[Bcma-l] War Museum - The issue (quote and links to some follow-up articles)

Tue, 4 Sep 2007 16:41:52 -0700

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Bill makes a good point.

=20

Here is the text which caused the uproar - Copied from the Senate's
report
http://www.parl.gc.ca/39/1/parlbus/commbus/senate/com-e/defe-e/rep-e/rep
16jun07-e.htm  Bolding and highlighting are mine:

THE ISSUE=20

Veterans, who served with RAF Bomber Command in the Second World War,
feel insulted by a display at the Canadian War Museum, relating to the
morality and effectiveness of the Allied strategic bombing campaign. The
final display panel entitled The Enduring Controversy, reads:=20

The value and morality of the strategic bomber offensive against Germany
remains bitterly contested. Bomber Command's aim was to crush civilian
morale and force Germany to surrender by destroying its cities and
industrial installations. Although Bomber Command and American attacks
left 600,000 Germans dead, and more than five million homeless, the
raids resulted in only small reductions in German war production until
late in the war.=20

The ire of aircrew veterans is raised by the first sentence, which they
feel questions their value and morality. The second sentence also
aggravates them because, in their view, it is an incomplete description
of the role they played and neglects to mention attacks on many
strategic military installations, as well as important tactical support
to D-Day preparations, assault and subsequent break-out operations. They
also think the last sentence is an inaccurate assessment of the effect
and value of the strategic bombing campaign. Adjacent photographs in the
display area, showing dead German corpses in the street and bombed-out
city rubble, when viewed in conjunction with the last panel, have led
some to argue that the combination of photos and panel wording implies
Canadians involved in the bombing were "war criminals" who added little
value to the Allied cause and that the Canadian War Museum has
implicitly supported that view.=20

The Museum insists it is in no way trying to denigrate the ethics,
morality and value of RCAF veterans and that the Enduring Controversy
panel passage is an accurate and reasonable statement of fact. =20

While the Museum is technically and professionally correct in its stand,
it seems that the direct association of Bomber Command with the
legitimate description of controversy over the nature of the strategic
bombing campaign, in the last panel, has, unintentionally, been
interpreted by individual veterans as a criticism of their morality and
the value of their contribution to the overall war effort. =20

It is unfortunate that this dispute has lingered for as long as it has
and that it has settled into firm, some say obstinate, positions on both
sides. The Subcommittee deeply regrets this development and hopes that,
by its examination of this continuing disagreement, it will be able to
help both sides resolve the impasse.

Here is Global Museum's link to the story.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070829/wl_canada_nm/canada_wwii_col_1=20

=20

Here is the Senate talking about it:
http://www.parl.gc.ca/39/1/parlbus/commbus/senate/com-e/defe-e/rep-e/rep
16jun07-e.htm=20

=20

CBC :
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2007/06/13/museum-070613.html

=20

CTV:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070612/war_museum_
070612

=20

National Post:
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=3D42bf2494-a7e2-423=
3
-93fc-83a971cff9c3=20

=20

Royal Canadian Legion:
http://www.legionmagazine.com/frontline/editorials/06-11.asp?id=3Dprint=20

=20

Current CEO who replaced Mr. Guerts at the Canadian War Museum is:=20

Directorate

Mark O'Neill
Acting Director
(819) 776-8622
mark.oneill@warmuseum.ca

Although I love military history, I have refrained from offering
opinions on the validity of the bombing strategy and I simply remind
people that there are many shades of grey and many opinions to the issue
of museums and free speech, accountability and pressure to change
exhibits that someone does not like.=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: September 4, 2007 12:42 PM
To: bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
Subject: RE: [Bcma-l] War Museum

=20

September 4, 2007

=20

Dear Colleagues:

=20

I have had a deluge of material about the war museum, but no contextual
content as to the reason why the discussion is going on.  If we are to
have a coherent discussion of anything, the full context must be laid
out in the argument for or against or to whatever position is taken.  I
see that Colin MacGregor has also not seen what prompted the comments,
but put forward a kindly directional essay.

