Peter Reynosa has unveiled a painting called The Ten Rules of Terrorism that definitely tests the idea of freedom of expression in America. The painting is done in a graffiti style similar to the one often used by Jean-Michel Basquiat. The painting lists ten rules about terrorism that look like a manual for how to do terrorism. Yet, Reynosa inisists that it is merely his observations about terrorism.
"This painting in no way is meant to promote terrorism or advocate terrorism," Reynosa said. "But it does say how terrorism works." The rules are written almost as though one would see them on a wall, but still not so graffitiesque that they are not readable. Just seeing the rules seem almost threatening to some people. Rule 3 states: "America best---Americans better (everyone else second class citizen)". And rule 4 says: "Murder in a freaky way (beheading Wows---bullets are boredom)". And rule 2 states: "Attack Western civilization (Third Word, no one cares)". "If you read the rules about terrorism you will see that they are just obvious facts about terrorism. What I am saying is simply the truth."
Reynosa said how he did an exhaustive amount of research about terrorism before he did this painting. "I could have written an essay describing the ten rules of terrorism, but instead I chose to do a painting, which I believe is more emotive than a dry essay about the rules of terrorism. Actually, if I did an essay I would have called it 'The Facts of Terrorism'.
Asked if he thought he could get in any trouble for doing this painting Reynosa responded: "Hopefully, not. I believe the First Amendment protects this kind of freedom of expression. I just put the painting over the Internet on October 27th but so far no one from any government agency has asked me about my painting."
