Camus Cafe Political Coffee House: Conversation No.9: Deborah Lawrence's Impeach Bush Ornament Goes Viral: White House Goes Berserk Over Christmas Ornament. Impeachment Gets Free Pres

Conversation No.9: Deborah Lawrence's Impeach Bush Ornament Goes Viral: White House Goes Berserk Over Christmas Ornament.

Impeachment Gets Free Press Coverage.

Christmas Colors for the White House: Red, White and Impeach

** 3:20 p.m. This story updated here: White House Won't Hang Christmas Impeachment Ornament. **

Congressional representatives from all 435 districts were invited this year to pick an artist to create an ornament for the White House holiday tree. Some representatives didn't get the job done, but there is only one district in the nation to see its ornament taken off the tree as inappropriate.

Seattle, take a bow. Seattle's Deborah Lawrence collaged a stream of political protest messages into her swirly red-and-white patterns. Most prominent among them is the imperative to Impeach Bush.

It hung on the tree along with ornaments featuring lovingly painted state seals and state scenery till the Washington Post pointed out that it differed substantially from its fellows. (Story here.)

AP followed, and Lawrence's ornament was plucked from its branch, on orders from Laura Bush.

"I'd like to get it back, but that's probably not going to happen," said Lawrence, 55. She was speaking from the White House, surveying its lawn. "I've never seen so many Christmas trees, and I don't like Christmas. Even if my ornament were here, I wouldn't be able to find it."

Congressman Jim McDermott, 7th district, is responsible for picking her, but Mike DeCesare, McDermott's communications director, says McDermott had no idea what she'd do. McDermott asked Jim Kelly, executive director at 4Culture, to chose somebody, and Heather Dwyer in his office suggested Lawrence. There's no money attached to the job.

"It had to be somebody who could work in the round," said Dwyer. "Everybody got a 9-inch blank glass ornament. I suggested her because of her social engagement - feminism, anti-war, anti-poverty - and knew she'd think of it as an opportunity."

Yes indeed. At least they let her into the party. Lawrence's reasoning after the jump.

Your White House Christmas Ornament | by Deborah F. Lawrence

On June 30, 2008 you get a message from Heather Dwyer at Seattle's Arts4Culture office, asking if you'll accept an invitation from Laura Bush to decorate an ornament for the White House Christmas Tree.

Your first reaction is convulsive. What could tempt you to cooperate with anything at the Bush White House? Wouldn't participation just put a smiley face stamp of approval on an administration guilty of lies, greed, and war-mongering? Does Homeland Security know how you feel about Christmas? (What a question!)

But you're an artist with an appetite for exposure. Laura Bush's summons might be a dubious aesthetic distinction, but when you're a cultural worker with a populist ax to grind, you must hold your nose and do your job. So you say yes.

One look at your 2008 book, Dee Dee Does Utopia, exposes in full color the political slant of your artwork. The collage on the cover depicts a woman's digestive system as she's being spoon-fed the word "FEAR" by a puny George Bush. It's sticking in her craw, her stomach, her intestines.

You learn that Mrs. Bush's invitation first landed in the office of U.S. Representative Jim McDermott. His Seattle office tells you that this is the first time he's been invited to participate in the White House Tree ritual. He's been in Congress for ten years, representing Washington's 7th District, and you've cheered his positions on health care, WMDs, impeachment, and veteran's rights. You have proudly marched alongside him on Martin Luther King Day and in anti-war demonstrations.

In July you receive a package from the White House. It contains an unadorned globular plastic ornament, nine inches in diameter, resembling a bomb with a fuse on top. The enclosed 2008 White House Christmas Tree Ornaments Artist Guidelines features a place for you to sign in agreement with twelve directives, among which state:

Artists are asked to refrain from speaking to the media about this project until AFTER Mrs. Bush officially announces this year's holiday theme during the first week of December.

The completed ornament and its design may not be reproduced for sale, or referred to in a manner that suggests the support or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.

You cover the ornament with gesso, and begin pasting upon it a pattern of red and white stripes cut from pictures of the U.S. flag, in a web of spirals suggesting pepperminty merriment: your concession to Christmas. A friend's comment that it looks like marbled flesh seems appropriate.

The completed ornament should reflect the American spirit of the artist's state, district or territory.

