Stupid art is objectively pro-Nazi
Tell me: How could the French government countenance this art installation, which manages to be both juvenile and deeply insulting at the same time? :
Exhibit marks 67th anniversary of D-Day landings
An installation of 1,000 casts of Russian, German and American combat helmets of WWII which also represent turtles, to denounce global violence, created by French artist Rachid Khimoune, is seen on Omaha Beach in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Sunday, June 5, 2011 at the eve of the D-Day Anniversary. Photo: Vincent Michel / AP
COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, France (AP) — French artist Rachid Khimoune has installed 1,000 sculptures shaped like sea turtles on Omaha Beach to mark the 67th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.
The turtles’ “shells” are molded from American, Russian and German combat helmets, sprouting flippers and long-necked heads. The sculptures were arranged Sunday along the sandy expanses of Omaha Beach — where the Allies won a pivotal victory against the Nazis.
I ask you: So, would the artist prefer that the Allies had refrained from committing any icky violence and instead not invaded Normandy, so as to preserve peace? In which case, France would to this day be called Frankenreich, the western province of Greater Germany?
I mean, OK, sure, stupid artists make stupid art making stupid points all the time. But the French government gave permission for this particular statement to be made on Omaha Beach on the anniversary of D-Day.
The ghosts of 10,000 men who sacrificed their lives that day to save France all say “You’re welcome!” in unison.
At this stage, there’s really nothing left to do but quote George Orwell:
Pacifism is objectively pro-Fascist. This is elementary common sense. If you hamper the war effort of one side you automatically help that of the other. Nor is there any real way of remaining outside such a war as the present one. In practice, ‘he that is not with me is against me’. The idea that you can somehow remain aloof from and superior to the struggle, while living on food which British sailors have to risk their lives to bring you, is a bourgeois illusion bred of money and security. Mr Savage remarks that ‘according to this type of reasoning, a German or Japanese pacifist would be “objectively pro-British”.’ But of course he would be! That is why pacifist activities are not permitted in those countries (in both of them the penalty is, or can be, beheading) while both the Germans and the Japanese do all they can to encourage the spread of pacifism in British and American territories. The Germans even run a spurious ‘freedom’ station which serves out pacifist propaganda indistinguishable from that of the P.P.U. They would stimulate pacifism in Russia as well if they could, but in that case they have tougher babies to deal with. In so far as it takes effect at all, pacifist propaganda can only be effective against those countries where a certain amount of freedom of speech is still permitted; in other words it is helpful to totalitarianism.
UPDATE:
Apparently the French government is marking all the victories over the Nazis by allowing this guy to display his pacifism helmet-turtles at each world-famous French national landmark:
VE Day pacificism installation at the Eiffel Tower
Picture taken in front of the Eiffel tower, on May 8, 2011 at the Trocadero in Paris, of the installation by French artist Rachid Khimoune of 1000 turtle-shaped statues made in the ’90s out of helmets from different countries. The statues, exhibited here on the 66th anniversary of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, aim at symbolizing ‘the never ending horrors of war’. Photo by Thomas Samson/ AFP/ Getty Images
But what about the never-ending horrors of addlebrained moral relativism?
The political movent to impose a Cabinet-level Department of Peace on the US government is making great strides to accomplish just the kind of undermining that Orwell describes. It’s not just a limp-wristed bunch of eggheads, and has some support from 60 Congressional Democrats.
As the bill describes it, the department would be part of the president’s Cabinet, funded at 2 percent of the Defense Department’s budget.
The plans of its supporters serve more as shackles on the US than as practical solutions to the conflicts stoked by murderous regimes worldwide.
When you visit WWII military graves and memorials in Europe, you will find a significant difference between those built by America and those built by European nations: American memorials honor the heroism and sacrifice of young men who fought to preserve our freedom. European memorials lecture the visitor on the futility and stupidity of all war, treating the war dead as mere victims. The idea that the Allied soldiers should be honored as heroes for sacrificing their lives to defeat an evil enemy, well, that idea is offensive to the guides at European memorials.
