[Bcma-l] War Museum
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
Fri, 31 Aug 2007 15:35:38 -0700
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Larry's memo does not tell the full context of his concern about the
Canadian War Museum, but I deduce that he was talking about the Canadian
War Museum's exhibit on the bomber offensive in World War II, how it
upset the WWII veterans, how the museum refused to change the wording,
and how the Director Joe Guertz is not longer employed there.=20
=20
I shall start off by saying that although I have visited the new CWM (as
well as the two previous incarnations of it), I am not familiar with the
exhibit in question and I suspect that the other gentlemen have not
either. I do not have any information on the exhibit in question, the
disputed phrases, or the appropriateness (or not) of the staff change.
=20
Although I am very much in favour of museums telling the truth and not
being dictated to, this is not a simple black and white issue. Like the
term "Freedom of the Press" there are many shades of grey. I encourage
museum colleagues to stop and think and not do a knee jerk reaction by
grabbing a flag and heading for the barricades.
=20
I believe that there are several issues to be careful of including:=20
* Political correctness (e.g. Parks Canada renaming the Northwest
Rebellion as the Northwest Resistance; the pressure put on the
Smithsonian to not display the newly restored B-29 bomber "Enola Gay
that had dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan)
* The benefit of hindsight (You should have steered into the skid
...)
* Making a judgment from the comfort of one's armchair more than
half a century after the events when we are not subject to the same
pressures. They were fighting a World War for survival. For the people
of Canada a quicker victory meant that one's spouse, sons and daughters
etc. in the services might survive long enough to come home safely. If
they had lost that war, I would be writing this message in German or
Japanese. No ... come to think of it, if that had happened, I would not
be allowed to write this message at all. I probably would not be here as
my father, a Commando officer, would most likely have been executed as a
war criminal.=20
* Mistakenly assuming that wars are fought according to rules.
Canadians have not been at war very often and are so used to thinking in
terms of Peacekeeping roles and rules.=20
=20
Perhaps a modern fictitious analogy might help relate to the different
perspective that hindsight creates: Questioning a police officer why
they shot and killed a teenage boy who was after all only pointing an
unloaded handgun at his hostage in a bank robbery. You now know it was
unloaded, but AT THE TIME the officer did not and could not know that
and reacted appropriately.=20
=20
US Marine Corps General "Chesty" Puller was the most highly decorated
and respected USMC officer ever. After fighting in several wars he was
attending West Point Military Academy as a student. The lecturer stated
that the true history of the Korean War could not be written for at
least 20 years, when the secret documents were declassified. Chesty
spoke up and adamantly said that the opposite was true because by then
the stories would have faded, and attitudes would have changed. (The
story may be found in the book MARINE - The above is from memory. Chesty
led his men out of the Chosin Reservoir where they suffered tremendous
casualties in the bitter cold and fighting.)
=20
As an empirical test I suggest you do the following. Look at modern
history books about Canada in World War II. Now find the red hardcover
book on the Photographic History of the Canadian Army 1939-1945 which
was published immediately after WWII. You will find the treatment is
VERY different. The modern books are written in hindsight and the
self-censorship has taken its toll. The Immediate post-war book has gory
pictures of enemy dead, of Canadian dead and of concentration camp
victims and survivors. I still have the Toronto special insert from 1945
showing pages of concentration camp photos - many of which have never
been published since.=20
=20
As a museum Curator I have been ordered not to display certain items and
naturally did not like it. I do realize however that there are a lot of
revisionist history exhibits out there that I do not like either
sometimes. Each case must be looked at on its own merits, not in a
simple knee jerk reaction. I do not know how I would feel about the CWM
display text as I have not seen it. I might support Joe Geurtz, the
former CWM Director, or I might be on the other side requesting changes
or failing that, a resignation.=20
=20
Colin MacGregor Stevens,
Manager,
New Westminster Museum and Archives,
302 Royal Avenue,
New Westminster, BC,=20
V3L 1H7
=20
Phone Office: 604-527-4639
Work Cellular : 604-830-6965
Fax: 604-527-4641
E-mail: cstevens@newwestcity.ca=20
Web Site: www.newwestminster.ca=20
=20
-----Original Message-----
From: bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca
[mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca]=20
Sent: August 31, 2007 12:18 PM
To: bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
Cc: larryewashen@telus.net
Subject: Re: [Bcma-l] War Museum
=20
Wholehearted support for Larry's suggestion. We must continue to
recount, retell and depict history as accurately as possible, presenting
it as closely to the way it happened as possible, NOT the way someone or
some group wanted it to be. An incorrect legacy IS no legacy; a
dangerous situation.
