‘Sympathy’: See the Terrorist Paintings by Norman Rockwell’s Granddaughter
- Posted on March 6, 2012 at 7:53am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Daisy Rockwell isn‘t necessarily following in her grandfather’s footsteps. While Grandpa Norman painted iconic American scenes, his granddaughter Daisy Rockwell is making a name for herself by painting terrorists. And she apparently has a “sympathy” for them.
According to Daisy, she’s trying to paint terrorists — literally — in a different light.

Mohamed Mahmood Alessa, who was arrested on his way to a terror camp in Somalia. He wanted to take his cat, Tuna Princess, with him.
“We are supposed to think that those who wish America ill are motivated by evil and to not think any further than that,” she told CNN. “(But America) has spent quite a bit of time meddling in the affairs of other countries. Whether we like it or not, there are plenty of reasons out there for people to wish us ill as a country.”
So what are the paintings all about? CNN explains:
For the better part of the past decade, under the pseudonym “Lapata,” Daisy Rockwell has been creating images of terror suspects in unexpected poses.
In one piece, Mohamed Mahmood Alessa, a New Jersey man arrested for allegedly trying to join a terrorist group in Somalia, is cuddling his cat.
In another, Aafia Siddiqui, currently serving 86 years for attempting to kill U.S. nationals, is seen on her graduation day.
Rockwell told CNN the innocent-looking portraits – based on actual photographs of her subjects – were intentional and her way of “dismantling the aura of fear” that surrounds these people, to better understand their actions.
“When you look that closely at someone, you almost always develop sympathy for them,” she added. “It’s like sitting next to someone for a long bus ride. … I want to think about who these people are and why they made the choices they did. I want to share the results of my thoughts, which are my paintings, with other people.”
In fact, she seems to have a special connection with bin Laden.
“We take for granted who he was and what he did and why, and stop thinking of him as a human being with profoundly human motivations. The war on terror is quite bizarre, when you think about it, because it’s a war on an emotion – fear. At least, that is what we are told. Instead of just being at war, we are trying to stamp out fear itself.”
But don’t worry, she‘s decided terrorists aren’t the biggest problem this country, or world, faces. No, that belongs to global warming.
“(Global warming) will ultimately destroy our human habitat,” she told CNN. “At that point, throwing bombs at each other and arguing about birth control will be moot points.”
Read the full report and see more pictures at CNN.






















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Comments (149)
MERRYRIVER
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:37amI assume this woman has given all that evil-Capitalist-American money away and she now lives in a van down by the river after denouncing all that inheritance, financially and culturally? I mean, it must be a real burden to her having to inherit so much money from all that she appears to loathe like the U.S.A., freedom, defense, security, all those awful investments that produced all that money that she‘s by now parted with because it’s so loathesome to her…
Report Post »NOTAMUSHROOM
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:53am“Read the full report and see more pictures at CNN.”
Why?
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:07amFTA: ““We are supposed to think that those who wish America ill are motivated by evil and to not think any further than that,”
Remember that when the sword of allah severs your empty noggin from your narrow shoulders.
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:37amI guess sometimes the apple can fall quite far from the tree.
Report Post »Emrys
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:46amMaybe she should paint Mohammad and see what these sweet, innocent terrorists do. Blathering idiot.
Report Post »techengineer11
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:26amI don’t have to big of a problem with this. She actually wants people to stop and think more about what all of this is actually about and that’s a good thing in my opinion. Many on the right and left too I suppose are spinning this as “they” hate us because we are free, democracy, empower women, etc and while some of that may be true it’s not the primary reason.
Let’s be candid with one another and stop all of the bs. They hate us because we were instrumental in creating the state of Israel and because we have had our troops in traditionally Arab lands for the most of the 20th century. Not only that we have been propping up and promoting one strong man after another in the region and the local populations really resent that especially when they oppress the people.
Regardless the powers that be including the Media really need this “War on Terror” to continue and to always be the focal point of all our thoughts in order to continue their assault on our Freedoms, Liberty and the Constitution in general all in the name of protecting us.
Please for the sake of pete Conservatives wise up! You can hate Islam and even hate Muslims while not folowing through with many of these insane policies being promoted by our Media with the aid of the Neo-Cons. I’m no pacifist. I’m all for War but only a just War when all other measures have been exhausted and then the Congress approves the War. What we are currently engaged in is insane!
