War President
Matt Mullenweg snags a mosaic of our fallen soldiers forming the image of G-dub. He presents it without commentary, although the guy who made it, American Leftist, did have something to say after he posted it:
‘War President’ is meant to be a satirical commentary, informed by the whole project of using the dead as political props. I’m not making a dime off the image, and never will attempt to do so. Given this lack of financial or other crass motives, other recent instances of the politicization of the dead strike me as more morally questionable: the coffins of the victims of 9/11 showing up in a political advertisement, the continued suppression of images of the funerals of those lost in Iraq from the mainstream American media, and images of the 9/11 disaster in a campaign ad. A certain party stands to benefit greatly from all three of those instances of politicization.
I’d also like to point out that ‘War President’ is an image. It is not a textual statement or rhetorical argument. An image is like an empty room and any message that one reads in that room necessarily came in the baggage one carried when one walked in the door. If I made a mosaic of George Washington composed of images of the American dead from the revolution, would viewers likely take that image as an indictment of Washington? I submit that they would not. It would be viewed as a monument to the dead and a celebration of a great leader, a somewhat maudlin monument maybe but surely not offensive. The fact that ‘War President’ is not viewed such a manner is not due to any intrinsic property of ‘War President’ but lies somewhere else. [Emphasis added. --- Ed]
I’ll give him props for intellectual honesty: at least he’s come forward and admitted what he thought about his own creation. This mosaic will mean different things to different people. Let me indulge in the luxury of inference over how he mentions George Washington as a red herring. There are people who would consider this current mosaic as “a monument to the dead and a celebration of a great leader,” and just as he leaves it for everyone else to decide how to feel about the mosaic, so I enjoin others who feel this way about G-dub to separate the art from the artist and just sit back and think, “what a moving image.”
Because it sure is.
[Hat tip: Mog]
UPDATE: I left the following comment at Blogs For Bush:
Of course, everyone would think differently about this picture. That’s all it is, despite American Leftist’s commentary about it.
Honestly now. Isn’t it totally great that we’re turning what a leftist considers to be insulting satirical work into a monument to a great president? Homosexuals reclaimed Hitler’s pink triangle into a sign of empowerment.
“War President” will be our pink triangle. Instead of condemning its display let’s revise the message into something better.
As freedom-loving right-wingers, are we going to scream and whine about this image being “insensitive” and “offensive?” Are we going to be outraged? Why not turn the tables on American Leftist and thank him for this awesome work of art that honors our dead AND our President? He can leave his intentions to himself, for all I care.
UPDATE (2004-11-04): WELCOME Michelle Malkin readers! I have opened the comments to this post temporarily. I’d like to hear from y’all if you got something to say.
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1
Thanks for sharing–that’s an incredible image. No matter what the artists intention, I think it’s great.
Comment by Lornkanaga — Apr 7, 2004 @ 3:57 pm
2
The War President
In reference to a mosiac of dead soldiers that forms a picture of the President, Jay writes: “we’re turning what a leftist considers to be insulting satirical work into a monument to a great president? Homosexuals reclaimed Hitler’s pink triangle…
Trackback by W I D E Eyed Insolence — Apr 8, 2004 @ 1:07 am
3
TURNING THE TABLES ON MICHAEL MOORE
Created by the American Leftist As you’ve all seen, Michael Moore has made his post-election “statement” on his website by publishing a photo mosaic of President Bush’s face, formed with the images of fallen American soldiers. The mosaic was…
Trackback by Michelle Malkin — Nov 4, 2004 @ 11:07 am
4
I sent mm an email:
Thank you for your wonderful tribute to our great President George W. Bush and the brave men and women of our military who gave their lives for our country. They also gave their lives so you have the right to degrate everything they stand for.
Congratulations.
Comment by Bill USAF Vet — Nov 4, 2004 @ 3:51 pm
5
oops – that should read “denigrate”
Comment by Bill USAF Vet — Nov 4, 2004 @ 3:55 pm
6
that picture is disgusting to look at… anyone who views that as tribute to bush is a sick individual…
Comment by Jim — Nov 4, 2004 @ 5:14 pm
7
I see it as GW embracing all of the dead into himself with love, affection and pride
Comment by m. chambers — Nov 4, 2004 @ 6:39 pm
8
As the wife of a retired veteran, as the friend of many of our soldiers who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, I do consider it a moving tribute. I do doubt that the majority of these brave soldiers would care for the likes of American Leftist exploiting their images in this way, but the picture itself is moving, and I admire the conceptual gifts of the original artist (I do wish M.M. had seen fit to credit the actual creator on his website).
These pictures are of the men and women, and the President, who understand that freedom is not free, and who are willing to fight for that freedom for themselves and others, even others as execrable as Michael Moore.
None of those servicemembers were drafted. They knew what they were doing when they signed up. I honor them. I honor their commitment. I honor their dedicated service to their country.
It is because of the sacrifices of these and generations of other citizen soldiers that people like American Leftist and even the detestable Michael Moore are able to make the protests they make, create the art American Leftist creates, and tell the lies that M.M. tells without finding themselves in front of a firing squad some morning.
Comment by WendiSue — Nov 4, 2004 @ 7:42 pm
9
The reframing of the debate on the image as a tribute is well concieved even if inadvertant. People always interpret art differently from each other, and it might be more than a bit disconcerting to the author that his work might be intrerpreted 180 degrees from his original intention. Note how all of President Bush’s garbled syntax or use of language–misunderestimated for example–is now used for affectionate comradery with him rather than mockery. When I first saw people referring to the President as “Dubya” it was as a negative epithet. Then I saw pro Bush people saying it in warm loving tones and then negativity dissolved and it seems almost like a mark of honor. It shows that what matters is how we take it and not how they sent the message.
Comment by Jeff M — Nov 4, 2004 @ 8:19 pm
10
My stepson is probably in that picture. I first saw it on Osama’s tool’s website so I knew it’s intententions and it felt kind of weird because I really liked it. Then I saw it on Michelle Malkin’s blog with a link to here. I am glad other people saw it the same way I did. I made my own artistic statement about the war in a music video. It’s called “Have You Seen Enough?” You can see it here: http://www.mssvision.com/VOD/042.asp#SVHYSE
Comment by Steve Hayes — Nov 4, 2004 @ 11:45 pm
11
War sucks! Iunderstanf and feel the anguish! But let the Bush image be displayed next to one of Michael Moore made up of images of 9/11 victims.
Comment by Jack Sullivan — Nov 5, 2004 @ 2:59 am
12
Major hat tip to Ms. Malkin! Being able to turn histeria to benefit is great. I think as conservative Americans, we should be doing this more. “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”
Comment by Keith — Nov 5, 2004 @ 6:13 pm