We Must Save the N.E.A.

2419 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: essays about funding for the arts

"Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?" If some people in this country have their way, and funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is cut, then the answer to that question will be no. Many people in this country want the federal government to remove the NEA from the national budget or at least cut back on its funding. Some of these people do not think that the Endowment is necessary, other people argue that the agency funds too many artists who create works that are off ensive to a majority of people. Though it may be true that some of the work recently produced has been offensive to a large number of people, it is not a reason to remove a very useful government program. The NEA provides jobs, funds programs for museum s and libraries, helps to educate the public, and helps generate economic activity. Instead of entirely cutting off the funding for such a useful program perhaps the federal government could look into reevaluating the budget and changing the spending policies of the agency. That way they could try to eliminate the artwork that is offensive to the public, and promote the good programs that the Endowment supports. There is a couple of ways in which the government could do this. They could do it by changing the grant giving policy, or by privatizing the NEA.

Before discussing how we can go about saving the National Endowment for the Arts we have to understand why it is so important to our country. First of all, the NEA employs about one million, three hundred thousand people ("Alliance" 1). We often hear i n the news about the rise in unemployment due to company layoffs and cutbacks. Imagine what would happen if a work force of over one million people were laid off...

... middle of paper ...

...

Brustein, Robert. "Another Way to Privatize the NEA" Arizona Republic. 6 Feb. 1995: B5.

Cheseborough, Steve. "Arizona Arts Grants to Benefit West Valley." Arizona Republic. 26 Jul. 1996: 1.

Crane, Philip M., and Claiborn Pell. "Should Congress cease Funding National Endowment for the Arts?" The American Legion Magazine. Nov. 1996: 10. "Federal Budget: National Endowment for the Arts" Go TO (26 Apr. 1997).

Francis, Samuel. "Death of the NEA Long Overdue." Arizona Republic. 11 Aug. 1995: B7.

Ivins, Molly. "Right-wingers Target NEA Grants" Arizona Republic. 1 Feb. 1995: B5.

Kilmet, Stephen A. "What price Arts Endowment?" Architectural Record. Aug. 1995: 9.

Myers, Patricia. "Future of KAET Lies in the Hands of Congress." Arizona Republic. 19 Jan. 1995: E1.

Squires, Joan. "Arts Funding is important for Community" Arizona Republic. 9 Feb. 1995: B5.

Show More
Related

  • The Life Of Saddam Hussein

    1889 Words  | 4 Pages

    The regime of Saddam Hussein began looking like a very promising presidency for the Iraqi people. His goal of absolute domination in the Arab region, turned him into a feared menace among his people. Saddam Hussein was born on April 28, 1937 in Tikrit, Iraq. Hussein’s father, whose occupation was a shepherd, vanished without a trace several months before Saddam was born and he never returned home to Saddam, his brother or his wife. A few months later and after the disappearance of Hussein’s father, his older brother died a terrible death caused by cancer. Saddam’s mother was unable to care for him due to the stress induced anxiety and depression caused by the death of her eldest son, and her missing husband. She was unable to care for Saddam, and at the age three he was sent to Baghdad to live with his uncle, Khairallah Talfah. Saddam would return to Al-Awja years later to live with his mother, but after suffering physical abuse from his stepfather, he fled to Baghdad once again. This influence from Saddam’s childhood made his policies very contradictory in more ways than one, his policies on oil, his abuse of power, and how he treated the people of Iraq could label him as a tyrant. He changed the way the world works today with his use of chemical weapons and abuse of oil.

    Read More

  • Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger

    1039 Words  | 3 Pages

    James “Boobie” Miles is the star of the Permian football team. He plays the running back position, otherwise known as the fullback position as number 35. However, in the movie he plays tailback as number 45. Boobie knows that he is the best. This makes him very confident in his abilities in fact at one point he says, “Why are the scores of Permian games so lopsided? . . . Because they only have one Boobie” (Bissinger 52). This confidence is clearly depicted in the film. The first time Boobie is shown he has a big smile on his face and he is jogging towards his teammates. Just by the way he speaks and carries himself one can feel and see his confidence. Nevertheless Boobie has a reason to be confident, the year before he rushed over 1,000 yards in addition to scoring 15 touchdowns. Jerrod McDougal sees the potential in Boobie and even says, “He’s the best football player I've ever seen” (Bissinger 55). Although in the movie he seems to be more confident than in the book, the movie makes him almost obnoxious in ...