One question remains: How many Europeans still deserve freedom, and how many might as well be slaves and serfs?
They have most assuredly succumbed to de Toqueville’s “soft despotism:”
You make a good point, pst314. Europistan will soon be prospering in Sharia “civilization” (is that irony or an oxymoron?) maiming and killing women to protect their honor, popping rockets into the next community for Allah, leeching on the workers of Europistanian, etc. We sacrificed our boys for I & II. It’s their turn to pay their own pipers.
So why do we waste our time protecting these idiots….never again….let them become the socialistic drones of the future….mindless….government controlled idiots. Oh and by the way…if we all unite as one government and average out all incomes you would have to live on bout 8-10k a year….do u really think u could? So America think economically and protectionist….make ur own way and help others in ur communities when needed. True art is realism….not la la land.
Next time France needs saving; let’s not.
I swear, we should have let the Nazis keep France to do as they liked to it. Ungrateful douchebags.
We did, remember? Germany overran France in May, 1940. We remained neutral until Germany declared war on the United States a year and a half later.
We were “neutral”. In other words, we were withholding supplies from the Axis, while supplying the Allies. That’s hardly a definition of neutral. Hitler overran France in a blitzkrieg, just like he did Poland 6 months earlier. We were not “ready” for a war, but Roosevelt didn’t do anything to keep us “neutral”, he didn’t “keep us out of war”, he set the stage for us to go to war. It’s just that the timetable was moved up a few years from when he wanted to start fighting.
France typically ignores the fact that if it weren’t for the various other countries that cleared the way, Degaulle would not have been the first to enter Paris – a move the Allies considered “face saving”. They bitch about how we fought on their soil, how we fight our battles nowadays, but if it weren’t for people like my Uncle, their national language would be German.
Think it more likely they’d be learning Russian. They were going to beat Germany eventually and I suspect that they would not have stopped at the Rhein.
So we’re damned if we do and now Jack thinks we should be damned since we didn’t until we were attacked. Can’t have it both ways folks.
Ungrateful douchebags? Well, those French old enough to remember the Nazi occupation are still very grateful for the sacrifices of the American, British and Canadian soldiers who fought and died to liberate their country. The ungrateful douchebags are the old Marxist professors and post-’68 Socialists who would have preferred to have been “liberated” by the Red Army, who would have merely replaced one form of tyranny with another, but one more to the liking of the old Marxist professors.
“But what about the never-ending horrors of addlebrained moral relativism?”
I think you need a functioning moral compass to see that. Which would require approximately three brain cells in communication, but I digress.
You’re on a roll, zombie. Keep going!
A French roll, or a Kaiser roll?
“A French roll, or a Kaiser roll?”
Whichever you prefer, or whichever is crunchier.
In the spirit of the turtles, I’ll choose a Kaiser roll with mustard gas and cheese-eating surrender monkeys.
Well, it will make for an easy shopping run.
Note also that this French Arab, who’s family originally came from Tunisia (according to Wiki), bravely takes on the so-called violence of his adopted Western sanctuary while apparently ignoring the barbarism, violence, hatred, and terrorism which characterizes his culture of origin. Another Arab/Muslim bravely lecturing the West about our shortcomings while ignoring the plank in his own eye.
I was more struck by this fact:
If the Allies had not liberated France, then all the French colonies would have fallen under German control, and you can bet your bottom dollar that the Germans would NEVER have allowed massive immigration from the former French colonies to Europe (which in the German/Nazi view would have contaminated the continent’s racial stock). So without the Allied victory, this guy would still be stuck back in North Africa, most likely living in brutal oppression in a Nazi-controlled slave colony. Instead, thanks to the the Allies-initiated “violence” he so rails against, he was able to immigrate to a wealthy welcoming nation and live in freedom and prosperity, as can all his countrymen.
Hypocrisy to the nth degree.
An installation of 1,000 casts of Russian, German and American combat helmets of WWII which also represent turtles, to denounce global violence, created by French artist Rachid Khimoune, is seen on Omaha Beach in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Sunday, June 5, 2011 at the eve of the D-Day Anniversary.
