USMMA Historical Painting Defense

[Usmma123]

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USMMA Historical Painting Defense

www.change.org

 

[JohnPAKP65]

Quoting from the Alumni Foundation website:

“As many of you know, a complaint was lodged in January about the “Christ on the Water” painting, located in the Elliot M. See Room in Wiley Hall. The Academy initially decided to have curtains cover the painting, which could be opened on request, but it has now been determined by the Academy that the painting cannot remain where it is.

In discussions with the Superintendent, we have learned that a permanent, appropriate solution is now being considered: under this plan, the painting will be moved to a passageway in the lower chapel area of the Mariners Memorial Chapel. This appropriate location will be the formal, designated permanent home for this heritage asset. In the meantime, the Elliot M. See Room will not be used for any official use, and the painting will remain uncovered pending its move to the chapel.

Under the proposed plan, a vendor with the requisite expertise will move the painting from Wiley Hall to its new home in the lower chapel area. Experts will restore the painting to its original condition in place at its new location, where the painting will be readily viewable by those, and only those, who wish to see it. The Academy is confident that this permanent solution will resolve the issues around the painting, as it will then be in an appropriate location in the lower chapel, which is easily accessible to Midshipmen, faculty, staff, and visitors. The AAF supports this plan.”

 

[Pmaclax]

Was the Alumni Foundation too quick to respond? Or too weak in their response?

US Merchant Marine Academy Succumbs to Anti-Religious Bigot Demands Regarding Jesus Painting | American Center for Law and Justice

Recently, the newly installed superintendent at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) was challenged by the president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), an anti-Christian organization that roams the country committed to ridding the public square of all religious expression...

aclj.org

 

[bopper]

Imagine if there was a portrait of Buddha...would you be cool with that? Or think this is not quite the place for it?
One could say why choose one religion to depict... either none or all

 

[Pmaclax]

Imagine if there was a portrait of Buddha...would you be cool with that? Or think this is not quite the place for it?
One could say why choose one religion to depict... either none or all

None or all? I don't think that's a practical approach to many issues in life. As an aside, I personally am good with any image depicting the desire for the safety of a mariner. This issue is very complex, and my point was should the Alumni Association have acted so quickly. Every current member of the Alumni Association has been in the presence of that painting over the course of their education. Did they look at all of the merits of what was being brought forward.. did they consider this... In Van Orden v. Perry, 545 U.S. 677 (2005), the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that a monument depicting the Ten Commandments in an Austin, Texas, public park did not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. We judge historical things with today's standards is a dangerous thing. Imagine a in 100 years all humans are vegans, and the culture deems anybody who ever ate meat cannot have a statue any longer.

 

[bopper]

All is well and good when it is your religion....

 

[KPEngineer]

I see it as one artists depiction of how small a mariner is related to the sea and the desire in a similar moment to be saved by a/any higher power. It could be Jesus, Buddha, Confucius, or Mother Nature and it would send the same message.

Depiction of does not equal establishment of

 

[DTT!FSA!]

Regardless of your position regarding the legal and social implications of the painting, I think we can all agree that it is tacky as hell. It gives me the same vibe as velvet Elvis and dogs playing poker paintings.

 

[User123222]

All is well and good when it is your religion....

This isn’t South Asia. We are in America where Christianity is the dominant religion.

 

[Hockey10]

This isn’t South Asia. We are in America where Christianity is the dominant religion.

This arrogance and delusion of superiority became the only acceptable belief at USAFA in the 90's and early 2000's. Deniers faced physical, academic, and career retribution. After years of feigned ignorance of the situation, the Air Force took some measures but remnants of this attitude remain with the officer corps. The pushback took root then and thus the movement to remove the painting.

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

This isn’t South Asia. We are in America where Christianity is the dominant religion.

Church attendance of Americans 2021 | Statista

According to a 2021 survey, 31 percent of Americans never attend church or synagogue, compared to 22 percent of Americans who attend every week.

www.statista.com

22% of Americans go to some type of church service weekly. Not Christian’s but Americans who might be any number of different religions.

We are hardly a religious country. And maybe that is what the founding fathers understood.

Over 50% of Americans do not actively practice any religion. They never attend or almost never attend.

Many like me that would be answering that I am Christian when what I actually mean is that I was brought up Christian. But I don’t actually go to church or practice or believe .

 

[Day-Tripper]

Imagine if there was a portrait of Buddha...would you be cool with that? Or think this is not quite the place for it?
One could say why choose one religion to depict... either none or all

None at all seems good to me.