What do you think?

Is bad taste on the rise? You be the judge. An artist has Beligum in an uproar, forcing the Middelkerke town mayor to ban the exhibit. Deemed to controversial, the scultpure features former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein floating in a tank of water wearing only his underpants. His his arms are also tied behind his back in a "shark-like" pose, alledgely a a reference to a British artist's work depicting a tiger shark in a glass tank of formaldehyde. The exhibit was later moved to the Museum of Modern Art in Oostende where it is on display.

In light of the recent uproar in Europe, I think it's completely understandable if the mayor of Middelkerke didn't want to draw negative attention to his town by displaying the artwork. Given the controversy over images of Muhammad in a dozen European newspapers, plus the riots and unrest in France late last year, there is little reason to blame leaders not wanting kicking the hornet's nest. At the same time, it's a shame that something which speaks more of a tyrants evil than the religion of Islam runs the risk of insighting civil unrest.

Would this sculpture be less relevant if the figure were that of Slobodon Milosivich or Pol Pot? They were both sharks among men, and ultimately stood trial for their crimes. Hussien is no different. Taken in that context he is just another dictator, not some martyr. But unfortunately in these tremulous times it only takes a small thing to set off a collective firestorm.