Dear Editor,
Chris Wendt, Kate Fitzgibbon and Michelle Johnson's demand thata mural be removed from my coffee shop reminds me of JohnAshcroft's attempt to have the chest of Justice covered up at theDepartment of Justice. He wanted it covered because Justice's nakedchest offended him.
Mr. Wendt and associates do not appear to understand thedifference between subjective aesthetic judgment and objectiveethical condemnation. Their attack -- an unfortunate mishmash ofparroted clich� and sophomoric invective -- greatly missesits mark.
In brief, their facts are wrong, their reasoning flawed, andtheir tone offensive.
Racism is serious business, and should not be treated in aflippant manner.
Bald assertion does not merit a reasoned response, but I cannottolerate the outright lies and anti-Semitic implications.
For the record, I did not pay $3,000 for the mural. Where thisinformation came from, I have no idea.
The Asian woman who supposedly walked out of the Blue Bottlenever existed.
Art, music and open discussion make coffee shops unique placesin our communities. If the mural offends these people, it can't behelped. I offer no apology. This is not the first time that I havebeen asked to remove art from my walls, nor will it be thelast.
Up until now, the comments about the mural have ranged from "Idon't like it," to "I don't understand what it's about." I put themural up for people's enjoyment. I leave the interpretations tothem. Frankly, I have not heard any comments about the mural inmonths.
What hurts is the association of Nazi Eugenics and the BlueBottle. I have zero tolerance for anti-Semitism. Being Jewish, I amwell aware of the Nazis' attempt to purify the Aryan race. Hitlerexterminated millions of Jews, Poles, Gypsies and gays. Havingfamily and friends who fought in World War II or suffered inconcentration camps, I am offended when I am unjustly accused ofracism.
I close my response to their presumptuous letter with an aptquotation from Bishop Berkley: "All men have opinions, but fewthink."
Tom Steiner
owner, Blue Bottle Coffee Shop
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