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:35amShe’s a Malthusian alarmist like John Holdren. Big deal. Plenty of Progressives think just as she does.
This is a big, fat “who cares?”
Report Post »GETLIFE
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:51amDaisy, sweetheart, with all of your deeply human motivations, if you really want to better understand the terrorists, just read the Koran. It’s all in the little green book… and they all swear by it.
Report Post »budzy1911
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 12:26pm“I assume this woman has given all that evil-Capitalist-American money away”
Not so much – the Rockwell images are protected by a fleet of lawyers. She is just another rich dolt that was handed her money so she doesn’t understand the real world.
Report Post »Kaoscontrol
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 1:20pmAn artist, eh? She can’t even get the skin tones right in her paintings.
Report Post »VigilantGuardShark
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 1:36pmI don‘t know about ’useful’ but she sure is (in my opinion) an idiot.
Report Post »Michael61
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 2:20pm@TechEngineer
Muslims have been attacking Asia, Africa, Europe, and America since 632 AD. What did we do to them in 632 AD to offend them so much that they can not stop???
Admittedly, they didn’t attack Antarctida yet…
Report Post »Michael61
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 2:25pm@TechEngineer
When I said “What we did to Muslims?“ I meant ”What we, the rest of humankind, did to Muslims?”
FYI. The United States had to create the Marine corps and Navy in order to fight Muslim terrorists and pirates.
“From the Halls of Montezuma To the shores of Tripoli We fight our country’s battles. In the air, on land, and sea…”
FYI, Tripoli is an African city…
If there were no Muslim pirates and terrorists, the United States probably would not need a standing army, Navy, and Marines…
Ron Paul is 50% correct, but he is stupid regarding the international policy. Unfortunately, his policy would work only in Muslim-less, Russia-less, China-less world…
And I don’t even defend stupid international policies of both GWB and Hussein…
Report Post »MIBUGNU2
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 3:05pmUniversity of California at Berkeley,… Say No More !!!
Report Post »Brainwashed airhead Liberal, Papa would be PROUD…
Read the full report and see more pictures at CNN.
NAAAAAAAA !! don’t think so, seen and read enough..
seen my 10year old, do better stuff than this !!!
But our Name is not Rockwell, Oh well !!!!
techengineer11
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 2:59pmMichael61
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 2:20pm
@TechEngineer
Whose killed more Americans since 2000? Radical Muslims or African Americans?
Think long and hard now.
Report Post »TEARS FOR AMERICA
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:36amThe sad part is that leftist radicals will fund her propaganda joyfully…I wonder if in our White House O’s la chambre has one of her works? From prayer rallies next to the Residence and Ramadan parties you just have to wonder…
Report Post »Silversmith
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:31amPoor Norman
Silversmith
Report Post »BehindBlueEyes
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:25amI’ll bet Norman is spinning in his grave like a gyroscope.
Report Post »KPEdwards
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:06amReally? Look at what Norman’s paintings did. They showed an unrealistic world, but an ideal world. One that we could strive for. He raised the image of people into larger than life ideas.
What his daughter is doing with these, is taking down people who have been elevated to such heights that they don’t resemble humans anymore. She is specifically showing us that these people who are considered pure evil, are just people. They are mortal. They‘re lives aren’t just this horrible ideology.
Also, yes I have sympathy for them. I pity that they are people who have gone through whatever events that would lead them to think terrorism is the right choice. I regret that as part of a great nation, and as party of humanity in general, we share some blame for not helping these people and at times, i can only hope unintentionally, hurting them.
Report Post »DIVINEPROVIDENCE1776
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:27am@KPEDWARDS “Really? Look at what Norman’s paintings did. They showed an unrealistic world, but an ideal world.”
You might want to do some research on the inspiration behind his paintings before you say things.
Report Post »BehindBlueEyes
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:42am@KPEDWARDS
“whatever events that would lead them to think terrorism is the right choice.”
How about their religion? Maybe that has something to do with it.
Report Post »Emrys
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:50amKepedwards said, “Look at what Norman’s paintings did. They showed an unrealistic world, but an ideal world.”
I’d argue the exact opposite: a soldier coming home to a hero’s welcome but his family lives in the slums; a policeman talking to a runaway boy at a lunch counter; a gossip having her own words reach the ears of the person she was talking about and gets confronted…sounds like a realistic world, though not always an ideal one. Rockwell’s grandaughter is painting an ideal world, but it is very unrealistid.
