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/Eve...


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

[Viannersha]

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

[melfeasance]

Botero's own words, direct quotations from various interviews, about this work.

[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

[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.

[ehuparkid]

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

[genericity]

humanity is a stain on the earth, let's all kill each other and ourselves to cleanse it.

oh wait we already do, looks like this little mess cleaned itself up for us

[genericity]

yeah it's a world where everyone should be allowed to live free and not be interfered with or disrespected, then you tell someone else how to live and call him a punk.. then i come in calling you a hypocrite.. lol go go gadget humans, fucking worthless species

[genericity]

where did this guy get thye money for his plane travel and his art studio and his year of drawing naked dudes tied up?

damn i wish i had enough wealth to make social commentary on how everyone else lives

[George Collins]

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

[john last]

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