“Denounce global violence.” Artists such a Georg Grosz and Otto Dix didn’t accompany their horrific but often horrifyingly humorous images with the pedestrian explanation that their work was intended to denounce global violence.
Instead, Dix and Grosz would paint what they remembered and let the viewer decide what the work said. These turtles actually trivialize the true horror of war. They look like toys dispensed from coin-operated vending machine.
Check out Dix’s triptych War:
http://tinyurl.com/3t8zmbj
Who’s the greater artist? Who cares more about his fellow men?
The Euro is the result of the greatest, deepest fear in Europe: a re-run of France versus Germany in a War to End Wars. Europe lost its nerve in the first half of the 20th century, what with WWI and WWII, and has spent the rest of the time trying to make a totally secure society, with a socialist bureaucracy and cradle to grave welfare system. You see? No More War!!!
And they have transformed this gut level fear into a moral high ground. It is too bad that the US does not withdraw its troops from Europe. And Canada along with the US should withdraw from the UN, and let Europe look after itself.
And another thing: Just what the hell do TURTLES have to do with war symbolism? Just about everyone likes turtles; I even like the big dinosaurish snapping ones. And there’s no sight quite like that of the REAL sea turtles covering a beach at night to lay their eggs. This snotty, thoughtless dilettante has compromised a lovely childhood memory for me! BTW, sea turtles have low, streamlined, leathery shells, not high hard domes, so the image isn’t even visually appropriate. So there…
to #8 The permanent newbie:
The “Peace Turtle” is an icon of peaceniks. Not widely used, but still pretty well known:
http://www.cafepress.com/+peace_turtle_cap,408847456
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02T7iUVX2PQ
http://www.stickergiant.com/peace-turtle_kk500.html
To be fair, this clears up one of life’s great mysteries: when someone references “turtles all the way down,” now we know what’s at the very bottom.
An artist!
Good answer!
“French artist Rachid Khimoune”
Rachide Khimoune is a very French-sounding name, isn’t it?
Actually, yes it is indeed, these days:
France Demographics:
“It is currently estimated that 40% of the French population is descended at least partially from the different waves of immigration the country has received.”
Rachid is a Muslim name.
As The Jawa Report points out, we all know how well the Nazis and the Muslims got along.
I want the artist to take this exhibit on the road and show it in Moscow’s Red Square and St. Petersburg’s Nevsky Prospect. The discussions of art and memory in land of the Red Army will be vigorous.
I reluctantly have to quibble about the Orwell quote. He did walk back from it about three years later.
“We are told that it is only people’s objective actions that matter, and their subjective feelings are of no importance. Thus pacifists, by obstructing the war effort, are ‘objectively’ aiding the Nazis; and therefore the fact that they may be personally hostile to Fascism is irrelevant. I have been guilty of saying this myself more than once. The same argument is applied to Trotskyism… To criticize the Soviet Union helps Hitler: therefore ‘Trotskyism is Fascism’. And when this has been established, the accusation of conscious treachery is usually repeated. This is not only dishonest; it also carries a severe penalty with it. If you disregard people’s motives, it becomes much harder to foresee their actions. For there are occasions when even the most misguided person can see the results of what he is doing… The important thing is to discover which individuals are honest and which are not, and the usual blanket accusation merely makes this more difficult. The atmosphere of hatred in which controversy is conducted blinds people to considerations of this kind. To admit that an opponent might be both honest and intelligent is felt to be intolerable. It is more immediately satisfying to shout that he is a fool or a scoundrel, or both, than to find out what he is really like. It is this habit of mind, among other things, that has made political prediction in our time so remarkably unsuccessful.” “As I Please,” Tribune (8 December 1944)
But I highly recommend his 1945 essay “Notes on Nationalism”. A portion of it is about “negative nationalism”, one example being the knee-jerk opposition of England among the left of his day. With minimal changes it could’ve been written yesterday about the USA.