Report Post »KPEdwards
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:51amI wasn’t really talking about his intentions, but rather what effect it had on people (which is definitely open for debate and interpretation). However, I‘m open to listen to what you’re supposing his intentions were.
From his four freedoms series to the problem we all live with I would argue that the images show people at their idealized best. It shows us not what we all are, but what we can be. It gives us the notion that there is such a thing as a “simpler time.” His later work definitely shows more of the uglier side of life, but the subjects are elevated even higher because of it.
Report Post »KPEdwards
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:14am@EMRYS
You make an excellent point. I would then reshape my argument in framing that what makes the world unrealistic is that they don’t ever evoke a sadness that is present in real life. Like in the runaway, you don’t get the sense of a troubled youth who has reason to run away from bad conditions. Instead you get the impression of a “boys will be boys” and youth indiscretion. I mean, you have the counter worker smiling at the situation.
This could be my cynical nature coming through, but when you look at his breadth of work you have the an unrealistically positive sense of what life is. Like watching an episode of Leave It to Beaver.
In my opinion, this is what was needed at the time. The country just went through two world wars and a depression. To me it always contained this hope that there is this ideal happiness that seems to be easily achievable.
Report Post »Tutis
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 12:54pmWhat a contrast! His work expressed pure joy and delight and what is good and decent about America. He reflected the light from within and captured beautiful hearts in the faces of his portrayals. Her paintings reflect a dark and troubled soul. To be perfectly honest, in my humble opinion, she doesn’t exhibit much in the way of artistic talent, either. Perhaps she should have spent more time in Grandpa’s studio.
Report Post »memyselfandi
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 1:45pmNorman Rockwell portrayed a life and time that has unfortunately passed away due in large part to the welfare state and the progressive agenda. There was once something in this country called family unity and people had an innate sense of decency and morality but thanks to the 1960’s cultural revolution; of which I am a product of…it’s all but gone.
The cop in the picture had no fear that the kid was packing heat or that he was a drug mule…he was just mad, and when he cooled off and came to his senses he’d go on back home. Back then, Leave it to Beaver was real. People went to Church, kids went to school and did their homework, fathers went to work and mom’s stayed home and ran the household. It was working just fine for generations and the country prospered. I’m afraid our best days are in fact behind us. I submit to you; Americans sympathizing with murderous terrorists, school shootings, and the onslaught of assaults being made on the institutions of faith on this very day as just three small pieces of the mountain of evidence we are facing that is leading us to our demise.
This sucks because I have kids and I fear that the good fortune of the USA may run out with my generation.
Report Post »KPEdwards
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 1:54pm@TUTIS
That’s exactly what I mean. In a certain sense this acts as a companion to her grandfather’s work (which I am sure is not by accident). On the one hand they are working at opposite ends of the spectrum, but on the other they are both taking the good elements out of the subjects and displaying them. In order to get the most out of these paintings the audience needs to acknowledge the horrible actions these people have taken, and then remind the viewer that these are human beings. It makes you think about how someone could in one breathe exclaim a desire to kill, but in the next worry about the care of a cat.
As to her choice of style … Meh. It’s nothing to write home about. I’d prefer a more realistic rendition with some great facial expressions. Something like what Kubrick would do. But I could see the idea to have a more impressionist/modern rendition.
Report Post »AmazingGrace8
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 2:48pm@kpedwards
Unrealistic world? There was a casualty. The lady that was holding the “heavy turkey” had to do that stand/pose for so long, she died of a heart-attack right-after the standing(not sitting).
Report Post »This artist is doing what she wants to do…whatever…but I found it interesting she used the word about America and its dealings with other countries…..meddling? What a “pleasant-old-fashion-word” to use never-mind the “blood,sweat & tears” of our military. Many Americans just don’t have a clue why America was created & fought for for many years and now………..one administration has about 30% left to change this country forever. We have one last shot….looking forward to debates and start talking about this president’s track-record. If this guy gets back-in…bye bye America. Yikes!
BurntHills
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:30amsorry-off topic– hot news— DRUDGE REPORTS: WIKILEAKED:
OSAMA BIN LADEN NOT BURIED AT SEA
Report Post »Razorhunters
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:53amyep, saw that days ago…
Report Post »all knew it was bs.
