[Bcma-l] War Museum
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
Fri, 31 Aug 2007 17:22:29 -0700
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Well, I saw the exhibit as recently as the end of March, and re-read the =
text carefully. Mainly I was re-familiarizing myself in preparation for =
an illustrated talk on the War Museum per se to the RCAF Ass'n, and knew =
I'd be challenged about that display in particular. The fact that I'd =
flown in the RCAF years ago just made both my own interest more acute =
and my own position more precarious.. As I've said, its worth writing a =
brief expository article from a museological point of view with an aim =
of describing ways and means of avoiding such trouble without seriously =
compromising historical accuracy. More later . . . .
Dan G.
----- Original Message -----=20
From: bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca=20
To: bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca=20
Sent: Friday, August 31, 2007 3:35 PM
Subject: RE: [Bcma-l] War Museum
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
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.
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.
I believe that there are several issues to be careful of including:=20
=B7 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)
=B7 The benefit of hindsight (You should have steered into the =
skid .)
=B7 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
=B7 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
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
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.)
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
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
Colin MacGregor Stevens,
Manager,
New Westminster Museum and Archives,
302 Royal Avenue,
New Westminster, BC,=20
V3L 1H7
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
-----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
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.
Apologies for my over-stating the obvious,
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
----- 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
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=3DArial size=3D2>Well, I saw the exhibit as recently as =
the end of=20
March, and re-read the text carefully. Mainly I was re-familiarizing =
myself in=20
preparation for an illustrated talk on the War Museum <EM>per se</EM> to =
the=20
RCAF Ass'n, and knew I'd be challenged about that display in particular. =
The=20
fact that I'd flown in the RCAF years ago just made both my own interest =
more=20
acute and my own position more precarious.. As I've said, its worth =
writing a=20
brief expository article from a museological point of view with an =
aim of=20
describing ways and means of avoiding such trouble without seriously=20
compromising historical accuracy. More later . . . .</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Brush Script MT" size=3D4><STRONG>Dan =
G.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> ----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
<A title=3Dbcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca=20
=
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.b=
c.ca</A>=20
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Dbcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca=20
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca</A> =
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, August 31, 2007 =
3:35=20
PM</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: [Bcma-l] War =
Museum</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=3DSection1>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Larry=92s =
memo does not=20
tell the full context of his concern about the Canadian War Museum, =
but I=20
deduce that he was talking about the Canadian War Museum=92s exhibit =
on the=20
bomber offensive in World War II, how it upset the WWII veterans, how =
the=20
museum refused to change the wording, and how the Director =
</SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Jo</SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">e Guertz is =
not=20
longer employed there. </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I shall =
start off by=20
saying that although I have visited the new CWM (as well as the two =
previous=20
incarnations of it), I am not familiar with the exhibit in question =
and I=20
suspect that the other gentlemen have not either. I do not have =
any=20
information on the exhibit in question, the disputed phrases, or the=20
appropriateness (or not) of the staff change.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Although I =
am very=20
much in favour of museums telling the truth and not being dictated to, =
this is=20
not a simple black and white issue. Like the term =93Freedom of the =
Press=94 there=20
are many shades of grey. I encourage museum colleagues to stop and =
think and=20
not do a knee jerk reaction by grabbing a flag and heading for the=20
barricades.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I believe =
that there=20
are several issues to be careful of including: </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.3in; TEXT-INDENT: =
0in"><FONT=20
face=3DSymbol color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol">=B7<FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D1><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT: 7pt 'Times New =
Roman'"> =20
</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Political =
correctness=20
(e.g. Parks Canada renaming the Northwest Rebellion as the Northwest=20
Resistance; the pressure put on the Smithsonian to not display the =
newly=20
restored B-29 bomber =93Enola Gay that had dropped the first atomic =
bomb on=20
Japan)</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.3in; TEXT-INDENT: =
0in"><FONT=20
face=3DSymbol color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol">=B7<FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D1><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT: 7pt 'Times New =
Roman'"> =20
</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The benefit =
of=20
hindsight (You should have steered into the skid =
=85)</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.3in; TEXT-INDENT: =
0in"><FONT=20
face=3DSymbol color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol">=B7<FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D1><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT: 7pt 'Times New =
Roman'"> =20
