Famous People

Painted and first shared in January 2017

Sometimes I paint famous people or historical events that move me. This person released information that changed how the average person views world governments. Whether one thinks doing so is right or wrong, is a separate issue from what inspired me to paint this. Truth brings justice (albeit slowly, or perhaps not in the way that we may want, but disclosure is preferable to covering up the sins of those who hold power over the People). If people are vehemently opposed to the methods of how truth is revealed, or if truth is filtered (only the sins of some are disclosed instead of revealing all information in hand, as some have claimed), that’s certainly a debatable argument. But I was not addressing those concerns, nor was I arguing if the risks and damage from sharing classified information is/was worth the cost. No, I was not expressing any of that.

Also, no- he’s not “walking on water like Jesus”! My haters are insane. I don’t worship the man, nor am I a “groupie”, nor am I blind to the fact that there are many sides to the stories and parties involved. He’s walking IN water, holding up the scales of justice, as my painting is about the release of truth.

The water was merely a background composition to complete the painting. I honestly didn’t put much thought into it. It just seemed to fit with what I was doing with the sky-like abstract background above his head. But, I suppose the water may represent hidden realities and how justice must be held above all of the secrets, saved from being forever buried like lost treasure in a vast ocean. What it DOESN’T represent or symbolize in any way is divinity or any connection to religion. It is meant to illustrate only the abstract concepts of truth and justice, and artistically record the historical fact that this man and his organization impacted the world by disclosing vast material about corruption in global government.

This painting is simply an expression of truth telling, in the form of a person who made his life about telling it. He is such a controversial figure, that I can’t utter his name or this post will likely be muted. I can’t put his name or the org he’s associated with in the file name of my video or the same will happen. Why is that? Why can we not even paint the man? Surely powerful people don’t like what he has shared. This goes well beyond anyone truly concerned about the sanctity of classified information, as our world governments have proven that they care very little for the welfare of human beings. So, what is this really about?

When I painted this famous person, I didn’t know I’d become a target and a blacklisted person. I merely painted someone I thought was historically impactful, and someone I felt sympathy toward. I am a firm believer that punishments must fit the crimes, and cruel and unusual punishments are not befitting of a civilized society. Fair and equal justice means that persons who commit similar offenses should be treated in a similar fashion. The duration for legal processes should also remain constant. Fears for one’s safety should be unacceptable in all cases when an accused person is under scrutiny. And yet, this treatment stretches on year after year while others who have committed similar alleged crimes have gone free, and are also relatively safe from harm (not targeted by governments or dangerous groups).

My passion for justice is always about the individual. I feel empathy for people who are enslaved and unsafe. I do not have solid opinions about the details of anything surrounding this famous person, as all I know is whatever is posted online. I am not an insider and can validate nothing. But I am a fellow human being, and what I have seen is what looks to me like a grave injustice: a critic of world government being treated like a prisoner of war.

And, anyone who tries to talk about the documents he released is at risk of censorship or worse. If there’s nothing there, why silence people? But to this day, those topics are off limits. It seems silly that any of us can be in disagreement- why would any civilian defend world governments who interfere in the rights of the people to speak out against them? On this, I would have thought we’d be unified. For when we cannot even speak about our concerns, we surely have no power to resolve them. The right to question our rulers is sacred.

I stand behind my work.

Painting is not a criminal act.

My thoughts are not crimes.

And neither are yours. Never back down, never give in. Never give up. Stand.