    Read More

  • Saddam Hussein: The U.S Portrayal of Evil Encarnate

    1474 Words  | 3 Pages

    The task of the United States demonizing Saddam Hussein was facilitated by many factors, both real and imaginary; a mixture of true facts and public relations image making. On the fact side, Saddam Hussein was indeed a dictator, and responsible for some true atrocities. Hussein ruled with an iron fist. Most accounts of political analysts looking at Iraq agree that his rein was one characterized by fear of the state.

    Read More

  • Odysseus in The Odyssey

    1583 Words  | 4 Pages

    Homer. ?The Odyssey,? World Masterpieces: Expanded Edition. Maynard Mack ed. Ed. Coptic St.: Prentice, 1995. 219-503.

    Read More

  • jfk assassination

    1032 Words  | 3 Pages

    On November 22,1963,President Kennedy was in attendance at a Dallas parade.One of the biggest tragic moments happened in U.S. history before the naked eye.President John F. Kennedy was assassinated around 12:34 p.m.as he celebrated with the Dallas crowd to show admiration towards them and their city(Mintaglio 60).The suspected assassin Robert L. Oswald,a former U.S. marine,was afterward caught not long following the assassination in a near by theatre(Newman 56).Later to discover he himself was assassinated by Jack Ruby while he was being escorted publicly to the court room.A study of the John F.Kennedy assassination would include the conspiracy theories, the plans of the assassination ,and the alleged suspects‘ connections.

    Read More

  • The Big Issue With School Funding

    1682 Words  | 4 Pages

    The fine arts were once highly revered by the community and were a part of everyday life, yet today the fine arts must face their biggest competitor, that being sports. Sports have become a big business and many schools find it easier and better to cut arts programs due to low funding rather than athletic programs. Even though fine arts programs are not as profitable as athletic programs, they should be funded equally to athletic programs because they help student achievement, help students improve their cognitive skills, and encourage creativity.

    Read More

  • Fine Arts Programs Should Be Kept in Schools

    868 Words  | 2 Pages

    Fine arts gives students a chance to pour their hearts into something beautiful; a chance to be a part of something that is bigger than just themselves. Some schools are facing financial troubles with the current economy, and one of the first programs they consider cutting is fine arts. The removal of fine arts programs would be absolutely devastating to countless members of the community. Many students would lose their favorite class, in some cases the one class that helps them get through the day, and many teachers that truly care fir the students would lose their dream jobs. Fine arts should not be cut from schools; they build confidence, help with the application of other academic concepts, and even help to prepare students for their future work in the business world.

    Read More

  • The Great Hero Odysseus

    1234 Words  | 3 Pages

    Fictional heroes in literature are characters that embark on grueling, mind-altering journeys even though they receive no personal gain from these missions. Heroes overcome difficult challenges and resist temptations while also learning important life lessons and acquiring an enlightened perspective. The epic poem The Odyssey by Homer chronicles the great hero Odysseus’s return trip to Ithaka. His long and demanding voyage to his homeland leaves Odysseus a changed man. However, many argue whether Odysseus truly earns the title of “hero.” There is evidence for both sides of this argument. Because of his cleverness, his undying bravery and his ability to learn from past mistakes, Odysseus proves himself a hero.