</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"> Making a=20
judgment from the comfort of one=92s armchair more than half a century =
after the=20
events when we are not subject to the same pressures. They were =
fighting a=20
World War for survival. For the people of </SPAN></FONT><FONT =
face=3DArial=20
color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Canada</SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> a quicker =
victory=20
meant that one=92s spouse, sons and daughters etc. in the services =
might survive=20
long enough to come home safely. If they had lost that war, I would be =
writing=20
this message in German or Japanese. No =85 come to think of it, if =
that had=20
happened, I would not be allowed to write this message at all. I =
probably=20
would not be here as my father, a Commando officer, would most likely =
have=20
been executed as a war criminal. </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.3in; TEXT-INDENT: =
0in"><FONT=20
face=3DSymbol color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol">=B7<FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D1><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT: 7pt 'Times New =
Roman'"> =20
</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mistakenly =
assuming=20
that wars are fought according to rules. Canadians have not been at =
war very=20
often and are so used to thinking in terms of Peacekeeping roles and =
rules.=20
</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Perhaps a =
modern=20
fictitious analogy might help relate to the different perspective that =
hindsight creates: Questioning a police officer why they shot and =
killed a=20
teenage boy who was after all only pointing an unloaded handgun at his =
hostage=20
in a bank robbery. You now know it was unloaded, but AT THE TIME the =
officer=20
did not and could not know that and reacted appropriately. =
</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">US Marine =
Corps=20
General =93Chesty=94 Puller was the most highly decorated and =
respected USMC=20
officer ever. After fighting in several wars he was attending=20
</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">West=20
Point</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> =
</SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Military</SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> =
</SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Academy</SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> as a =
student. The=20
lecturer stated that the true history of the Korean War could not be =
written=20
for at least 20 years, when the secret documents were declassified. =
Chesty=20
spoke up and adamantly said that the opposite was true because by then =
the=20
stories would have faded, and attitudes would have changed. (The story =
may be=20
found in the book MARINE =96 The above is from memory. Chesty led his =
men out of=20
the Chosin Reservoir where they suffered tremendous casualties in the =
bitter=20
cold and fighting.)</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">As an =
empirical test=20
I suggest you do the following. Look at modern history books about=20
</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Canada</SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> in World =
War II. Now=20
find the red hardcover book on the Photographic History of the =
Canadian Army=20
1939-1945 which was published immediately after WWII. You will find =
the=20
treatment is VERY different. The modern books are written in hindsight =
and the=20
self-censorship has taken its toll. The Immediate post-war book has =
gory=20
pictures of enemy dead, of Canadian dead and of concentration camp =
victims and=20
survivors. I still have the </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3Dnavy=20
size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Toronto</SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> special =
insert from=20
1945 showing pages of concentration camp photos =96 many of which have =
never=20
been published since. </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">As a museum =
Curator I=20
have been ordered not to display certain items and naturally did not =
like it.=20
I do realize however that there are a lot of revisionist history =
exhibits out=20
there that I do not like either sometimes. Each case must be =
looked at=20
on its own merits, not in a simple knee jerk reaction. I do not know =
how I=20
would feel about the CWM display text as I have not seen it. I might =
support=20
</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Jo</SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">e Geurtz, =
the former=20
CWM Director, or I might be on the other side requesting changes or =
failing=20
that, a resignation. </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">Colin MacGregor=20
Stevens,</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">Manager,</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">New Westminster Museum and=20
Archives,</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">302 Royal =
Avenue,</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">New Westminster, BC, =
</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">V3L 1H7</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">Phone Office: =
604-527-4639</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">Work Cellular :=20
604-830-6965</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: =
navy">Fax: &nb=
sp; =20
604-527-4641</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">E-mail: <A=20
href=3D"mailto:cstevens@newwestcity.ca">cstevens@newwestcity.ca</A>=20
</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">Web Site: <A=20
=
href=3D"http://www.newwestminster.ca">www.newwestminster.ca</A></SPAN></F=
ONT><FONT=20
color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy">=20
</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=3DTahoma =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">-----Original=20
Message-----<BR><B><SPAN style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B>=20
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=20
PM<BR><B><SPAN style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B>=20
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca<BR><B><SPAN style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: =
bold">Cc:</SPAN></B>=20
larryewashen@telus.net<BR><B><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re: [Bcma-l] War=20
Museum</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Wholehearted support for =