I knew someone was going to bring up Orwell’s supposed “walk back” of his “objectively pro-fascist” quote. In fact, I still have the page open (http://studentactivism.net/2010/09/22/orwell-repudiates-pacifism-is-objectively-pro-fascist-the-text/) from reading the entire essay containing the walk-back.
However, if you read it closely, he does not repudiate his statement that “Pacifism is objectively pro-Fascist.” What he reconsiders is whether or not we should place so much emphasis on the “objectively” part. Yes, he says in the later essay, pacifism is objectively pro-fascist, in that it de facto helps fascism — but we should also look more closely at someone’s subjective motives; and that someone who is consciously pro-fascist remains more dangerous than an “accidental” pro-fascist pacifist. He also was dismayed by the irrational arguments deployed by various ideologies during the war, and he was miffed how they were abusing the “objective” argument against their opponents (i.e. various factions were all arguing that “whatever you claim your motives are, from a completely objective standpoint, your actions are aiding the enemy.”)
Does it matter in any practical sense that Kos, Muffington, Yglasias, Ezra, Benen, and the whole lefty crowd of other low-grade propagandists feel that they are outstanding and courageous Americans trying to save the country from us and our misguided works?
Does this argument really work?: “We love America and Americans, that is why we must fundamentally change America and the minds and hearts of all those living between the coasts.” They know not logic, they only know they feel good about what they do. What they do provides penance from the ills they have done that they cannot admit to but only feel way deep down.
Maybe this time.
Instead of showing this moron and his stupid helmet turtles how about a nice color picture of the American Cemetery at Normandy. Having the colors in the background would also not be a bad idea. As for France, next time they get invaded let’s help the invader.
Notice how this twerp indiscriminately mingles Allied and Nazi helmets?
I think that’s the whole point. Nazis/Americans/Russians — they’re all the same: evil warmongers!
There aren’t any French helmet-turtles because their army had already all surrendered and thus cemented their superior moral status as peaceful non-combatants!
Was it over, when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? I think this moron believes it was!
You’re kidding, right? Last time I looked the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.
It was a movie reference….. Animal House:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8lT1o0sDwI
“Artist?” Nothing more than a propagandist! This man/artist asks himself how can I get recognized…I will “join” those organizations that will benefit me most. He is given the title of artist because he makes a few molds of a helmets with turtles heads and limbs and then reproduces it a thousand times. The louse, he should be so lucky to walk the beaches of those that died for freedom. The art schools are filled with these self absorbed indulgent prigs, looking for an opportunity to exploit in order to become recognized by their leftest deep pocket art councils. His family, if French taught him nothing of the sacrifices made by others in order that he could shit on them! If I ever had the opportunity to meet him I would spit on his presence.I am sick to death of this political art.
Yeah I agree. War rules! People who don’t celebrate war constantly are “suspect”. (I agree with the commenter above who said that we should let people die who don’t agree with this position.) We should never allow anyone to view war as a tragedy. Especially artists – they are the worst of all.
Whenever any war is discussed it should only refer to by the need for it and the focus on the many heroic actions that took place. Under no circumstances must any other aspect of this complex occurrence be discussed. But if they are – then immediately erect as many straw men as possible and commence firing.
Just so you know…war is horrific. It doesn’t matter what the circumstances are, or which sides are involved. War, in and of its self, is one of the most horrifying man-made disasters in the world. Now, having said that, it’s also necessary. As long as there is evil in this world, war will be necessary. Does that mean we should race to war at the slightest provocation? Absolutely not! But there are only so many ways you can deal with someone who is trying to kill you for no reason. You can run, which leaves everyone else to this persons mercy (of which they most likely have none). OR you can fight. You can take the chance that you might be able to defeat them, and by doing so, protect the people around you. A very wise person named Nephi was once told, “It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish…” I don’t honor war, but I will always honor our warriors. If I can’t be grateful to the people who were willing to sacrifice their very life so that I would be able to live, what kind of person am I? War changes people, and it can destroy lives. But I will forever be indebted to those who fought, and continue to fight, so that I can choose who and what I’ll be. Might doesn’t usually make right, but right always makes might. “All evil needs to thrive in this world is for good men to do nothing.” Or maybe just something else.
