To the editor: I’ve felt for a while {that a} driving drive within the fracturing of our society is that too many people have ascribed to the once-abhorrent view that the ends justify the means.
I used to be subsequently dissatisfied to learn USC environmental research professor Shannon Gibson’s op-ed article that makes an attempt to justify assaults on traditionally necessary artwork within the identify of advancing local weather change objectives.
Those that embrace an “ends” perspective ought to keep in mind that it has usually been misused all through historical past to justify radical actions by those that are ready to do nice hurt within the identify of their very own “righteous” trigger.
The occasions of Jan. 6, 2021, are a latest instance that involves thoughts, however there are sadly many others.
Russ Swartz, Granada Hills
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To the editor: Leonardo da Vinci’s portray of the “Mona Lisa” has been behind bulletproof glass for the reason that Fifties, when somebody really tried to destroy it. The latest assault — throwing soup at bulletproof glass — was meant for consideration, to not injury the portray.
Leonardo da Vinci was a scientist and an engineer. If he had been alive at the moment, he would acknowledge the pressing must take care of local weather change. Certainly, he’d most likely be engaged on options.
He would possibly properly recognize the publicity generated by the individuals throwing soup at his portray.
Ann Rushton, Sherman Oaks
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To the editor: Gibson means that “analysis into social actions exhibits there may be technique behind disruptive antics” similar to throwing meals at well-known artwork reveals to get the activists’ level throughout once they really feel the world isn’t shifting in the proper path. On this case, they had been climate-change activists.
Perhaps the civil rights, ladies’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights actions would have achieved their objectives sooner if, together with marches and demonstrations, they’d additionally thrown meals or paint on artwork reveals.
Are you able to think about what Martin Luther King Jr. would have thought of this? What silliness.
Phil Hyman, Van Nuys
