More on the Frieze
Via Volokh, The Technoptimist has a great post with more information on the depiction of Muhammad on the frieze in the Supreme Court building. There had been complaints about the image in the past, but Chief Justice Rehnquist refused to have it removed. As I previously posted, the tourist information on the frieze was clarified...
Rehnquist replied that the depiction of Muhammad "was intended only to recognize him, among many other lawgivers, as an important figure in the history of law; it [was] not intended as a form of idol worship," and that "[a]ltering the depiction of Mohammed would impair the artistic integrity of the whole." Rehnquist also dismissed the objection to the curved sword in the marble Muhammad's hand as reinforcing the stereotypical image of Muslims as intolerant conquerors: "I would point out that swords are used throughout the Court's architecture as a symbol of justice and that nearly a dozen swords appear in the courtroom friezes alone." Rehnquist said the description and literature, however, would be changed to identify Muhammad as a "Prophet of Islam," and not "Founder of Islam."That frieze is just full of controversy. It's also home to a depiction of Moses carrying the Ten Commandments. And we know how much of an issue that can be in a government building.
