[Bcma-l] War Museum

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:37:52 -0700

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I believe that BC Museums and CMA should lend what little weight they =
have in support of the War Museums independent ability to present =
history.
The idea of political and single interest groups lobbying in such a case =
is reprehensible, and I believe we should make our views known.
In a land where people died over the issue of free speech, where is it, =
and where is the free [and independent prerogative] in doing our job =
objectively?
Our museum was subjected to such pressure and caved in due to an =
in-camera meeting by our city council, which went on to dictate as to =
what we could or could not exhibit. No members of the public or =
delegations were allowed to debate such an important issue.
To our shame, we accepted their ultimatum in, but it still does not =
destroy the principle and concept of museum independence,.
Our alternative would have been to close the museum.
This is an important issue and I am surprised that I have not heard any =
pronouncements about this by our museum organizations.
Are we too busy planning conferences and workshops and patting ourselves =
on the back to pay attention to such an important issue?
Larry A. Ewashen, Curator & General Manager
The Doukhobor Discovery Centre
112 Heritage Way, Castlegar V1N 4M5
1-250-365-5327
www.Doukhobor-Museum.org

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<DIV><FONT face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi" color=3D#008000>I believe that =
BC Museums=20
and CMA should lend what little weight they have in support of the War =
Museums=20
independent ability to present history.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi" color=3D#008000>The idea of =
political and=20
single interest groups lobbying in such a case is reprehensible, and I =
believe=20
we should make our views known.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi" color=3D#008000>In a land where =
people died=20
over the issue of free speech, where is it, and where is the free [and=20
independent prerogative] in doing our job objectively?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi" color=3D#008000>Our museum was =
subjected to=20
such pressure and caved in due to an in-camera meeting by our city =
council,=20
which went on to dictate as to what we could or could not exhibit. No =
members of=20
the public or delegations were allowed to debate such an important=20
issue.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi" color=3D#008000>To our shame,=20
we&nbsp;accepted their ultimatum&nbsp;in, but it still does not destroy =
the=20
principle and concept of museum independence,.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi" =
color=3D#008000>Our&nbsp;alternative would=20
have been to close the museum.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi" color=3D#008000>This is an =
important issue=20
and I am surprised that I have not heard any pronouncements about this =
by our=20
museum organizations.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi" color=3D#008000>Are we too busy =
planning=20
conferences and workshops and patting ourselves on the back to pay =
attention to=20
such an important issue?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi" color=3D#008000>Larry A. =
Ewashen, Curator=20
&amp; General Manager<BR>The Doukhobor Discovery Centre<BR>112 Heritage =
Way,=20
Castlegar V1N 4M5<BR>1-250-365-5327<BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.Doukhobor-Museum.org">www.Doukhobor-Museum.org</A><BR>=
</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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