(1) the law is, after all, not about aesthetics judgements, though a transportation company may have its own guidelines. the question of the nature of such guidelines and/or the manner in which they are imposed might in some cases be the legitimate subject for legal enquiry.

there are limits imposed via a concept of public decency, any such limits are liable to become – and in a healthy ‘democracy’ should become – the subjects of lively debate, even controversy. for the best balance between opposing demands any such limits need flexibility, require sagacity in application, and should not be used either to control or shut down public discussions, or to operate in favour of or against the special interests of any social sub-group. of course, it has been quite reasonably claimed that the very institutions of law operate against the special and very particular interests of the criminal fraternity, but that somewhat complex matter requires separate discussion.

(2) some might find it creepy to refer to people as ‘savages’. one (wo)man’s jeepers! is another (wo)man’s creepers!

(3) in a crazy world where our taxes fund hi-tech megadeath, an occasional memento mori may not be entirely out of place. i think the ad should just have been run for Hallow’een (if they have that in Ann Arbor).

(4) on the other hand, and perhaps this is one of the points you are making, if the effect of the ad were to associate the idea of justice in Palestine with unpalatable images, then the campaign itself would backfire.

in such a case, curiously, might it not have been more ‘judicious’ for those who oppose justice in Palestine to have allowed the ad to run?

Someone is overlooking some strategic options.

http://stopthebomb.org.uk/stb/

poster campaigns are coming under attack everywhere.

Do a survey of judges in America. The majority are Israelis.

It is so weird to walk up to the courthouse in America and see the names of three Israelis listed as the sitting judges.

I got a camera ticket in one of our local municipalities that is running an extortion racket. They set up traffic cameras with no warning signs on the freeway offramps. They waylay passersby coming off the freeway for $500 tickets.

I went to the judge who was an Israeli and said “judge. I looked both ways and rolled through the stop sign at 3 or 5 miles an hour like every other Californian does. If the policeman sitting right there next to you saw what I did in person, he would not write me a ticket because he knows all Californians do exactly what I did”.

The Israeli judge looked down at her desk for a second, then looked up and said “Guilty. That will be $500.”

That Israeli judge doesn’t care what is morally right or wrong for Americans. Her job is to milk them for every dime she can get out of them so she can send it back to Israel.

Habakkuk 1:4