Kisses6350
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 2:51pmHeard Osama was seen partying with Elvis, and married to Anna Nicole Smith…………..
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:27amI wonder if she’s painted Rose-Ellen?
Report Post »DIVINEPROVIDENCE1776
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:29amHahahahaha!
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:35amBwahahahahahaha!
Report Post »1chancey1
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:52amShe probably is Rose-Ellen
Report Post »TyrannyNoMore
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:55amGonzo…..you come up with some of the best zingers ever ! My coffee just shot out of my nose.
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:45amDoes Rosie have a teddy bear?
Report Post »JAMACAMECRAZYMAN
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:49amThats great Gonzo!
Report Post »EchoHawk
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:55amCircle jerk
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:26amShe must be the apple that fell from the tree, rolling down the hill into an open sewer. Norman must look like a pin wheel in his grave about now.
Report Post »Thatsitivehadenough
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:52amThat’s what I think. Or, could be Stockholm Syndrome? The left just hated her grandfather and every painting he ever created. She probably couldn’t take the heat and joined them so they would accept her instead of blaming her for being his granddaughter. Sad.
Report Post »The left is poison to everything it touches.
smokie
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 1:17pmWell, she’s done some good. My mother gave me the entire Rockwell Christmas Village over the years. It’s still in boxes. She wanted Rockwell, but got a comicbook artist. Reading this article, I just remembered that hoaky spiteful gift.
Report Post »I can sell that set, and fixed my roof that got damaged in the storm
bshrader
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:26amThe thing these idiots never understand, is that any one of the terrorists, that they desire so deeply to understand, would just as soon, behead them, given the chance. You go right ahead, and board the Terror Bus, Daisy… Sit next to any one of them that you wish…. idiot! BTW, the paintings are awful… she makes Saddam Hussein look like a purple monkey. But i guess she needed a gimmick to propel her and her so-called art, to instant fame. So much for “earning it”, via tasteful work, or raw talent, the way Norman did. It’s much quicker, and easier, to become famous and adored, by bashing your homeland, these days.
Report Post »Tri-ox
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:19amShe sounds like a complete lunatic – she should be closely monitored.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:15amShe’s a bloody capitalist. hahahaha
Report Post »Red Bubba
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:11amI think you nailed it. She evidently has no artistic talent, so this is how she gets attention. I’ll bet rich leftist whackos will pay big bucks for the crap she turns out. Layers and layers of irony.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:15amLOL…wanted to take his cat with him, eh? Bestiality no doubt. I dunno, IDC.
Report Post »drago
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:14amLooks like L.S.D. is becoming popular again…………
Report Post »LouC57
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:14amDaisy’s so open minded, her brain fell out.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:24amWinner!
Report Post »hi
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:37amLol!
Report Post »3monkeysmomma
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 12:54pmLOL! I’m gonna have to write that one down!
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:14am.
Report Post »Me thinks she needs to spend some time in Tahir Square…………
mike_trivisonno
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:14amShe sucks.
Report Post »drago
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:11amJust another terrorist loving commie pos.One more to add to the list………
Report Post »DIVINEPROVIDENCE1776
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:17amYep.
Report Post »kiddopup
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:10amWAKO WAKO WAKO one more elite brainwashed american how can anyone send their kids to our colleges we are really screwed
Report Post »Mark0331
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:10amFamous last name producing day glow high school art work crap. ‘..its a war based on emotion..” really? Tell that to the fairer sex getting beaten and butchered daily in an islamic hell hole right as we speak. Ignorant child. The one terrorist wanted to take his cat, his suicide vest and his love for a woman hating, pedophilic death cult. “To better understand their actions…” WTF. It is real simple genius…a brainwashed suicidal extremist in any religion is a danger to society at large and needs to be eradicated. They would chop your nose off for being so damn outspoken. And somewhere, some moron will say how ‘brilliant’ her artwork is…simply mind boggling.
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:37amCat Cuddler Terrorist Wannabe….. rofl
Report Post »The cat should count herself lucky. She got out before he could explode all nine of her lives.
lonestarbill
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:09amLooks like this apple rolled down the hill, fell into the creek and floated downstream a couple of miles, ending up nowhere near the tree.
She needs to work on her color palette too.
