[Bcma-l] War Museum

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 02:22:52 -0700

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This is an important issue and all of us as museum professionals should be
concerned.   Irregardless of the source of funding we need to be autonomous
in the research and interpretation that we offer as an educational, not a
political, institution.

James Tirrul-Jones
Railway and Forestry 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 <http://www.Doukhobor-Museum.org>
> 

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<TITLE>Re: [Bcma-l] War Museum</TITLE>
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This =
is an important issue and all of us as museum professionals should be concer=
ned. &nbsp;&nbsp;Irregardless of the source of funding we need to be autonom=
ous in the research and interpretation that we offer as an educational, not =
a political, institution. 
 
James Tirrul-Jones 
Railway and Forestry Museum 
 
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><BLOCKQUOTE> 
&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp; 
I believe that BC Museums &nbsp;and CMA should lend w=
hat little weight they have in support of the War Museums &nbsp;independent =
ability to present history. 
 
The idea of political and &nbsp;single interest group=
s lobbying in such a case is reprehensible, and I believe &nbsp;we should ma=
ke our views known. 
 
In a land where people &nbsp;died over the issue of f=
ree speech, where is it, and where is the free [and &nbsp;independent prerog=
ative] in doing our job objectively? 
 
Our museum was subjected &nbsp;to such pressure and c=
aved in due to an in-camera meeting by our city council, &nbsp;which went on=
 to dictate as to what we could or could not exhibit. No members &nbsp;of th=
e public or delegations were allowed to debate such an important &nbsp;issue=
. 
 
To our shame, &nbsp;we accepted their ultimatum in, b=
ut it still does not destroy the &nbsp;principle and concept of museum indep=
endence,. 
 
Our alternative &nbsp;would have been to close the mu=
seum. 
 
This is an important &nbsp;issue and I am surprised t=
hat I have not heard any pronouncements about this &nbsp;by our museum organ=
izations. 
 
Are we too busy planning &nbsp;conferences and worksh=
ops and patting ourselves on the back to pay attention &nbsp;to such an impo=
rtant issue? 
 
Larry A. Ewashen, Curator &nbsp;&amp; General Manager=
 
The Doukhobor Discovery Centre 
112 Heritage Way, &nbsp;Castlegar V1N 4M5 
1-250-365-5327 
www.Doukhobor-Museum.org <a href=3D"http://www.Doukhobor-Museum.org">&lt;http=
://www.Doukhobor-Museum.org&gt;</a> 
</BLOCKQUOTE><S=
PAN STYLE=3D'font-size:12.0px'> 
</BLOCKQUOTE> 

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