Put up a Nativity scene on public property, and the courts will likely make you take it down. Display the Ten Commandments in a courtroom, and expect to be labeled as a bigot. But do a little anti-Christian kitsch and the Sacramento County Law Library might just welcome it to their collection.
Jeri Wyrick created a work called “Moral Values” that shows a Bible with a prominent label: “Warning! May Impair Judgment.” The Sacramento Bee says:
In an “artist statement” posted next to her work, Jeri Wyrick said she created the piece after the 2004 presidential election: “I came to the conclusion that there must be something about religious faith which renders people stupid.”
Wyrick obviously feels compelled to explain away any ambiguity in her work lest we mistake what judgment is likely impaired and who is rendered stupid. The “artist statement” however says everything Wyrick wants us to know, and makes the artwork itself superfluous.
In her statement, Wyrick described her work. She said that she decided to create her controversial piece after exit polls showed most people cited moral values as their reason for voting for President George W. Bush in 2004.
“I hope that these pieces are not presumed as a group to be pro-Muslim/anti Christian – which they are not – as opposed to just anti-religious – which they admittedly are.”
That last admission might pose problems though. The Supreme Court has allowed Christmas displays that are not purely religious in nature. Toss in some reindeer and snowmen and you can get by. Might a purely anti-religious message violate the First Amendment?
But not to worry. Despite Wyrick’s admission, her work is not just anti-religious. It contains a sophomoric political message as well.
Now about that county name: Sacramento . . .
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