Controversy Over Tax Funds for Arts Agency

In your editorial “Politics Is No Work of Art” (July 3) there seems to be a subtle double-standard introduced, and a blacklisting of another sort than intended. The first sentence reads: “Over the past year, a small but vocal coalition of religious fundamentalists and conservative ideologues has subjected the National Endowment for the Arts to a campaign of vilification so intense that it has put the program’s very existence in doubt.” In effect this is a form of blacklisting in its own right, is it not? Anyone who voices displeasure with the NEA must be a “religious fundamentalist” or a “conservative ideologue.”

This “small” group you point out is far larger than you give it credit for. It is composed of every race, political leaning and religious belief. For example, if you were to replace a picture of Martin Luther King Jr. for that crucifix submerged in urine which recently raised such a furor, I’m sure you would see a large majority of the Rainbow Coalition on the NEA’s back pronto. The same would occur if a Star of David were submerged in urine. It’s not “in” to deface great leaders leaders or other religions. Let one of these artists play around with the Muslim faith and he might just receive a death threat.

But Christianity is safe to blaspheme. Because when the Christians complain, they become “religious fundamentalists” or “conservative ideologues” who are looked upon with impunity. So few of this large majority, who you label as “small,” raise their voices for fear of being blacklisted by a biased and ax-handling press.

JOE SPERLING

Santa Ana