted domestic priorities. They've made some good changes in education for example....there's a current policy going on that anyone who didn't work in the field wouldn't even hear about but it's actually a vital and very positive change.

I think we don't always see the positives and the conservative alternative is much scarier. I just think that now Labour has to sort their bad policies out, rather than just relying on the fact that people fear the Tories...if they get a strong leader it could be Labours undoing.

[sparx]

cross your fingers then

[tituscrow]

i agree with kneetroll we should sort out our own problems out before we start bailing out other peoples countries, they aren't the only ones in trouble! we need to sit down around a table and figure out whats good for the uk rather than whitewashing everything

[sparx]

ok, but if you dont mind i would like to sit in the corner and feel ashamed of me

[tituscrow]

corner??