# Submitted for your approval and derision: the cheesiest patriotic-religious mural in history! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 7, 2009, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submitted-for-your-approval-and-derision-the-cheesiest-patriotic-religious-mural-in-history/512882 "2009-10-07T02:43:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submitted-for-your-approval-and-derision-the-cheesiest-patriotic-religious-mural-in-history/512882/61 "2009-10-08T07:37:17Z")
I thought Jesus was from Nazareth not Gondor. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submitted-for-your-approval-and-derision-the-cheesiest-patriotic-religious-mural-in-history/512882/62 "2009-10-08T13:06:29Z")
As my professor used to say, “the image has to speak for itself”. If you have to explain the symbolism behind it, then you are either a lousy artist or your audience is stupid. Or both. And I agree that this is awesome in its tackiness. If there was a Museum of the Tacky this could be one of their highlights. > [@Zebra](#): > > I thought Jesus was from Nazareth not Gondor. Well, it depends on what version you have. ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submitted-for-your-approval-and-derision-the-cheesiest-patriotic-religious-mural-in-history/512882/63 "2009-10-08T14:22:09Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > And schoolteachers are saintly beings but college professors are in league with Satan. And evidently whether they teach World Lit or Physics or Ancient History or Theology or Nursing they carry around Darwin as their Bible. I’m guessing that the artist in question holds a belief that, if you’re not going to seminary to become clergy, education beyond high school is both wrong and unnecessary. > [@Spoons](#): > > I have to say, it’s a little over the top. No, upon reflection, it’s a lot over the top. > > I will say that I took a look around the web site at some of the other work this artist has done. His work may never hang in a world-famous museum, but it’s not bad–I’d call him more of an illustrator (like Norman Rockwell or Norman Mingo) more than a fine artist (like, say, Van Gogh or Monet or Michelangelo or Rembrandt). Nothing wrong with being an illustrator though, and this fellow has certainly done some non-religious and non-political landscapes and rural scenes. Perhaps he’d do well to stick to mountains, meadows, old cabins, and similar rather than venturing into religion and politics. Upon first seeing the image, I thought it was a Thomas Kincaid, complete with lack of originality and light coming from surreal and unnatural places. Why on earth do people think that this is a good method to make your painting more interesting? > [@elelle](#): > > I’m really curious why Businesswoman is all huddled down with the righteous, but he can’t think of anything to say about her. Maybe he has mixed feelings about the idea of a woman with a job outside the home, but acknowledges that many conservative families have businesswomen in them and doesn’t want to ignore that segment of the market completely. This is one of the nuttiest paintings I’ve seen in a while, but I can see a big part of where he’s getting his inspiration; it reminds me of some of the propaganda-laden paintings of Napoleon’s reign, which he may or may not be familiar with. The difference, beyond the fact that he’s got some issues with his lighting technique, is that the things he references aren’t at all obvious to the average viewer without the explanations. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submitted-for-your-approval-and-derision-the-cheesiest-patriotic-religious-mural-in-history/512882/64 "2009-10-08T14:44:06Z")
> [@nashiitashii](#): > > …the things he references aren’t at all obvious to the average viewer without the explanations. Hmm. As a working definition of 'Bad Art," that’s a pretty good start. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submitted-for-your-approval-and-derision-the-cheesiest-patriotic-religious-mural-in-history/512882/65 "2009-10-08T17:00:24Z")
I love that he has to tell you that the American flag under the soldiers arm is a symbol. And shouldn’t the flag be draped around Jesus’ shoulders? Because all us true believers KNOW that Jeezus was an american and spoke English (in red print). ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submitted-for-your-approval-and-derision-the-cheesiest-patriotic-religious-mural-in-history/512882/66 "2009-10-08T17:19:03Z")
Are you accusing Jesus of being a communist? You can go to hell, sir! ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submitted-for-your-approval-and-derision-the-cheesiest-patriotic-religious-mural-in-history/512882/67 "2009-10-08T17:26:29Z")
Handicap Child is obviously spawn of Palin. ---
**Author:** ![Tabithina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@Tabithina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabithina)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submitted-for-your-approval-and-derision-the-cheesiest-patriotic-religious-mural-in-history/512882/68 "2009-10-08T18:43:14Z")
Just saw this over at Wonkette. A great parody painting by David Durrett. Enjoy. [http://wonkette.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/threeeasypayments.jpg](http://wonkette.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/threeeasypayments.jpg) I think I need this painting! ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submitted-for-your-approval-and-derision-the-cheesiest-patriotic-religious-mural-in-history/512882/69 "2009-10-08T18:45:13Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > … college professors are in league with Satan. We have Black Mass daily in the conference room. That’s why tuition is rising so dramatically - we need new supplies. Goats aren’t cheap, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submitted-for-your-approval-and-derision-the-cheesiest-patriotic-religious-mural-in-history/512882/70 "2009-10-08T19:10:24Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > We have Black Mass daily in the conference room. That’s why tuition is rising so dramatically - we need new supplies. Goats aren’t cheap, you know. The good news is that if you make a videorecording there’s a good chance you can get to meet the activist SCOTUS judge in the painting. ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submitted-for-your-approval-and-derision-the-cheesiest-patriotic-religious-mural-in-history/512882/71 "2009-10-08T20:40:29Z")
