Bruce F. Vento: “I think that the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities really represent a symbol…”

“I think that the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities really represent a symbol of the preservation of the creative genius of us as Americans, as a part of our culture, as a part of the fostering of creativity. It is enormously important as an export product. Look at what we are doing in terms of the flourishing of ideas and free thought. I suppose that some of it becomes controversial, but if I look at John Stuart Mill or I look at others that have written in philosophy and religion, I am certain at times that their views were controversial, but that is the nature of this particular endeavor in the humanities and in the arts. It is coming to grips with issues that very often are not popular or may even be unpopular. This is an enormous reservoir in protection of the creativity which is the genius of this country, the pluralism of this country, one of our great strengths, the fact that these two entities at the Federal level have been so successful.”