CAPE TOWN, May 31 (Xinhua) -- President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday that freedom of speech is important but it is not superior to other rights, including the right to dignity.
South Africans must disabuse themselves of the notion that certain rights are more important to certain sections of South African society than others, Zuma told the National Assembly (parliament).
"This government defends the right of our people to express themselves in any manner, including protest action, except if in exercising that right they begin to violate the rights of others, such as destroying property or stopping other people from exercising their own rights," Zuma said.
No right is absolute, Zuma noted, adding, "It must be exercised with due regard to the rights of others. And it does not matter who the subject of the violation of any right is. All rights are important and must be respected."
He was apparently referring to the controversy over a painting that depicts the president in an offensive way.
Zuma said earlier that he was "hurt" by the painting which depicts him with his genitals exposed.
The ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Wednesday withdrew its legal challenge against the Goodman Gallery for displaying the offensive painting and the City Press newspaper which distributed the portrait on its web.
The withdrawal followed a series of meetings between the ruling party, the gallery and other relevant stakeholders, aimed at hammering a solution to the explosive issue, and creating peace and harmony among the diverse South African cultures.
The gallery conceded that it was saddened by the "hurt" the painting had caused, adding that this was not its intention. The City Press also apologized and agreed to remove the painting from its website.
The painting sparked a national debate on the issue of freedom of expression and the right to dignity.
Referring to the consequences resulting from the painting, Zuma said, "This country has a history, a very painful history, whose scars still show."
Members of Parliament should not lose sight of the fact that South Africans were still suffering from the country's once divisive history, he said.
Zuma called on lawmakers to help contribute to the development of South Africa by making suggestions that would improve the country, rather than making remarks to score political points.
Source: news.xinhuanet.com
The Painting Company Says Brown is a Popular Paint Color in Atlanta - 24-7PressRelease.com
ATLANTA, GA, May 31, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Many homeowners do not even consider the color brown when choosing paint colors. What they are missing out on is an extremely versatile color that can be used in any room. Brown is classic in any shade and is easily complimented with furnishings. When painting in Atlanta, more homeowners are looking to basic browns for their walls.
Brown is known to be a naturally relaxing color, and for this reason it is a great choice for painting bedrooms. Studies have shown that brown walls in a bedroom may actually promote better sleep. Choose the optimal shade of brown based on the amount of natural light available. Darker shades are acceptable with ample incoming light.
Painting a room brown opens up many possibilities for furnishings and accents. Atlanta painters and decorators think of it as a blank slate where a homeowner can really use their imagination to decorate. Mixing brown shades on walls with bright white trim creates a solid definition that is visually appealing.
Chris Camp, owner of The painting Company in Atlanta, says, "Some homeowners are reluctant at first because they are afraid that painting rooms in their house brown will look drab and boring, but of all the house painting in Atlanta we do, not once has a homeowner been unhappy with the results."
Men particularly tend to gravitate towards the color brown because it is the color of natural elements like wood and leather. It pleases women as well because they are free to accessorize with just about anything that suits their eye. For more information about interior painting in Atlanta, visit http://atlantapaintingcompany.com
About The Painting Company
The Painting Company is an award-winning, full service painting company specializing in home improvements for residential homeowners and commercial businesses. A BBC accredited business, The Painting Company offers quality products and courteous, professional service to clients in Atlanta, GA, and the surrounding metro area.
For more information, visit http://www.atlantapaintingcompany.com.
For all media inquiries, please contact:
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http://www.CardinalWebSolutions.com
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Deal sends Zuma painting out of sight - Sydney Morning Herald
South Africa's ruling African National Congress will drop its legal bid to ban a painting depicting the President, Jacob Zuma, with his genitals exposed, after a gallery agreed to take down the work permanently.
The ANC went to court last week demanding a ban on the painting by the satirical artist Brett Murray, charging that his depiction of Mr Zuma was ''indecent''. In an apparent political victory for the ANC, which also staged three marches to protest against the painting, the Goodman Gallery agreed it would no longer display it in the gallery or on its website.
In a joint agreement the two sides recognised that the painting - one of the most controversial artworks in the country's post-apartheid history - ''has conjured up past historical hurts and humiliations for some people''.
''The applicants will withdraw'' the case, which had been lodged before a high court, said the Goodman Gallery director, Liza Essers.''As gesture of goodwill and because of the fact that the image is now widely in the public domain, I will now take down the image, at some point, from our website.''
A spokesman for the ANC, Jackson Mthembu, confirmed the outcome. ''Indeed, we are no longer taking the Goodman Gallery to court,'' he said.
He said the party would also drop its case against a local weekly, City Press, which published an image of the ''terribly offensive'' painting.
The painting is a red-and-black work that features Mr Zuma mimicking a pose by Vladimir Lenin in a Soviet-era propaganda poster - but with his penis exposed.
Amid a national furore, it was vandalised last week, forcing the gallery to remove it from display and temporarily close.
The painting was bought by a private German collector before the opening of the exhibition, which was originally to run from May 10 until June 16.
''The collector wants the painting in its defaced form,'' Ms Essers said.
Mr Mthembu said during the press conference at the gallery that ''we might not like many of the paintings that are displayed in here, but we respect the rights of the Goodman Gallery, we respect the freedom of artistic expression''.
He rejected accusations that the party, which led the struggle against white-minority rule, was suppressing criticism.
''Are we fascists? We are not. We have not killed anyone, we have not even threatened anyone,'' he said.
But Ms Essers, who said the gallery and its staff had received threats, questioned the ruling party's tactics. ''I don't feel that marches and boycotts are the way forward,'' she said. ''I think that is bullying.''
Agence France-Presse
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Source: www.smh.com.au
Jubilee painting coming to Castle Galleries - miltonkeynes.co.uk
A PIECE of artwork that offers a modern twist on a classic Royal portrait is coming to a city art gallery.
Castle Galleries, located at thecentre:mk, has taken delivery of the striking royal portrait, which is hand embellished with Swarovski Crystals, to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
The side-profile painting is the work of Royalist and famed British artist Louise Dear. Entitled ‘Our Young Queen’, the artwork will be on display at Castle Galleries from Saturday.
Manager at Castle Galleries Milton Keynes, Peter Viet-Lu, said: “‘Our Young Queen’ shows an innocent, demure and youthful Queen Elizabeth before her sovereignty, set against the backdrop of her kingdom – a Union Jack teamed with an array of flowers and animals, including a queen bee and a regal robin.
“Crafted with the simple ambition to create an exquisite, contemporary and figurative piece of art that is fit for a Queen, enthusiasts of Dear will immediately spot her trademark characteristic stamp on the unique portrait – a playful mix of colour and passion, which is packed full of romance.”
Inspiration for the portrait came from a 1951 photograph taken by Yousaf Karsh, before the young Elizabeth was even crowned.
Devon-based artist, Mrs Dear said: “The feeling of patriotism is so strong this year that I had the desire to create an iconic image that would inspire generations to come.”
Each limited edition print is available to purchase from June 2-10. The print will be available as a limited edition of just 60, priced at £995.
For more information on Louise Dear or to request a catalogue of her artworks please visit www.castlegalleries.com
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Print this pageSource: www.miltonkeynes.co.uk
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