President Obama in the Oval Office (with a bronze on the left that looks inauspiciously like an “end of the trail” piece)
Ordinarily I ignore Presidential (and Gubernatorial and Mayoral) proclamations as more ceremonial than substantive.
But in this election year, with Mitt Romney repeatedly expressing his commitment to ax federal arts support, it’s worth noting that in addition to designating October as “National Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” “National Substance Abuse Prevention Month” and “National Domestic Violence Awareness Month” (among others), President Obama has also (in a more upbeat mood) proclaimed this to be National Arts and Humanities Month:
Throughout our history, the arts and humanities have given us comfort
and confidence, drawn us together, and called on us to strive for a more
perfect Union. This month, we celebrate our Nation’s rich artistic
heritage….My Administration is committed to strengthening arts and humanities programs in schools and communities across our Nation.
What do you think are the odds that this will make it into Wednesday’s Presidential debate, which will focus on domestic policy? The announced topics include “the role of government,” which, I suppose, could include support (or lack thereof) for the arts and humanities that “have given us comfort and confidence, drawn us together, and called on us to strive for a more perfect Union,” in the words of today’s proclamation.