Every White Nation has been ruined since Hitler was defeated. Not exactly something to be proud of.
With so much “Stupidart” out there (generally anything done with pee or dung), sometimes a “think piece” can get mashed into that category. A good piece of modern art (no, its not a contradiction in terms, just a very narrow category) is one that lets you see Something in it, and if you talk to somebody else about it, they will have seen Something Else, which may let you see Something Totally Different, and so on, and so forth.
I do see Something in this art (small “a”). Not quite sure what it is, but its better than what I normally see at an art show (Well, there goes an afternoon I’ll never see again).
“would the artist prefer that the Allies had refrained from committing any icky violence and instead not invaded Normandy, so as to preserve peace?”
If the artist doesn’t, I do. America should never have intervened to save EUrope from itself. EUrope is socialism, whether of the national socialist or international socialist variety. No EUropean desires freedom. Let EUrope be EUrope. What have the entangling alliances with EUrope done for America, but lead us to bankruptcy and corruption?
It’s not just a limp-wristed bunch of eggheads, and has some support from 60 Congressional Democrats.
I’m sorry – what’s the difference?
I like turtles
I think maybe we should have let the Nazis have France.
France and all of stupid socialist Europe deserve all the misery they have inflicted on themselves trying to be what they’re not!
European central bankers and their unmitigated greed are the cause of modern wars, not the hope and ambitions of the citizens!
I wouldn’t call this display Pro-Nazi, but the intent of the artist is what is objectionable, not the art itself!
I think this artwork should be displayed as a statement on the world wide assault on sea turtle populations, not some lefty socialist political statement on the attempt to rid Europe from the clutches of a mad man that would have probably had this artist shot!
We need to find and fund an artist to place Swastikas next to the turtles, showing what they represent
Hey, the French have been doing this crap for an eternity, all in the name of ART! It’s their little way of expressing themselves without saying a thing. Those that appreciate what America sacrificed to save them and their country as well as their “Art” are a dying breed and those that are left live in an alternative universe. And, by the way, I’m French but a red blooded American first!
A lot of good rhetoric and thoughts. Peace is very nice and the only peace I hope and expect is through and with The Christ. Wars are hell on earth, but sometimes one must defend home and hearth
and the U.S.A. generously has given and given over and over to help others as we do here at home everyday. There are givers and takers from the beginning and ever more, and the takers are usually or frequently un-thankful. You know, ‘bites the hand that feeds it’ even if it means no more food. The insanity of man’s actions continue on forever more unless we all start reading and studying earnestly the Holy Bible for our selves striving to understand God’s words and putting them into action by living as He would have us live with agape love following The Christ’s examples. It takes a lot of time and effort to read, study, learn, and understand, which The Church of Christ is devoted to doing just that, teaching the truth of God word, and will always be ready to help anyone learn, http://www.christiancourier.com, and, http://www.gospelofchrist..com, plus, http://www.e-sword.net,
http://www.creationmoments.org, will give anyone a self-starting opportunity.
The French in particular, and Europe in general, have been invaded and their cultures are in a shambles. The Islamification of Europe and the U.K. continue unabated. Speaking of actual art, how long before the pacifists allow the Louvre collections go the way of the Bamiyan Buddhas?
MMM Department of Peace, funny I thought we already had one, was called Department of War then renamed Department of Defense. The best contribution to peace is to be ready to fight and defend it.
–What happened to”speak softl;y and carry a big stick?”
the best defense is a good offence
An armed society is a polite society
RUSSIAN HELMETS???
Where are the BRITISH and CANADIAN helmets? And on which beach at Normandy did the RUSSIAN divisions land?
You betcha that “art” is a desecration!
Low class, no class, disrespectful and unfortunate for the viewer. “Free speech without reasonable respect for the victims of a horrible event.