Larry's=20
suggestion. We must continue to recount, retell and depict =
history as=20
accurately as possible, presenting it as closely to the way =
it=20
happened as possible, NOT the way someone or some group wanted it to =
be. An=20
incorrect legacy IS no legacy; a dangerous=20
situation.</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: =
12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Apologies for my=20
over-stating</SPAN></FONT> <FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">the=20
obvious,</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: =
12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Steve Bender<BR>Manager, =
BC=20
Interior Forestry Museum<BR>Box 419 Revelstoke BC =
V0E=20
2S0<BR>Ph. 250 837 8078<BR>Email <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:forestrymuseumrev@telus.net">forestrymuseumrev@telus.net</=
A>=20
<BR>Email; <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:forestrymuseum@revelstoke.net">forestrymuseum@revelstoke.n=
et</A></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: =
12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: =
12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: =
medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN: 5pt 0in 5pt =
3.75pt; BORDER-LEFT: black 1.5pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: =
medium none">
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">----- Original Message =
-----=20
</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"font-color: black">
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; MARGIN-LEFT: =
0.5in"><B><FONT=20
face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT=20
face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"> <A=20
title=3Dbcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca=20
=
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.b=
c.ca</A>=20
</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><B><FONT =
face=3DArial=20
size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">To:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT=20
face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"> <A=20
title=3Dbcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca=20
=
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca</A>=20
</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><B><FONT =
face=3DArial=20
size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Sent:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT=20
face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">=20
Thursday, August 30, 2007 4:37 PM</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><B><FONT =
face=3DArial=20
size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Subject:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT=20
face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">=20
[Bcma-l] War Museum</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT =
face=3D"Times New Roman"=20
size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: =
12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi" color=3Dgreen size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: green; FONT-FAMILY: 'Franklin =
Gothic Demi'">I=20
believe that BC Museums and CMA should lend what little weight they =
have in=20
support of the War Museums independent ability to present=20
history.</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi" color=3Dgreen size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: green; FONT-FAMILY: 'Franklin =
Gothic Demi'">The=20
idea of political and single interest groups lobbying in such a case =
is=20
reprehensible, and I believe we should make our views=20
known.</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi" color=3Dgreen size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: green; FONT-FAMILY: 'Franklin =
Gothic Demi'">In=20
a land where people died over the issue of free speech, where is it, =
and=20
where is the free [and independent prerogative] in doing our job=20
objectively?</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi" color=3Dgreen size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: green; FONT-FAMILY: 'Franklin =
Gothic Demi'">Our=20
museum was subjected to such pressure and caved in due to an =
in-camera=20
meeting by our city council, which went on to dictate as to what we =
could or=20
could not exhibit. No members of the public or delegations were =
allowed to=20
debate such an important issue.</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi" color=3Dgreen size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: green; FONT-FAMILY: 'Franklin =
Gothic Demi'">To=20
our shame, we accepted their ultimatum in, but it still =
does not=20
destroy the principle and concept of museum=20
independence,.</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi" color=3Dgreen size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: green; FONT-FAMILY: 'Franklin =
Gothic Demi'">Our alternative=20
would have been to close the museum.</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi" color=3Dgreen size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: green; FONT-FAMILY: 'Franklin =
Gothic Demi'">This=20
is an important issue and I am surprised that I have not heard any=20
pronouncements about this by our museum=20
organizations.</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi" color=3Dgreen size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: green; FONT-FAMILY: 'Franklin =
Gothic Demi'">Are=20
we too busy planning conferences and workshops and patting ourselves =
on the=20
back to pay attention to such an important =
issue?</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi" color=3Dgreen size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: green; FONT-FAMILY: 'Franklin =
Gothic Demi'">Larry=20
A. Ewashen, Curator & General Manager<BR>The Doukhobor Discovery =
Centre<BR>112 Heritage Way, Castlegar V1N =
4M5<BR>1-250-365-5327<BR><A=20
=
href=3D"http://www.Doukhobor-Museum.org">www.Doukhobor-Museum.org</A></SP=
AN></FONT></P></DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT =
face=3D"Times New Roman"=20
size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><BR><BR>__________ NOD32 =
2352=20
(20070625) Information __________<BR><BR>This message was checked by =
NOD32=20
antivirus system.<BR><A=20
=
href=3D"http://www.eset.com">http://www.eset.com</A></SPAN></FONT></P></B=
LOCKQUOTE></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
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