Worthwhile, but Is It Art?

Re: “State Art Funds at Heart of Conflict” (by Diane Haithman, May 25): It is a complete misuse of scarce taxpayer dollars, especially funds designated for support of the arts, to support a religious institution like the Museum of Tolerance. Despite its claims to broader purposes, the museum’s logo is a Jewish star, and its focus is the Holocaust of the Jews in World War II. It is closed on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, and on most Jewish holidays.

In contrast, the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., is open daily except Christmas Day and Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.

And most importantly, “Tools for Tolerance” is not an art program. If the legislature and the governor want to support the “Tools for Tolerance” program, this should be part of some other appropriation.

I choose to support the Museum of Tolerance as a member--just as I support the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art--but my tax dollars designated for support of the arts should not support it.

DANIEL J. FINK

Los Angeles