The Religious Policeman

The Tate Gallery in London have issued a Press Release. They've removed an artwork called "God is Great" from an exhibition there.

Tate Press Statement about John Latham In Focus

Their reason?

God is Great, 1991, a work by John Latham featuring copies of the Bible, a Koran and a Talmud, which have been physically manipulated, is not included in the display of the work of John Latham, which opened at Tate Britain last week. Having sought wide-ranging advice, Tate feels that to exhibit the work in London in the current sensitive climate, post 7 July, would not be appropriate.

Indeed, that is a wise decision, in view of the Tube bombing on July 7th. There are many cultural sensitivities to be taken into account. Large numbers of Christians were killed, and there are irate mobs of Christians roaming all over London, waving their fists and shouting "Hail Mary". A few Jews also suffered, and Jews are just as angry, you should see the crowds milling around with their "Star of David" flags. And as for the agnostics and atheists who were killed or injured, hundreds of non-believers are rampaging all over the place, waving copies of Bertrand Russell and such like. Yes indeed, London is a real tinderbox of ethnic and religious tension following those bombs, and the Tate has made a statesmanlike decision not to upset them. Just as well that we Muslims, whose co-religionists set off the bombs, keep our heads down and don't go around causing any trouble.

(Walks back thru to other side of Normality-Field. Time for an emotional outburst.)

I don't particularly like the piece, but in the interests of both artistic freedom and common sense, I am publishing it here.



If there are any British Muslims who feel offended by this, I have 3 messages:

1. Go to Saudi Arabia, take a job as a taxi driver, don't forget to take your wife, really enjoy yourselves, it's what you may occasionally dream about, now you can live the full Muslim lifestyle 24 X 7. And discover the especially warm welcome accorded to people of Pakistani descent and other Third World countries, in the land of the Two Holy Mosques and the religious epicenter of the Islam faith.

2. If you don't want to do that, just reflect on who is paying for your childrens' education, police protection, healthcare, welfare centers, and how the British people are more than happy to assimilate other peoples who share their values and respect their way of life.

3. If you've still got a problem with that, take one of these minature Qurans



and place it somewhere where the sun won't bleach it and the rain won't soak it.

(/emotional outburst)