Why is the Pregnant Woman hanging out with the Evil Libruls in the lower right-hand corner? Is the artist suggesting that all pregnant women secretly resent their condition? Perhaps the painting could be revised to move her over to the other corner (she could replace the Business Woman, about whom the artist has nothing to say, anyway), and the empty spot could be filled in with a Perfidious Jew or Freedom-Hating Muslim. ---
**Author:** ![Baracus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@Baracus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baracus)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submitted-for-your-approval-and-derision-the-cheesiest-patriotic-religious-mural-in-history/512882/72 "2009-10-08T21:03:20Z")
> [@cwthree](#): > > Why is the Pregnant Woman hanging out with the Evil Libruls in the lower right-hand corner? I was wondering about that, too. Then I zoomed in on her left hand. No ring, so obviously she is a fornicator. Still pretty harsh considering even the heathen immigrant gets to sit at Jesus’s right hand. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submitted-for-your-approval-and-derision-the-cheesiest-patriotic-religious-mural-in-history/512882/73 "2009-10-08T22:59:35Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Why any pilots, when Dale Earnhardt was omitted? > > And why not a big fish bowl filled with happy fetuses at Jesus’ feet? Hey, I don’t see any guns in this painting either! ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submitted-for-your-approval-and-derision-the-cheesiest-patriotic-religious-mural-in-history/512882/74 "2009-10-09T02:48:37Z")
Oh God…[The horror…](http://imgur.com/r4e2C.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submitted-for-your-approval-and-derision-the-cheesiest-patriotic-religious-mural-in-history/512882/75 "2009-10-09T02:53:49Z")
Yeah, I like that one much better. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submitted-for-your-approval-and-derision-the-cheesiest-patriotic-religious-mural-in-history/512882/76 "2009-10-09T03:19:40Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Oh God…[The horror…](http://imgur.com/r4e2C.jpg) I notice that in this most excellent version, Satan is the only one _not_ demented or corrupted… ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submitted-for-your-approval-and-derision-the-cheesiest-patriotic-religious-mural-in-history/512882/77 "2009-10-09T03:51:52Z")
Nutbaggery aside, I wonder why each war gets its own soldier except WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, which have to share one? Also, what exactly is the point of saying “Some stars (on the flag) shine brighter than others” while also saying he hopes there will never be another American civil war? If we’re all Americans in this together, why single out unnamed states as being unworthy? Another thing that makes me wonder is why some people made the cut and others did not. Kennedy gets credit for civil rights, but there’s no LBJ. Random presidents like Grant make the cut but religious ones like Jimmy Carter don’t. At least I can guess why Richard Nixon wasn’t included, despite the artist’s evident nutball-conservative leanings: even _painted_ versions of Richard Nixon cannot gaze directly upon the Constitution without bursting into oily black flames. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submitted-for-your-approval-and-derision-the-cheesiest-patriotic-religious-mural-in-history/512882/78 "2009-10-09T05:35:26Z")
Just realised that each of those sheets of paper in front of the sobbing SCOTUS judge represents a particular case, evidently of particular infamy: - Marbury v. Madison - Martin v. Hunter Lessee [sic] - Gibbons v. Ogden - Kelo v. New London - Roe v. Wade - Everson v. Board of Education ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submitted-for-your-approval-and-derision-the-cheesiest-patriotic-religious-mural-in-history/512882/79 "2009-10-09T16:59:33Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > I thought Jesus was from Nazareth, not Gondor. It took me a while to get your post, but for me you win the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submitted-for-your-approval-and-derision-the-cheesiest-patriotic-religious-mural-in-history/512882/80 "2009-10-09T17:50:41Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > I’m reminded of my cousins (the ones who ask for “anything by Kincaide” for Christmas) and know that they fully agree with EVERYTHING on this painting. On Thanksgiving and X-mas I will be subjected to a live version of this painting. You get to have Thanksgiving with JESUS? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submitted-for-your-approval-and-derision-the-cheesiest-patriotic-religious-mural-in-history/512882.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submitted-for-your-approval-and-derision-the-cheesiest-patriotic-religious-mural-in-history/512882.md?page=5)