My thanks to those who have posted to this discussion (I was going to list by name, but it was getting a little long.) My overall conclusion is that old saw, "we are just going to agree to disagree." I am not going to change Richard Bridges or Clinton's opinion, and they sure are not going to change mine. By the way, Clinton, in your bar setting - wear whatever you want and the owner will allow. Go nekkid if you want. You'll get no grief from me.

Two thoughts keep coming back to me though - respect and decency.

Where in the history of public discourse did we lose those two fundamental concepts? If, as Mr. Bridge asserts, I want to challenge you, to make you think, to make my art "great," then I must by necessity respect the fact that you initially disagree with me, and that you are entitled to that opinion. By at least acknowledging that common ground I have elevated the discussion and have made it more likely that you will hear, and perhaps even consider, my opinion. Anyone who uses clothing or lyrics that appeal to the profane and the vulgar is saying they do not respect me, my opinion, or even my right to hold that opinion. That is where public discourse breaks down and where Mr. Bridge and I have our greatest disagreement. He calls it "art" that needs to be offensive to be "great," and I call it offensive vulgarity that needs to be avoided.

The second is decency. Imagine trying to explain the advertisement to practice necrophilia (as in one phrase under discussion) to an eight year old. Imagine the grandmother in the audience whose own granddaughter was raped and murdered. What about all the other phrases on t-shirts that espouse violence toward women and children, blacks, Jews, Muslims, Christians, etc, etc.

How have we become so innoculated to indecency that we actually make excuses for such behavior?

And Clinton calls me and those who agree with me "self-righteous."

I thought taking a stand for the oppressed, the abused, the defenseless, and the downtrodden was one of the main definitions of righteousness.

As the prophet said, "Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream."

Sorry, but we cannot have justice without righteousness.

Freightdawg