=20
Apologies for my over-stating the obvious,
=20
Steve Bender
Manager, BC Interior Forestry Museum
Box 419 Revelstoke BC V0E 2S0
Ph. 250 837 8078
Email forestrymuseumrev@telus.net=20
Email; forestrymuseum@revelstoke.net
=20
=20
----- Original Message -----=20
From: bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca=20
To: bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca=20
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2007 4:37 PM
Subject: [Bcma-l] War Museum
=20
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
=09
=09
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<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Larry’s memo does not tell =
the full
context of his concern about the Canadian War Museum, but I deduce that =
he was
talking about the Canadian War Museum’s exhibit on the bomber =
offensive
in World War II, how it upset the WWII veterans, how the museum refused =
to
change the wording, and how the Director </span></font><font size=3D2 =
color=3Dnavy
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Jo</span></font><=
font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>e Guertz is not longer employed there. </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I shall start off by saying that =
although
I have visited the new CWM (as well as the two previous incarnations of =
it), I am
not familiar with the exhibit in question and I suspect that the other
gentlemen have not either. I do not have any information on the =
exhibit
in question, the disputed phrases, or the appropriateness (or not) of =
the staff
change.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Although I am very much in favour =
of
museums telling the truth and not being dictated to, this is not a =
simple black
and white issue. Like the term “Freedom of the Press” there =
are many
shades of grey. I encourage museum colleagues to stop and think and not =
do a
knee jerk reaction by grabbing a flag and heading for the =
barricades.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I believe that there are several =
issues to
be careful of including: </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.3in;text-indent:0in'><font =
size=3D2
color=3Dnavy face=3DSymbol><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;
color:navy'>·<font size=3D1 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New =
Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Political =
correctness
(e.g. Parks Canada renaming the Northwest Rebellion as the Northwest =
Resistance;
the pressure put on the Smithsonian to not display the newly restored =
B-29
bomber “Enola Gay that had dropped the first atomic bomb on =
Japan)</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.3in;text-indent:0in'><font =
size=3D2
color=3Dnavy face=3DSymbol><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;
color:navy'>·<font size=3D1 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New =
Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>The benefit of =
hindsight (You
should have steered into the skid …)</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.3in;text-indent:0in'><font =
size=3D2
color=3Dnavy face=3DSymbol><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;
color:navy'>·<font size=3D1 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New =
Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> Making a =
judgment
from the comfort of one’s armchair more than half a century after =
the
events when we are not subject to the same pressures. They were fighting =
a
World War for survival. For the people of </span></font><font size=3D2
color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Canada</span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> a quicker =
victory meant
that one’s spouse, sons and daughters etc. in the services might =
survive long
enough to come home safely. If they had lost that war, I would be =
writing this
message in German or Japanese. No … come to think of it, if that =
had
happened, I would not be allowed to write this message at all. I =
probably would
not be here as my father, a Commando officer, would most likely have =
been
executed as a war criminal. </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.3in;text-indent:0in'><font =
size=3D2
color=3Dnavy face=3DSymbol><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;
color:navy'>·<font size=3D1 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New =
Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Mistakenly =
assuming that wars
are fought according to rules. Canadians have not been at war very often =
and are
so used to thinking in terms of Peacekeeping roles and rules. =
</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Perhaps a modern fictitious analogy =
might
help relate to the different perspective that hindsight creates: =
Questioning a
police officer why they shot and killed a teenage boy who was after all =
only
pointing an unloaded handgun at his hostage in a bank robbery. You now =
know it
was unloaded, but AT THE TIME the officer did not and could not know =
that and
reacted appropriately. </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>US Marine Corps General =
“Chesty”
Puller was the most highly decorated and respected USMC officer ever. =
After
fighting in several wars he was attending </span></font><font size=3D2
color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>West Point</span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> =
</span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Military</span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> =
</span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Academy</span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> as a student. =
The
lecturer stated that the true history of the Korean War could not be =
written
for at least 20 years, when the secret documents were declassified. =
Chesty spoke
up and adamantly said that the opposite was true because by then the =
stories
would have faded, and attitudes would have changed. (The story may be =
found in
the book MARINE – The above is from memory. Chesty led his men out =
of the
Chosin Reservoir where they suffered tremendous casualties in the bitter =
cold
and fighting.)</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>As an empirical test I suggest you =
do the
following. Look at modern history books about </span></font><font =
size=3D2
color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Canada</span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> in World War =
II. Now
find the red hardcover book on the Photographic History of the Canadian =
Army
1939-1945 which was published immediately after WWII. You will find the
treatment is VERY different. The modern books are written in hindsight =
and the
self-censorship has taken its toll. The Immediate post-war book has gory
pictures of enemy dead, of Canadian dead and of concentration camp =
victims and
survivors. I still have the </span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy =
face=3DArial><span
=
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Toronto</span></f=
ont><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> special insert from 1945 showing pages of concentration =
camp
photos – many of which have never been published since. =
</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>As a museum Curator I have been =
ordered
not to display certain items and naturally did not like it. I do realize