I want you to know that not all of France is feeling this way. There are quite a few French People who love the Americans and the Sacrifice they made to free their country. You can Blame the Educational system there (which is very Liberal) and what they teach to the younger People there (which is all lies). I have seen reenactments there in France where the French are Proud of what the Americans did. History cannot lie. But Wrong Teachings do lie!
Jack Olsen should look at History a little different. We stayed Neutal because “most” of the U.S. Population wanted to stay Neutal. FDR was trying his best to turn public Polls around about WAR! Think about that Jack!
As we have learned from our moral betters vis-a-vis Osama’s unlawful, inhumane assassination, to celebrate the defeat of the Nazis makes us just as bad as Hitler popping champagne at Auschwitz. Or something.
Celebrate? Try Memorial to honor the fallen who gave their lives for you!
I am disgusted! Lets disinter our brave soldiers, and bring them home to rest in peace in their own country. Whatever happened to never leaving a soldier behind! Close the American Cemeteries in Europe. I would think any American would donate funds for such a noble cause. No stimulus money…just good ol’ American gumpsion to raise the money ourselves. These heroes, and their sacrifice have been forgotten long enough!
It’s time our goverment remembers the lack of respect shown and cuts off any financial and diplomatic support from France unless it is in our national interest , ratified by congress. Time for another… permanent… French boycott.
However well intentioned Rashid may be with his “art” the fact of the matter lies in the reality that he is only able to display his work at these spots because of a War . Had the Allies decided to leave Europe to their fate, i’m sure Hitlers’ heirs would have welcomed such Kunst with open arms. Could peace have brought about the Europe we see today ?
Why even try to argue with these IDIOTS! They don’t know evil til its on their doorstep. please respond antiwar people. This will be easy to educate you on the necessity to confront evil. Come on let’s talk.
.
MY DIVISION HIT THE BEACH SIX WEEKS AFTER D DAY. HAD THE PLEASURE OF A 30 DAY RIDE FROM THE BRIDGEHEAD IN NORMANDY TO THE SEIGFRIED UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF OLD GEORGIE PATTON. OUTSIDE OF THE FREE FRENCH FORCES OF THE INTERIOR [FFI]—THE REST WERE SUCKUPS. THIS DISPLAY DOES NOTHING TO COMMEMORATE ALL OF THOSE WO FELL ON THE 6TH OF JUNE. UNFORTUNATELY THINGS SELDOM CHANGE. H
Who do you think knows more about the horrors of war? An “artist” sitting in the middle of his work, or the loved ones of those who either came home in a flag draped casket, or who did not come home whole? How many of them would say that their son, husband, father, etc., died for nothing? How many of those who lost an arm, a leg, their sight, would say that their sacrifice was just a waste? My uncle went thru WWII, and after experiencing the death of friends and comrades, stayed in to fight in Korea. He witnessed the death camps of the Nazis. He saw the real horror that war is. In Korea, he worked in a MASH unit where he saw men who had been tortured by the North Koreans. South Korean families, whole villages, that had been slaughtered by the enemy. And yet, these pacifists would have had us walk away from these crimes against humanity and just let it go on, until the animals like Hitler had devoured everything that was and is good in this world.
War is hell. No one denies it. But had we not entered into that hell , Satan would have had a free hand and there is no telling where it would have spread. It would have eventually made it across the oceans and this part of the world would have burned too.
Unfortunately, there will always be wars and rumors of wars. Putting a bunch of “helmet turtles” on a beach where men fought and died, does nothing for the world. All it does is desecrate the memory of those brave men. How sad that anyone would treat this display as anything else.
The French will do what the French do…. dither untill their only possible recourse is violent, wasteful and excessive. Blood will flow in France and you can bet many, many of the wrong people will be rounded up. Any Jews in France need to get out now
This artist is a muslim. Of course he wants to spread pacificism throughout the west. It will be so much easier to conquer a people if they’re not willing to fight for their own survival.
No man survives when freedom fails, The best men rot in filthy jails, And those who cry ‘appease, appease’ Are hanged by those they tried to please. Hiram Mann
I’d rather die on my feet than live on my knees. Ronald Reagan