Rep. Rohrabacher’s Stance on U.S. Funds for the Arts

I wasn’t surprised at the split opinions regarding government funding of offensive art. The poll indicated that a large majority favors taxpayer-supported art, but a significant portion would also like to see some control over the content.

This contradictory position--along with a mere 6% of respondents claiming to have followed the Helms issue closely--illustrates the indifference Americans display toward artistic expression. The religious right calls for censorship because of two projects; yet, out of more than 80,000 projects funded since the National Endowment for the Arts’ (NEA) inception, the number of controversial grants has been lucky to top two dozen: about .03%.

Unhindered freedom of expression has been a resounding success for this organization. Our founding fathers recognized that by not restricting speech, “good” ideas would ultimately prevail.

The Times poll also revealed a pathetic attitude on the question regarding whether the government should interfere with our First Amendment rights. Two-thirds understand the foundation of the Bill of Rights and answered no; 16% seemed to follow Ayatollahs Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Lomita) and Rep. William E. Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton) to the letter and answered yes; but 18%, nearly one in five, answered “don’t know.”

They don’t know? In fact, most of the questions had significant numbers of “don’t know” answers. I guess the Times shouldn’t call people in the evening and interrupt them during “Wheel of Fortune” or “Alf.”

GREG THOMPSON

El Toro