The brilliant Ian Hislop has put together an exhibit at the British Museum called Search for Dissent.”  He traces dissent as simple as graffiti and as subtle as the shade of green on a piece of porcelain.  He brings dissent up through the pink pussy hat and events of the past year.  Here is a rude depiction of Cleopatra that I found interesting.  The

amazing thing about this exhibit is that so many of the pieces in it came from the Museum’s collections.  After leaving the museum, I had a nice time visiting the neighborhood of the first VRBO I rented two years ago, the fondly remembered 5th floor walk up.  It was also a chance for a pleasantly remembered walk to the Covent Garden neighborhood.  Since visiting the Hislop exhibit, I’ve been more sensitive to the importance of dissent and freedom of expression.  The plight of the Uighurs in China and how little is known or heard about them in the outside world comes to mind.  How lucky we are in the US to have the right to dissent.  I have heard several English friends and acquaintances speak of how different our systems of public engagement are.  Again, it all seems to come together when I think about dissent and what our two countries are going through.

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