In these Trumpian times, I’ve become a crank letter writer firing off missives to house speaker Mike Johnson, Nancy Mace and to my senators and congresspeople. I work a physical job that leaves my mind unoccupied, so if I’m upset over something I’ve read in the news, it releases some of that anger to write an email to the relevant party.
Reading Block Club (a website that covers Chicago news) the other day, I came across an incident that enraged and dismayed me.
The article focused on an argument that erupted in city council where Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez was accused of calling Alderman Bill Conway a White supremacist. Because of this, Sigho-Lopez was removed from the meeting. This in itself was surprising but what truly enraged me was that the meeting was about members of city council demanding the removal of an artwork for the Chicago Cultural center.
The piece, which is part of an exhibit on puppetry, is titled “US-Israel War Machine” and consists of two grotesque puppets, an emaciated and bloody Uncle Sam holding a bucket of tears and another puppet representing Benjamin Netenyahu carrying a bomb.
The group of Alderman lead by Ald. Debra Silverstein charge that the artwork is antisemitic and demand that it be removed. They claim that they are not against freedom of speech but that “hateful” works of art should not be displayed in a publically funded building.
A familiar totalitarian flex.
Anyone attempting to comment on the atrocities committed by israel in Palestine is attacked as antisemitic. Even when its entirely nonsensical it has the offended effect of demonizing people who criticize the ethnic cleansing Israel has committed in Palestine. And of course, the meaning of freedom of speech is that it doesn’t only apply in one’s bedroom.
In this case in particular, the attack on the artwork as antisemitic is nonsensical as the art doesn’t refer to Jewishness. But it makes sense as many Zionist organizations are also claiming that criticizing Israel is inherently antisemitic. This must come as a surprise to the many Israelis who have protested Netenyahu’s government as incompetent and being held together with far-right lunatics.
But in light of current events, this demand is particularly ill-timed and foolish. Trump has recently escalated the terrifying policy that Israel had already started, by saying that he plans to turn Gaza into the new French Riviera. How can anyone continue to deny that Israel’s policy is genocidal when they cooperate with plans such as this? The people who demand censorship of such a work of art are trying to erase history as it happens
In several of my letters to different Alderman, I referenced the embarrassment brought upon the city of Chicago when members of Harold Washington’s caucus confiscated a painting of the recently deceased Washington by an Art Institute student. But comparably, the demand of the removal of the puppets is way more embarrassing because it represents the suffering of people under a fascist government.
By contrast, the artwork of Harold Washington drew on racist tropes of feminizing black men by satirically dressing Washington in lingerie. Neither should be censored but the painting of Washington deserved the angry criticism it received from Washington’s caucus.
Either way, I find the antics of a portion of our city council to be an embarrassment, a seedy attempt to go along with Right-Wing and extremist policies. Many people in power, seeing the dictatorial way Trump exercises his whims, instead of being repulsed wonder; “Hey why don’t I act with impunity as well?”
If you agree with me, please join in in writing a cranky (non-threatening with minimal name calling) letter to the following people:
Write to DCASE saying you support their decision to not remove the puppets
Write a polite but scathing letter to the two supporters of the letter to remove the puppets