Jury Verdicts in Cincinnati, Ft. Lauderdale

Cincinnati avoided the distinction of co-titleholder as the “nation’s silliest city” when it acquitted an art museum director of obscenity charges for exhibiting seven gay-themed photographs (Part A, Oct. 6). It left the undisputed title to Ft. Lauderdale where a jury convicted a record store owner of selling an “obscene” recording (Part A, Oct. 4).

Not that Cincinnati is sexually liberated. You can’t rent an adult video. Nevertheless, a jury stacked with persons who had never been to an art museum listened to experts who taught them that because a viewer doesn’t like what is seen and may be offended by it, personal distaste does not render it non-art.

By contrast, defense testimony in Ft. Lauderdale on the artistic value of black rap music, even when heard as offensive, fell on deaf white ears.

Now that city is trying the recording group itself for obscenity. Ft. Lauderdale still has a chance to shed its “silly city” title and restore its legendary image as an enlightened beach town “where the boys and girls are.”

RICHARD GREEN

Los Angeles