I do believe there is free speech

SEATTLE - A Seattle cartoonist is disappearing from view after
one of her drawings sparked an international controversy.

The Seattle Weekly reports that Molly Norris is changing her name
and wiping away her identity on the advice of the FBI.

Last may Norris posted a cartoon on her blog called "Everybody
Draw Muhammed Day" in response to what some considered censoring
of the TV show South Park.

The swell of support for her cartoon on Facebook prompted
Pakistan to pull the social networking site off line for awhile.

(msn-news)

So once more a person using her freaking right,which is preserved within the basics of living in America, has to run and hide.I do believe in freedom of speech,very much so, as a artist that is out soapbox,our muse,our right to use,yet not to abuse it. So when does one abuse the right of free speech? This differs for everyone, we all believe in different things that shape us,religion, upbringing,nature and nurture but I hope as a race of mostly hairless bi-peds we can agree thast drawing a cartoon should not now nor ever be a reason to change your name and hide!

your a what?

There are a few things in life that can atracked the look from strangers that you are a boil on the face of there "perfect" life, but telling them you are a artist is one of them. At many points in my life I found my self at get to gathers talking to strangers that looked at me like I was gulping up there oh so hard earned money...
Here's how those conversations go:
you are at a birthday party of a friend

"Hi"
"hello" Artist (a)
"Ben"
"Jay" (a)
"good party ain't it?"
"yeah,cold beer,chips,yep pretty ok" (a)
"So what do you do"
"I'm an artist" (a)

thunder rings across the sky,lighting shows the now stunned Ben with visions of yet one more unemployed freeloader eating his tax dollars.He takes a step back.By now seconds have crept by and he knows he needs to say something.

"Oh,so like what do you do?"
"I paint,draw,teach amongst others" (a)

That just reinforced his idea of a adult unwilling to grownup,cause you are not working for someone or better yet,you did not go to college..

"What kind of paintings?
"portraits mostly,but I can do most things" (a)

by now I get enoyed.

"yeah art school,6 years of college taught me enough to start my own studio and make a good living"

Eyebrows raise slightly..

"Really, 6 years hmm"
"yeah but I was done in 4" (a)
"so you work for your self"
"yep no boss,I can start when everrr I want"(a)

enter sip og beer and smurk smile.

Now I know, not all artists have been to art school or work for them selfs,yet we are cut from the same wood. We all have to endure the looks and talks of being less then them. What they forget or even do not know,we are better because we are close to what they have3 lost..a connection to our creativity.



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