His paintings show an America proud of itself and American citizens proud of themselves and each other. There is no bigotry or hate or fear shown in his paintings. What is shown is caring, concern and knowledge of the equality of all Americans, regardless of their race, wealth, religion or sex.
As I walked around this exhibit, I noticed the people viewing these masterpieces. Right away, I noticed that the people viewing these pictures were all smiling. There was a feeling in the room of joy, in both the beauty of the art and in the beauty of the subject matter — the American people. Also, I saw some tears. Great art can do that to you. As can great subject matter.
The people viewing this exhibit were taking pride in the America Rockwell presented.
I was particularly moved by the painting called “Freedom of Speech.” This painting depicts a young man, looking much like Abe Lincoln, standing up in a meeting hall and expressing his views. The people around him show agreement and disagreement and wonderment and skepticism at this young man’s speech. But those people are also showing respect for his right to speak his mind.
Rockwell painted an America which used to be. America used to be about doing things the American way. Rockwell’s people helped each other. Rockwell’s people respected each other. Rockwell’s people, reluctantly but patriotically, paid their taxes so that the common good could be maintained. The common good was more important than a second vacation home.
Rockwell’s people endured the Great Depression by helping each other, not by helping those who contribute most to a political party. Rockwell’s people created jobs for each other so that all Americans could share in the greatness of our country. Rockwell’s people never heard of “out-sourcing” and “made in China.” They had heard of “Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?” and they knew that American people need American jobs, not off-shore factories, to pad the bottom line. Being controlled by billionaires would be total anti-American to Rockwell’s people.
In looking at that picture of the young man speaking in a town meeting, I couldn’t help but think of the terrible scenes at town hall meetings recently where unthinking and unAmerican groups were told to, and did, disrupt and shout down any speech with which they did not agree. And these people were proud of doing so.
Rockwell would not have been able to understand such hate and meanness.
We now live in a time when a John Boehner can be praised that “he has the good sense to take the country in the direction it needs to go with fiscal discipline” — somehow ignoring that this same John Boehner, through a total lack of fiscal discipline, dragged Mr. Rockwell’s country to the point of total fiscal collapse. To be saved by President Obama.
Have some citizens of Mr. Rockwell’s America sunk so low that “it is such an honor for the state of Ohio and for America to have such an honorable man as John Boehner, a man of high integrity,” as Speaker of the House? The author of that quote was referring to the man who gleefully passed out lobbyist money on the House floor and smilingly helped an immoral president send 4,000 soldiers to a needless death. Since when does lying about and blocking whatever has to be done to improve and strengthen our country become “high integrity”?
Some in America have forgotten what “high integrity” really means. Mainly because they were told not to care.
Recently I stopped at a local eatery for some lunch. I was shown a seat next to a table of three ladies who seemed to be around my age. I couldn’t help overhearing the most vocal of the trio. She was going on about “all those damn liberals.”
“You know,” she said, “those people who want to kill babies and beg for bigger welfare checks so they don’t have to work.”
Since my mother raised me to be a decent gentleman, I did not turn around and thank her for showing me what a complete idiot looked like.
Mr. Rockwell would not recognize what America has become. He could not paint, nor even dream about painting Americans shouted down by Tea Party thugs. Nor could he ever paint a restaurant scene using those oh-so-classy ladies. Rockwell didn’t know how to paint hate and ignorance.
James J. Mignerey is a resident of Hamilton.