however that there are a lot of revisionist history exhibits out there =
that I
do not like either sometimes. Each case must be looked at on its =
own merits,
not in a simple knee jerk reaction. I do not know how I would feel about =
the
CWM display text as I have not seen it. I might support =
</span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Jo</span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>e Geurtz, the =
former CWM
Director, or I might be on the other side requesting changes or failing =
that, a
resignation. </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>Colin MacGregor =
Stevens,</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>Manager,</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>New Westminster Museum and =
Archives,</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>302 Royal =
Avenue,</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>New Westminster, BC, =
</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>V3L 1H7</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>Phone Office:
604-527-4639</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>Work Cellular : =
604-830-6965</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>Fax: &=
nbsp;
604-527-4641</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>E-mail: <a
href=3D"mailto:cstevens@newwestcity.ca">cstevens@newwestcity.ca</a> =
</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>Web Site: <a
href=3D"http://www.newwestminster.ca">www.newwestminster.ca</a></span></f=
ont><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'> =
</span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D2 =
face=3DTahoma><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original =
Message-----<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b>
bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca [mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca] =
<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> August 31, 2007 =
12:18 PM<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> =
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Cc:</span></b> =
larryewashen@telus.net<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: [Bcma-l] War =
Museum</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D2 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Wholehearted support for =
Larry's
suggestion. We must continue to recount, retell and depict history =
as
accurately as possible, presenting it as closely to the way it
happened as possible, NOT the way someone or some group wanted it to be. =
An
incorrect legacy IS no legacy; a dangerous =
situation.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D2 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Apologies for my =
over-stating</span></font> <font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>the =
obvious,</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D2 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Steve Bender<br>
Manager, BC Interior Forestry Museum<br>
Box 419 Revelstoke BC V0E 2S0<br>
Ph. 250 837 8078<br>
Email <a =
href=3D"mailto:forestrymuseumrev@telus.net">forestrymuseumrev@telus.net</=
a>
<br>
Email; <a =
href=3D"mailto:forestrymuseum@revelstoke.net">forestrymuseum@revelstoke.n=
et</a></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<blockquote style=3D'border:none;border-left:solid black =
1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt;
margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'=
>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D2 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>----- Original Message =
----- </span></font></p>
</div>
<div style=3D'font-color:black'>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'margin-left:.5in;background:#E4E4E4'><b><font size=3D2
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>From:</span=
></font></b><font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> <a
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca"
title=3D"bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca</=
a> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><b><font size=3D2 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>To:</span><=
/font></b><font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> <a
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca" =
title=3D"bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca</a>
</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><b><font size=3D2 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span=
></font></b><font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> Thursday,
August 30, 2007 4:37 PM</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><b><font size=3D2 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>Subject:</s=
pan></font></b><font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> [Bcma-l]
War Museum</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dgreen
face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Demi";
color:green'>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.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dgreen
face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Demi";
color:green'>The idea of political and single interest groups lobbying =
in such
a case is reprehensible, and I believe we should make our views =
known.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dgreen
face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Demi";
color:green'>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?</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dgreen
face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Demi";
color:green'>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.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dgreen
face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Demi";
color:green'>To our shame, we accepted their ultimatum in, but =
it
still does not destroy the principle and concept of museum =
independence,.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dgreen
face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Demi";
color:green'>Our alternative would have been to close the =
museum.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dgreen
face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Demi";
color:green'>This is an important issue and I am surprised that I have =
not
heard any pronouncements about this by our museum =
organizations.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dgreen
face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Demi";
color:green'>Are we too busy planning conferences and workshops and =
patting
ourselves on the back to pay attention to such an important =
issue?</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dgreen
face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Demi";
color:green'>Larry A. Ewashen, Curator & General Manager<br>
The Doukhobor Discovery Centre<br>
112 Heritage Way, Castlegar V1N 4M5<br>
1-250-365-5327<br>
<a =
href=3D"http://www.Doukhobor-Museum.org">www.Doukhobor-Museum.org</a></sp=
an></font></p>
</div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'><br>
<br>
__________ NOD32 2352 (20070625) Information __________<br>
<br>
This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.<br>
<a =
href=3D"http://www.eset.com">http://www.eset.com</a></span></font></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
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