Doesn't a Christmas ornament usually represent a tin soldier or a snowman? Your assignment is much more demanding. You embed the stripes with words recounting your own left-wing version of Washington State history. It includes the Seattle General Strike of 1919, the face of Jim McDermott, a dove of peace, and an anti-WTO emblem, among other icons. The tiny type is applied in a circuitous pattern to challenge any ardent official of the White House Christmas Ornament-Scrutinizing Task Force.

Ornaments will hang on a Christmas tree that is over 18 feet tall. Ornaments are viewed from many feet away. The completed ornament will become the property of the U.S. government and will NOT be returned to the artist after the holiday season.

Because you know it's likely this object will never be seen again, you have it photographed from every possible angle. You carefully mail it off in time for the October 1 deadline. On October 2 you receive an email:

There will be a White House Reception for participating artists and one guest on the afternoon of December 2, 2008. A formal invitation with the confirmed time will be mailed in early November to all artists who have mailed in their ornament.

Though you have complied with all guidelines, you do not believe you will be included on the White House guest list. On November 4, Obama wins the election. In a flash, the Bush White House is pathetically fragile, and that's a spectacle you'd like to see for yourself. On November 15, the invitation arrives in its hand-calligraphed envelope. Thanks to the largesse of 17 friends who donate money and lodging, you and your husband arrange to fly to DC for the reception.

The lively history of Washington State includes many instances of progressive change. That's why I am proud to live here. --Deborah F. Lawrence, 2008.

Women's Right to Vote: On November 8, 1910, the male voters of Washington State voted nearly 2-1 to amend the state constitution, extending the right to vote to Washington women. (Source: historylink.com)

The Seattle General Strike: 65,000 laborers walked off the job on February 6, 1919 in a General Strike unprecedented in American history. For five days, the people demonstrated the power of union solidarity. (Source: historylink.com)

WTO: On November 30, 1999, 40,000 to 100,000 peaceful demonstrators too to the Seattle streets in protest of nonstop globalization at the World Trade Organization’s conference at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. Sometimes referred to as the Battle of Seattle, the massive protest represented an alliance of hundreds of labor unions, community, environmental and political organizations in support of Fair Trade. (Source: historylink.com and the artist's personal experience)

U.S. Representative Jim McDermott represents the 7th Congressional District in Washington State. A physician, McDermott is especially active in health care reform issues. He developed the Washington Basic health Plan, the first state program in the country to provide low-cost health insurance to the unemployed and working poor. McDermott was attacked for predicting that no WMDs would be fund in Iraq, and he was correct.

McDermott signed onto a resolution for impeachment of the President. He said "America cannot regain its moral leadership in the world if American cannot hold its leaders accountable for their actions at home…Without accountability, a Democracy will fail." (Source: McDermott official Web site)

"Impeach Bush" Ornament Will Hang on White House Christmas Tree, Oops?
CollegeOTR - New York,NY,USA
... Christmas Tree decorated with depictions of Washington Congressman Jim McDermott’s head and minute words supporting his bid to impeach President Bush. ...
See all stories on this topic

There will be no White House ‘impeach Bush’ ornament after all.
Think Progress - Washington, DC, USA
Jim McDermott (D-WA) for attempting to impeach Bush. Sally McDonough, a spokeswoman for First Lady Laura Bush, reported this afternoon that the ornament ...
See all stories on this topic

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=gmail&q=Deborah%20Lawrence%2Bornament

http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=gmail&q=Deborah%20Lawrence%2Bornament&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wn

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There Is Not Much TV That I Would Classify As “MUST SEE”, But This Is One Such Offering!

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2008/scream.bloody.murder/index.html

Witness to Evil | About the Show

CNN's Christiane Amanpour traveled to the world's killing fields to understand the world's indifference, even as courageous voices tried to "Scream Bloody Murder."

A worldwide investigation and two-hour documentary on CNN, premiering December 4 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Also airing December 6 at 8 p.m., December 7 at 3 a.m. and 8 p.m., and December 8 at 3 a.m. (All times ET)

• The world's most heinous crime

• Amanpour: Voices of hope in the face of evil

• Polish Jew gave his life defining, fighting genocide

• Priest tried to warn of Cambodia's insanity

• 'Idealist' tried to halt Saddam's Kurdish slaughter

• Read once-secret Reagan administration documents on Iraq

• 'Bombs for peace' after slaughter in Bosnia

• As genocide raged, general's pleas for help ignored

• 'A horror movie and a snuff movie'

• They killed their neighbors: genocide's foot soldiers