    Read More

  • The Assassination Of Jfk Assassination

    841 Words  | 2 Pages

    On a warm, sunny November day in Dallas, Texas, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated through what still remains to be a mystery. President Kennedy’s motorcade rode through the Dealey Plaza at 12:30 pm when three shots were fired from Lee Harvey Oswald in a Depository building severely injuring President Kennedy and wounding Governor Connally. President Kennedy was transported to Dallas Parkland Hospital where he was pronounced officially dead thirty minutes later. The cold hand of Lee Harvey Oswald also murdered Officer J.D. Tippit because Officer Tippit recognized Oswald. Oswald was eventually arrested by Dallas police and brought to a more secure Dallas jail. After he had made his way into the secure basement, he was shot and killed by Jack Ruby who shot him out of anger that he killed John F. Kennedy. On November 23, 1963, the day that President John F. Kennedy was killed, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in to be the Next President of the United States. There are many conspiracy theories about the JFK Assassination, but one is that the CIA murdered John Fitzgerald Kennedy because of his radical ideas at the time.

    Read More

  • Car Accidents in America

    1275 Words  | 3 Pages

    3.Nathan Smith (2013, Novemeber 3). Theory of Planned Behavior.Youtube.com. Retrieved on March 25, 2014, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFn-IOcpd8A

    Read More

  • Hip Hop and the Recording Industry

    693 Words  | 2 Pages

    Negus, Keith. "The Business of Rap: Between the Street and the Executive Suite." Rpt. in That’s the Joint!: The Hip-Hop Studies Reader. Ed. Murray Forman and Mark Anthony Neal. New York, NY: Routledge, 2004. 525-540. Print.

    Read More

  • Fine Arts Should Be Abolished Essay

    529 Words  | 2 Pages

    First off the art program takes up to much of the budget some schools that lose a lot of money could be because of the fine arts program. Most schools are trying not to spend all their money, they are also trying to find ways to save their money. Most superintendents recommend on cutting the art program from schools. By cutting the fine arts program they save money in the salaries of employees. In the elementary levels art is usually the first thing to get cut, but on the other hand it is harder to cut when you get into high schools it is harder to cut because some schools need you to take so you can graduate. Fewer elementary schools are offering visual arts, dance, and drama classes. More than 1.3 million

    Read More

  • Th Future of Hip Hop

    1612 Words  | 4 Pages

    From its conception in the 1970's and throughout the 1980's, hip hop was a self-contained entity within the community that created it. This means that all the parameters set for the expression came from within the community and that it was meant for consumption by the community. Today, the audience is from outside of the community and doesn’t share the same experiences that drive the music. An artists’ success hinges on pleasing consumers, not the community. In today's world, it isn’t about music that rings true for those who share the artists' experiences, but instead, music that provides a dramatic illusion for those who will never share the experiences conveyed. This has radically changed the creative process of artists and the diversity of available music. Most notably, it has called in to question the future of hip hop.

    Read More

  • The Importance of Wearing a Seatbelt

    978 Words  | 2 Pages

    Car accidents are the leading cause of death for people under the age of 35. Wearing a seat belt can prevent death in about half of these accidents. Did you know that every 15 seconds someone is injured in an automobile accident if they are not buckled up, or that every 13 minutes someone is killed in a crash. Failure to wear a seat belt contributes to more fatalities than any other single traffic safety related behavior. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration seatbelts saved nearly 12,000 lives in the United States in the year 2000. The NHTSA estimates that more than 9,000 U.S. car accident fatalities in 2000 would have been avoided if the victims had been wearing seatbelts. Sixty three percent of the people killed in accidents were not wearing seat belts. The NHTSA a...

    Read More

  • Arts Advocacy Essay

    729 Words  | 2 Pages

    The first time I heard the phrase “arts advocacy” was about three years ago. I had obviously heard the words “arts” and “advocacy” before, and certainly knew what those words meant, but I had never heard the words used together. At the time, I was performing in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) and my director told us about how important arts advocacy is and how badly it was lacking in the South. Now, of course, that is a generalization, however it rang true for Lubbock, Texas, and after moving to Norman, Oklahoma, I observed the same problem: there is a lack of arts advocacy in the Oklahoma community. Both visual and performing arts cultures and informs people about others and history in a creative fashion. For instance,

    Read More

More about We Must Save the N.E.A.

Open Document