Attorney General Wants to Cover Breasts on State Flag

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Virginia's official state seal has a proud history. The image features the Roman goddess Virtus, sword and spear in her hands, standing triumphantly with her foot on the chest of a defeated Tyranny. It was adopted in 1776, and is the centerpiece of Virginia's state flag. As far as I can tell, the symbol has never been the subject of controversy. That is, until Virginia's comically right-wing attorney general decided it's offensive. (via John Cole)

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli apparently isn't fond of wardrobe malfunctions, even when Virginia's state seal is involved.

The seal depicts the Roman goddess Virtus, or virtue, wearing a blue tunic draped over one shoulder, her left breast exposed. But on the new lapel pins Cuccinelli recently handed out to his staff, Virtus' bosom is covered by an armored breastplate.

When the new design came up at a staff meeting, workers in attendance said Cuccinelli joked that it converts a risque image into a PG one.

The joke might be on him, said University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato.

"When you ask to be ridiculed, it usually happens. And it will happen here, nationally," he said. "This is classical art, for goodness' sake."

Cuccinelli's spokesperson said the pins depicting the version preferred by the state AG were paid for by his political action committee, not taxpayers. That's nice, I suppose, but it's not really the point of what makes this interesting.

Let's put it this way: if Virginia's attorney general is offended by his own state's flag and seal, because a drawn breast is too much for him to bear, perhaps he's in the wrong job. In the wrong century. In the wrong country.

Indeed, I shudder to think what Cuccinelli would think of Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People -- both breasts are visible.

link

Edited May 3, 2010 by El Buscador

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Virginia's official state seal has a proud history. The image features the Roman goddess Virtus, sword and spear in her hands, standing triumphantly with her foot on the chest of a defeated Tyranny. It was adopted in 1776, and is the centerpiece of Virginia's state flag. As far as I can tell, the symbol has never been the subject of controversy. That is, until Virginia's comically right-wing attorney general decided it's offensive. (via John Cole)

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli apparently isn't fond of wardrobe malfunctions, even when Virginia's state seal is involved.

The seal depicts the Roman goddess Virtus, or virtue, wearing a blue tunic draped over one shoulder, her left breast exposed. But on the new lapel pins Cuccinelli recently handed out to his staff, Virtus' bosom is covered by an armored breastplate.

When the new design came up at a staff meeting, workers in attendance said Cuccinelli joked that it converts a risque image into a PG one.

The joke might be on him, said University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato.

"When you ask to be ridiculed, it usually happens. And it will happen here, nationally," he said. "This is classical art, for goodness' sake."

Cuccinelli's spokesperson said the pins depicting the version preferred by the state AG were paid for by his political action committee, not taxpayers. That's nice, I suppose, but it's not really the point of what makes this interesting.

Let's put it this way: if Virginia's attorney general is offended by his own state's flag and seal, because a drawn breast is too much for him to bear, perhaps he's in the wrong job. In the wrong century. In the wrong country.

Indeed, I shudder to think what Cuccinelli would think of Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People -- both breasts are visible.

link

Didn't John Ashcroft try to do something similar?

[Peikko 1,575]

How bizarre. It's been tried before though, this 'censorship' of classic art - the Victorians knocked off a bunch of penises off statuary.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Didn't John Ashcroft try to do something similar?

Yep.

Justice Department covers partially nude statues

WASHINGTON (AP) — No longer will the attorney general be photographed in front of two partially nude statues in the Great Hall of the Department of Justice.

The department spent $8,000 on blue drapes that hide the two giant, aluminum art deco statues, said spokesman Shane Hix. For aesthetic reasons, he said, the drapes were occasionally hung in front of the statues before formal events. The department used to rent the drapes, but has now purchased them and left them hanging.

The drapes provide a nice background for television cameras, Hix said.

ABC News reported that Attorney General John Ashcroft ordered the statues covered because he didn't like being photographed in front of them.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002/01/29/statues.htm

[Susita 175]

Why are people so afraid of boobs?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Why are people so afraid of boobs?