Report Post »jujubeebee
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:18amHer art does not reach any level near grandfather’s, does it? It just is not that good as far as I am concerned. She needs to grow up. Maybe her art needs to grow too. Possibly she is a victim of the school system that brought us political correctness. Maybe she is not because alot of people in their twenties are sympathetic to everyone whether they deserve it or not. It is sometimes just being young and naive. I will give her that even though I disagree with what she is doing or portraying in her art. I chalk this up to “stupid kid”. There is my sympathy and that is as far as it goes… stupid kid.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:30amLONESTARBILL, Oops, should have read all of the way down before I made my post above. We obviously had the same thought.
Report Post »Bluefish49
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:08amI have decided this will be my last Blaze post. When the Blaze first came out I was like ” wow….these people think the same way I do”. But now it has been taken over by the touchy, feely PC crowd that are way to sensitive for a non-PC correct person like myself. I will still enjoy reading the Blaze just no more wasting time posting……now no crying…..I’m just moving on. Besides with Andrew now gone being non-PC correct just isn’t the same. So in closing I will say something sweet and nice…your smart enough, your good enough and doggonit people like you…..
Report Post »DIVINEPROVIDENCE1776
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:11amYou think too much. Buh bye.
Report Post »drago
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:13amHuh?
Report Post »Susie
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:19amWHAT ?? Bluefish49, what are you talking about ? NON-PC ?
Report Post »I would say this is about the most non politically correct site anywhere on the web.
So where are you moving on to ….. the Huffington post ?
Andrew would be so proud.
bshrader
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:30amWell I just signed up, so you can go now. We’ll call it even.
Report Post »Bluefish49
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:10amJust kidding dumba$$”s…..this site is better than Prozac.
Report Post »bshrader
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:49amWow. very convincing, though. :-)
Report Post »AmazingGrace8
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 3:21pmIn my opinion, the ONLY non-PC person who ever lived in modern-times, and now is dead, was George Carlin. I don’t remember any of your posts, but remember George Carlin’s “colorful-non-PC.”
Report Post »P.S. If the “little O” is reelected, I will be joining you too and will no longer post ANYWHERE.
So long, friend. Be well.
jujubeebee
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:08amI get all this. While you can feel sympathy you also have to deal with the brutality and balance it. It is easy to come from a nice home where nothing bad happens and examine the feelings behind a terrorist. It is another to be a victim of the terrorism. All in this world who have committed crimes have a sympathic story or upbringing or reason they spun out of control. It is okay to portray this in an artistic picture. That said….you need to get a grip on reality and look at things logically. By sympathizing with the person …are you not also sympathizing with the acts of that person or their deeds? I don’t fear terrorists so much as loave their actions. To have real fear I would need to be placed in a situation that is life or death like those on the plane on 9-11. Global warming is manufactured fear. The child (probably sweet) has some growing up to do.
Report Post »davuf
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:29amI can sympathise with my enemies without a problem. I can say that the one overarching ‘feeling’ these terrorists have is anger followed closely by hatred. Ok, touchy feely portion of this exercise is over. Time to get back to war.
Report Post »Ailene Wright
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 12:01pmPeople can come from good homes and preform unspeakable acts. Remember Jeffery Dahmer?
Report Post »JQCitizen
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:03amRockwell must be turning over in his grave. What a disgrace!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:16amIsn’t it funny how these generations following someone who made a success of themselves .. often seem to go off the deep end … perhaps it is that they didn’t have to make anything for themselves … or perhaps like much of Hollywood .. guilt … could be both. But I agree .. I don’t think from knowing the grandfathers paintings this would be what he would want his legacy and last name on. Sad.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:03amI wonder how many the Obama’s own?
Report Post »drago
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:13am@Gonzo
Report Post »Or stole……..
DIVINEPROVIDENCE1776
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:02amWhat a disgrace she is to her father’s legacy. Her painting are awful and she sounds like a real loser.
Report Post »SANE_I think
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:02amSomebody want to dig up Norman and turn him face up again! WOW, Rich and entitled her whole life and this is where she is at? Go live among them in the middle east and if you survive see how you feel then?
Report Post »alivelyundertaker
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:00amI don’t know what kind of kool-aid little Daisy drank as a kid, but I don’t think grandpa would have approved. Proves the apple CAN fall away from the tree….and roll waaaaaay down the hill.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:26amand ROT!
Report Post »kettererbg
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 12:03pmMaybe the milk man got in there somewhere. Norman would definitely be disappointed.
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