Picture the Mona Lisa, the enigmatic and iconic portrait painted by Leonardo da Vinci, troublesomely besmeared by a resounding plop of pumpkin soup; an unsightly display of so-called activism manifested by climate radicals at the Louvre Museum in Paris last Sunday. These individuals, far from standard protesters, indulge in “protests” merely to serve their self-aggrandizing narratives, showing nil consideration for the rights, interests, and peace of others. Nevertheless, these individuals invaded the Louvre Museum, tarnishing a universally acclaimed masterpiece and disturbing tranquility on an otherwise placid Sunday.
On January 28, two female activists belonging to the French group Riposte Alimentaire chucked pumpkin soup at the revered artwork, citing their advocacy for a “healthy and sustainable food system.” The irony lies in the fact that these activists, clamoring about food sustainability, opted to waste perfectly good food as ammunition against an esteemed painting. The absurdity is rich, and one cannot help but ponder over their skewed logic.
Their bounteous claims hit the visitors’ ears with a piercing ring, “What is more important? Art or the right to have a sustainable food system?” They roared, expecting, perhaps, a round of applause or approval. Yet their “protest” was met with cringing disapproval and immediate police intervention. This intervention led to the room’s evacuation, ending in the arrest of the two soup-flinging protesters.
The protest effectively induced a sense of distaste within the common observers, making one wonder whether their stunts were accomplishing anything other than tainting their cause and annoying others. Aren’t protests supposed to be peaceful and rational, eliciting sympathy or at least understanding from the spectators?
Despite the soup attack, da Vinci’s elegant masterpiece remains unscathed, protected by a layer of fortified glass. The incident, however, marks a new height in terms of a lack of respect or understanding towards art, history, and culture. How did the Mona Lisa, a timeless portrayal of mystery and elegance, suddenly become a casualty in the battle for climate change and food security? How did wasting food suddenly become a statement in favor of food sustainability?
Predictably, the Louvre Museum administration took immediate action against the culprits, filing a complaint post haste. While the two activists spent some time behind bars, presumably served non-sustainable food, their detainment length remains uncertain at the moment.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first occasion the Mona Lisa has suffered such an ignominious act. In 2022, a self-proclaimed eco-warrior attempted to smash the protective glass, only to end up throwing a cake at the painting in a bewildering incident. The chants of these activists ring emptily against the solemnity of the museum’s marbled halls, earning their lackluster efforts nothing but scorn.
In the tweets that followed the incident, netizens expressed their contempt for the activists’ actions, calling them out on their selfishness and disrespect. Amid the flurry of tweets, one rightly pointed out, “Imagine spending your hard-earned money, flying to Paris, standing in line at the Louvre to see the most iconic painting in the world and these losers do this in front of you.”
And therein lies the crux of the matter. It’s not just the besmirching of an iconic painting or the wastage of food. Whether it’s churches, roads, or airports – these climate crazies are blindingly obtuse in their approach. They’re undermining the essence of peaceful protest, and in doing so, are not fighting against climate change; they’re waging war on culture, common sense, and basic respect. It’s time we acknowledge this self-serving narrative for what it truly is – a farce, devoid of any real substance or logic.
Let the conclusion of this article serve as a call to action for like-minded citizens everywhere. Ridicule and stern legal action ought to be the response that meets such audacities, not silence or indifference. If we wish to safeguard the myriad beauties and achievements of our Western culture, we must stand our ground against such radical behavior, trusting that reason, respect, and rationality will prevail over the madness we’ve recently witnessed.
