Freedom of expression in Poetry.

[ChristopherSea]

Freedom of expression in Poetry.

How should we as poets react to a poem on a controversial subject? i.e. political, religious, gun law, abortion etc.
Should we make a judgment solely on the poem merits as a poem or simply dismiss it because it displays a view that is opposite to our own?
On the face of it this seems an easy question to answer but in reality it isn’t. On one hand I think most of us would support the poet’s right to the freedom of expression on any subject but on the other hand when the content comes in direct conflict with our own passionately held views and beliefs, doesn’t our support of the freedom of expression waver?.
Many of the arts face this dilemma, for example:
Barenboim chose to conduct the Israel Philharmonic in two Wagner overtures in Israel whilst knowing that the composer Wagner was an ardent anti-Semitic throughout his life.Barenboim made his decision based on the excellence of the music alone which he greatly admired. Broadly I agree with him but then I am not a Jew, if I was? Hmm, I wonder.

Simple, the poem is not the poet.