Michael Hernandez de Luna Whines.

From the AP comes a pathetic story (hat tip to Power Line Blog).

It seems these "artists" want to show images depicting the assassination of a sitting head of state. This is supposed to be peachy keen.

The Secret Service felt it appropriate to investigate.

AP: The exhibit's curator, Michael Hernandez de Luna, said the inquiry "frightens" him. ... "It starts questioning all rights, not only my rights or the artists' rights in this room, but questioning the rights of any artist who creates — any writer, any visual artist, any performance artist. It seems like we're being watched," he said.

Hey, Mikey!! Get a grip. Frankly, bub, I view this work through the following lens: (a) whether 'the average person, applying contemporary community standards' would find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest; (b) whether the work depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, conduct specifically defined by the applicable law; and (c) whether the work, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. Hat tip, United States Supreme Court.

I am an average person, and in my community the work appeals solely to prurient interests (anything morbid, abnormal, or disgusting). Further, assassinating the president is, of course, patently offensive. See See USC Title 18, Part I, Chaper 84, Section 1751. Finally, Dick, I fail to see the artistic value - a first grader could photoshop that piece of trash.

If it were NEA funds, I would weigh whether the "artistic excellence and artistic merit taking into consideration general standards of decency and respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the American public." I suspect, Dick, I your photoshoped stamps would come up short. Again, hat tip, United States Supreme Court.

So, is this a somewhat tortured analysis? Sure. But enough for the Secret Service to look into it? Yes. And the Secret Service did. So you take this to be frightening? Sorry, Dick - you are pathetic. Quit whining.