"The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls." -- Pablo Picasso
How's that saying go… "Money can't buy class." And never has it more evident than with our new President, Donald J. Trump. While this clown -- I mean President has no problem pouring unnecessary amounts of money into more and more military spending -- even though we already spend more than the next 8 countries combined…
At the present moment, it is estimated that as of 2017 we are spending $4.79 trillion on war. Yes, this figure does include a jacked-up homeland security and the future medical costs for our veterans… While this number is huge -- beyond huge.., it does not take into consideration the investment in other areas that could not take place… Plus when you add in the interest we will be paying until 2053 (yes, we borrowed all this money to fund these wars).., the cost reaches a staggering $7.9 trillion.
At a time in our history where we need as many things as possible to bring people together, our current President (it pains every time I write that) wants to build walls, make more bombs.., and grow the military complex. The budget put forward calls for the elimination of the the National Endowment for the Arts -- and he wants to end the Meals on Wheels Program (that's a whole different story).., but I will say -- the one time I tagged along with an ex-girlfriend who actually delivered meals to people in need.., it shook me to the bone. Without that delivery of subsistence, that very old woman in a wheel chair.., would have went without.., and now she will -- good job Mr President!
Now Im no big fan of the government.., nor am I any kind of particular artist, either… But I sure do appreciate a good piece of art when I see one… The way it can lift you out of the biggest funk.., and transport to whole other reality -- a better one… I mean, wasn't it President Lyndon B. Johnson that said -- "any Advanced Civilization must fully value the arts, the humanity and cultural activity" that "functions purely as an escalation of the spirit" when he created the endowment in 1965… And even though the amount of the endowment is just a tiny, tiny fraction of our discretionary spending.., our President thinks the country will be better off without it.
And taking away, limiting that chance.., is a crime against humanity, itself. While confronting some of lives more vital issues, such as race and sexuality -- art is so much more than just a pretty picture or amazing piece of music… It is an instrument of higher consciousness.., and exposes the fact that no matter if we are straight or gay, white or black, rich or poor -- we all have the same insecurities.., the same hopes and dreams. While enriching the lives of so many, the arts can single handedly change someones life. It can lift someone out of poverty, a bad situation, or just brighten your day.
