[Publib] Mud Flaps in Wyoming

[Robert L. Balliot]

Greetings,

This conversation reminds me of a couple of things.  There
was a cover on Psychology Today of an unclothed couple embracing.
I was approached by a patron who was shocked and outraged that
we would display the magazine in an area where children could
see it.  It simply did not occur to any of us that it was
inappropriate.  However, the patron was vehement in their
belief of what it represented and passionate about its removal.

Whenever people bring up their need to censor or challenge 
depictions of human sexuality or human form,
I can't help but become suspicious or their motives or 
what is really triggering their response.  
When Ashcroft had the statue http://tinyurl.com/2x9nvx
at Justice draped I was  uncomfortable and suspicious of 
the motives. I have never equated statues with sexuality, 
merely as a representations of human form. What was he
thinking?  

I still am unable to see how the parody of the mudflaps is
anything but clever.  On the other hand, I find this
rendering very disconcerting:  http://tinyurl.com/2x2hep

I can't help but become suspicious of what is triggering
my response.  


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Robert L. Balliot
1-401-441-5763
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Bristol, Rhode Island
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-----Original Message-----
On Behalf Of Diedre Conkling
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 12:38 AM
To: PUBLIB
Subject: [Publib] Mud Flaps in Wyoming


One thing that surprised me overall in the discussion was how few people
brought up the concept of sexual harassment in the work place and whether or
not the image of the woman used in the design could be an issue.  Karen did
touch on it and one or two others may have as well but it was a very limited
part of the discussion.  I wondered not only how appropriate it would be to
have them in one of our offices but also whether or not it would be an issue
in any of the stores being supplied with the bumper stickers.  The Feminist
Majority Foundation has a good list of things that MIGHT constitute sexual
harassment.  It is, of course, something that would be decided in court but
these are possibilities and it would seem that the image might fit into this
list in some instances.  The list is here:
http://www.feminist.org/911/harasswhatdo.html .
--
Diedre Conkling