<HTML>"Rat Art" Censored in Madison
ACLU of Wisconsin Executive Director Chris Ahmuty
Blasts Wisconsin State Journal and School Principal
In an editorial on October 25, 1996, the Wisconsin State Journal applauded the removal of a painting entitled "Madonna and Rat" from the Madison East High School art gallery. Journalists are usually strong supporters of the First Amendment protection of freedom of speech. That is a position they share with the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin. After reading this editorial, however, I question whether the Wisconsin State Journal has any clue at all regarding the First Amendment.
The editorial writers try to make an intellectual distinction between "censorship" and "selection" to justify their position. People who don't make their living from crafting words might be taken in by this overly clever argument. The bottom line is more straight forward. One day the painting is hanging in the gallery -- the next day it is not -- because a public employee ordered it removed.
Is that removal right? What reasons, and not word games, make removal right? Apparently, neither the State Journal, nor Principal Milton McPike, bothered to ask these questions.
The media reports that the school has no written policy regarding gallery use. School officials admit that there was no disruption at school caused by this painting. The controversy only began when the painting was taken down.
Absent written policies and procedures for gallery use and absent disruption, the removal of "Madonna and Rat" violates the First Amendment rights of Madison East students. No word games, good intentions nor surrender to self-appointed guardians of morality justify the message censorship sends to Madison East students and the wider community. This paternalistic message is simply "bureaucrats know better."
There can only be one reason the painting was removed: Somebody complained. The "rat art" must have offended somebody. Maybe Principal McPike is such a nice guy, it pains him to receive complaints, but what a bland society we'd live in if anything and everything that offends somebody is removed.
Artists and others with messages to communicate often find it necessary to shock in order to be seen or heard. Offensive speech sometimes gives rise to strong emotions, but it can also foster critical thinking.
Students at Madison East High School are there in part to learn to think. If that learning process is going to happen, censorship cannot cut off the stimulus.
ACLU members believe that censorship is opposed to freedom and democracy, and has no place in Wisconsin's public schools.
Executive Director, ACLU/WI</HTML>
