[Peace-discuss] Re: Fw: Re: [Peace] Fwd: [stop] ACTION ALERT:
Arraignment for Mark Nepermann Tomorrow
E. Wayne Johnson
ewj at pigs.ag
Thu Jul 2 12:31:02 CDT 2009
One could argue that Nepermann was exercising 1st amendment rights and
that the destruction
of the display was "protected speech", not merely vandalism. One could
even abstract Nepermann's actions
as a form of "art".
To me, the whole thing has the nature of a conflict of ideas and values,
and a public discussion and mediation might produce more benefit and
resolution than treating it as a criminal case.
Felonies are serious things that stay with people for lifetimes
and should not be handed out lightly for infractions related to zealous
division on unresolved social issues.
It's more like a struggle between iconoclasts to determine whose
idolatry is the most worthy sand-castle.
I am not sure what the actual content of the displays was, but I am
guessing that "Beyond the Chief" ought to be wholeheartedly
unambiguously Anti-Chief. The Anti-Chief stuff could equally be
construed as "hate speech", and have the same 1st amendment protection
as any other valid exercise of good-old-fashioned down-in-the-dirt hate
speech.
Seeking tougher sentences for tearing down "in-your-face" art that is
deliberately and calculatedly designed to be provocative is a rather
virulent form of hate in itself. Should one blame the taunted bull when
it charges? If the display was to be "art" only, why wasnt it displayed
indoors where the art would be safe from fading by sunlight and torment
by tornadoes? The truth is that the intent of Beyond the Chief is to in
a major way frankly piss off people in the local community, and it that
sense, it is obviously effective. Making it into a criminal case is
just silly. But looking silly hasnt stopped the perpetrators on either
side of the Chief debate and debacle. Clearly this is a case where Both
Sides Suck. Tougher sentences for hate speech, indeed. Stronger words
too. Deeper intentions. Greener crocodile tears. More obstinate
entrenchments. Ya-hoo, you yahoos.
There is still tremendous pro-Chief sentiment in the State and locally
as well and one is not surprised to see it breaking out into occasional
violent acts, while the Native Americans seek public attention in
various and unique ways. There is a huge festering wound that needs
healing. The bleeding-heart minority in the community painting the
pro-Chief majority in the community bigots and racists does nothing to
change minds or produce healing among those who feel wronged and
betrayed by the university. Nepermann is probably already viewed as a
sort of folk hero by some. Better to get the whole matter resolved in a
public discussion than to make Nedermann a martyr.
But I really dont have a "dog in this fight". I consider the local
obsession with college sports to have become a form of ridiculous mass
hysteria with its palaces and edifices, huge budgets, and million dollar
coaches. The whole matter detracts and distracts incredibly from the
mission of a university in my ever-so-humble opinion. It doesn't make
it any less stupid to me whether they use chieftains, cheeseballs, or
honey-nut cheerios for mascots.
I must admit that I like the idea of cheerios as mascots and a dancing
cerealistic Zero, nay, a legion of Zeroes, rolling around and cavorting
on Ron Zook's 50 yardline at half-time to passionate strains of
"Oskee Wow-Wow, Illinois!" might be appropriate in a Seussian sort of way.
On 7/2/2009 10:34 AM, Jenifer Cartwright wrote:
> Oops, this was meant for peace-discuss, not peace. Pls forgive.
> --Jenifer
>
> --- On *Thu, 7/2/09, Jenifer Cartwright /<jencart13 at yahoo.com>/* wrote:
>
>
> From: Jenifer Cartwright <jencart13 at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [Peace] Fwd: [stop] ACTION ALERT: Arraignment for
> Mark Nepermann Tomorrow
> To: "Court Watch" <announce at communitycourtwatch.org>, "AWARE
> peace" <peace at lists.chambana.net>, "Brian Dolinar"
> <briandolinar at gmail.com>
> Date: Thursday, July 2, 2009, 10:33 AM
>
> Interesting case. There's no proof that Nepermann had anything to
> do w/ the 7 previous cases of vandalism, so those are out of the
> picture (unless by a cruel twist of fate it could be argued that
> those are what devalued the art). But stealing two signs
> considered to be art installations doesn't seem like as little as
> a misdemeanor, either. Is there any way for an independent
> valuation by somebody in the Art biz?? Were the installations
> covered by insurance?? Were they returned in good condition? Hmmm,
> maybe a case could be made for calling this a hate crime...
> Another big Q is whether there's any precedent here, i e what
> charges have been levied in the past against e g removal of Chief,
> etc displays.
> --Jenifer
>
> --- On *Wed, 7/1/09, Brian Dolinar /<briandolinar at gmail.com>/* wrote:
>
>
> From: Brian Dolinar <briandolinar at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Peace] Fwd: [stop] ACTION ALERT: Arraignment for
> Mark Nepermann Tomorrow
> To: "Court Watch" <announce at communitycourtwatch.org>, "AWARE
> peace" <peace at lists.chambana.net>
> Date: Wednesday, July 1, 2009, 3:48 PM
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: *Ashley Tsosie-Mahieu* <atsosiemahieu at gmail.com
> <http://us.mc449.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=atsosiemahieu@gmail.com>>
> Date: Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 3:43 PM
> Subject: [stop] ACTION ALERT: Arraignment for Mark Nepermann
> Tomorrow
> To: organize <organize at iresist.org
> <http://us..mc449.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=organize@iresist.org>>,
> STOP <stop at iresist.org
> <http://us..mc449.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=stop@iresist.org>>,
> public-pedagogy at googlegroups.com
> <http://us.mc449.mail.yahoo..com/mc/compose?to=public-pedagogy@googlegroups.com>
>
>
> ACTION ALERT!
> What: Court Hearing for Mark Nepermann
> Location: The Champaign County Courthouse is located at
> 101 E. Main St.
> Urbana, IL
> (Main and Vine St. in downtown Urbana)
> The suspect in the theft of two signs from the outdoor art
> installation by Edgar Heap of Birds (Cheyenne-Arapaho) is due
> in court at the Champaign County Courthouse on Thursday, July
> 2, 2009 at 1:30 pm in Room F.
> Mark Nepermann, the 2009 UIUC graduate in Landscape
> Architecture will face charges of theft. The 22 year old from
> Batavia, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago) was video taped by
> police surveillance cameras removing two exhibit items
> directly in front of the Native American House. This theft
> followed a series of 7 cases of vandalism upon the art
> installation dating from March 16 through June 9, 2009.
> State’s Attorney, Julia Rietz is only seeking misdemeanor
> charges because she is valuing both exhibit items at under
> $300.00. By estimating the items at such a low price,
> Nepermann will not face felony charges.
> These actions by Rietz make transparent how the court system
> within Champaign-Urbana privileges certain populations, while
> literally devaluing the livelihoods of historically
> marginalized groups.
> The maneuvering by Rietz also places additional emphasis of
> why the Department of Justice needs to take on a bigger role
> in protecting the rights of American Indian populations at
> UIUC and addressing the hostile environment that continues to
> plague the campus and community.
> Please make time in your schedule to witness the court
> proceedings of Mark Nepermann on Thursday July 2, 2009 at 1:30
> pm in courtroom F. The Champaign County Courthouse is located
> at 101 E. Main St.
> Urbana, IL (Main and Vine St. in downtown Urbana).
> Please note, no cameras or cell phones are allowed inside the
> court building.
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Brian Dolinar, Ph.D.
> 303 W. Locust St.
> Urbana, IL 61801
> briandolinar at gmail.com
> <http://us.mc449.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=briandolinar@gmail.com>
>
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