A Permanent Accusation

This series has been seen all around the world in major museums, but in the United States no institution will have them. Since the making of this movie, only two - UC Berkeley's Doe Library and the American University Museum in Washington DC - have had the courage to expose this controversial work to the American people.


UC Berkeley:
http://socrates.berkeley.edu:7001/Events/spring2007/01-29-07-boteroopening/in...


Fernando Botero:

"I was very impressed by the nobility of some of the people you saw in the photos. Many were old people with beards that look like prophets from the bible. There were people who grew beards because of their religious conviction, who were proud of their religion. And they were at the hands of teenagers who had no knowledge of their religion, who had no respect. They called them rag heads. This was terrible. There was no respect for these old people. Thats why in some of my paintings I tried to make them look like prophets to show that these people have a tremendous dignity. And they were treated in a terrible way by people who are ignorant. Of course these soldiers were poor people who have no knowledge of anything that is not American. For me it was important to try and give back dignity to the people despite them being victimized."


US Brigadier General Karpinski:

"We must face the realities of what the occupation of Iraq has done to US military personnel, prisoners and all Iraqis. Torture and abuse was authorized by the highest levels of our government, in clear violation of the Geneva Conventions and human rights. Our elected officials used our ill equipped soldiers by playing on their fear and anguish. These soldiers did what they were told, desperate to please instructors who promised that their actions would help bring the war to an end - negligent, evil minded instructors who were actually independent contractors more concerned about lining their pockets with profits. Thousands of innocent Iraqis were detained without hope of release. They were subjected to torture at the hands of their captors and the guards assigned to protect them. Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and other senior officials remain blameless. Those who knew, directed it, endorsed it and supported it stepped casually into the role of torturers and abusers, replacing the former Iraqi dictator himself, Saddam Hussein."

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Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Fernando
• Botero
• Abu
• Ghraib
• paintings
• drawings
• art
• museums
• torture
• war
• peace

[oldParasiteSingle]

I remembered seeing this when it was first posted. I'm glad I could find it again after creating my first youtube account. I've added it to my playlist. Excellent work giving voice to the voiceless!

[melfeasance]

Thank you. Welcome back.

[bobomber]

I'm curious to know if Botero speaks English or if the lines in the video are translated.

[melfeasance]

Yes, Botero speaks English. Also on YouTube, find and listen to: Fernando Botero, Artist in conversation

[melfeasance]

It ain't what you've got, but how you use it that counts. There is nothing wrong with the American government - in benevolent hands - but in the grip of fanaticism and fascism it destroys all that is good.

[melfeasance]

Have you read the Bill of Rights?

[ehuparkid]

I concur with artistassist. Abu Ghraib is a stain on humanity and it should not be forgotten. Bravo Botero.

[ignaziunyc]

As an American citizen I can say the Bush years (including the father) have not been our best years. It's been one embarrassment after another. Thanks to Botero for making us remember these dark years forever. Remember these paintings are not just about America. They're about fascism, intolerance, stupidity, ethnocentrism, cruelty and a sense of insecurity--these qualities have no nationality--and could happen in your home town tomorrow.

[Viannersha]

The text in the video... where is it from?

[tomcollinsutube]

And why were they beaten and tortured if Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11?

[JLOZANO2]

im an american and i love my country ,but to deny that iraq was not a cluster fuck is to be naive and stupid , no connection to 911 whatsoever . and as far as a master like botero goes a true original and one of the very few real painters left , everyone is on this graffity crap and stencils

[JLOZANO2]

one of the last rue painters in the art world , a total original he is from picasso,s cloth

[TheSoulmatehub]

I like his sketches and drawings much more than the final paintings which are tighter and more self-important. This video is pretty self-important too--so what if no one would show them. The atrocities themselves are much more important. The press he's gotten has only been a boon to his career.

[mdanat]

If you could, just for a moment, for a split second, come to the realisation that "other people live on the face of this plane.. That other people do also deserve to live decent lives, you would shut the fuck up and be quiet for a change.. The world revolves not around you man.. live and let live.. Thats what its about punk

[NouveauKnot]

Their voices went a little like this "owe!!!!!! F*CK!!!!" "Please Stop... NO.... No... Nooooooooo Stop!!!!!" "I can't take it, please... no please Aggghhhhhhhh!!!!!!!"

That's a very accurate reenactment, I was there.

[NouveauKnot]

Gullin667,

Oliverstevenrjr didn't say a thing about Iraq having anything to do with 9-11. They simply made the statement that they would like to see Botero sympathize with the victims of the cold blooded cowardly attack on NYC. Don't be such a reactionary. And why would you suggest that he is invalidating Botero's work? What is wrong with you? You seem so judgmental and vicious.

[NouveauKnot]

You should have been a stain on your fathers pants.... but somehow he broke into a zoo and managed to convince your mother otherwise.

[NouveauKnot]

The point is, this isn't torture. Anymore than forcing someone to listen to REM or John Mayer is torture. The point is that the world is full of sissies and to all you limp wristed whiners...... Torture is when I pluck they eyeballs from your head while you're conscious, torture is skinning you alive, torture is draino enemas. Torture isn't what these men endured. This is propaganda, plain and simple. Anti-American propaganda. Incidentally, real torture is too good for these lemmings.