=20

I suggest that the moderator return comments to the authors of list
serve material when the context is not included in the body of their
text.  The other possibility is to have a place where these types of
discussions can take place where the context of the discussion is
accessible.  Perhaps the BCMA should look at structuring the material in
the list serve into categories of interest - jobs, announcements,
discussions are prominent elements of what goes on the list serve. =20

=20

W. (Bill) G. Quackenbush, Curator

Barkerville Historic Town,

Box 19, Barkerville, B.C.  V0K 1B0

bill.quackenbush@barkerville.ca

visit - www.barkerville.ca for general information

=20

________________________________

From: bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca
[mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca]=20
Sent: September 4, 2007 11:15 AM
To: bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
Cc: Dan Gallacher
Subject: Re: [Bcma-l] War Museum

=20

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 . . . .

=20

Dan G.

=20

 ----- 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

	=20

	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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	=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'>Bill makes a good =
point.</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'>&nbsp;</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'>Here is the text which caused the =
uproar &#8211;
Copied from the Senate&#8217;s report <a
href=3D"http://www.parl.gc.ca/39/1/parlbus/commbus/senate/com-e/defe-e/re=
p-e/rep16jun07-e.htm">http://www.parl.gc.ca/39/1/parlbus/commbus/senate/c=
om-e/defe-e/rep-e/rep16jun07-e.htm</a>
&nbsp;Bolding and highlighting are mine:</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'text-align:justify'><b><i><font size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>THE ISSUE</span></font></i></b><i><span =
style=3D'font-style:
italic'>&nbsp;</span></i></p>

Veterans,
who served with RAF Bomber Command in the Second World War, feel =
insulted by a
display at the Canadian War Museum, relating to the morality and effectiveness =
of the
Allied strategic bombing campaign. The final display panel entitled =
The
Enduring Controversy, reads:&nbsp;

The value and morality of the =
strategic
bomber offensive against Germany<s=
pan
style=3D'background:yellow;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'> remains =
bitterly
contested. Bomber Command's aim was to crush civilian morale and force =
Germany</s=
pan> to =
surrender by
destroying =
its cities and industrial installations. =
Although
Bomber Command and American attacks left 600,000 Germans dead, and more =
than
five million homeless, the raids resulted in only small reductions in =
German
war production until late in the war.&nbsp;

The ire
of aircrew veterans is raised by the first sentence, which they feel =
questions
their value and morality. The second sentence also aggravates them =
because, in
their view, it is an incomplete description of the role they played and
neglects to mention attacks on many strategic military installations, as =
well
as important tactical support to D-Day preparations, assault and =
subsequent
break-out operations. They also think the last sentence is an inaccurate
assessment of the effect and value of the strategic bombing campaign. =
Adjacent
photographs in the display area, showing dead German corpses in the =
street and
bombed-out city rubble, when viewed in conjunction with the last panel, =
have
led some to argue that the combination of photos and panel wording =
implies
Canadians involved in the bombing were &quot;war criminals&quot; who =
added
little value to the Allied cause and that the Canadian War Museum has
implicitly supported that view.

The
Museum insists it is in no way trying to denigrate the ethics, morality =
and
value of RCAF veterans and that the Enduring Controversy panel =
passage
is an accurate and reasonable statement of fact. &nbsp;

While
the Museum is technically and professionally correct in its stand, it =
seems
that the direct association of Bomber Command with the legitimate =
description
of controversy over the nature of the strategic bombing campaign, in the =
last
panel, has, unintentionally, been interpreted by individual veterans as =
a
criticism of their morality and the value of their contribution to the =
overall
war effort. &nbsp;

It is
unfortunate that this dispute has lingered for as long as it has and =
that it
has settled into firm, some say obstinate, positions on both sides. The
Subcommittee deeply regrets this development and hopes that, by its =
examination
of this continuing disagreement, it will be able to help both sides =
resolve the
impasse.

Here is Global =
Museum&#8217;s link to =
the
story. <a
href=3D"http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070829/wl_canada_nm/canada_wwii_col_=
1">http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070829/wl_canada_nm/canada_wwii_col_1</a>=

</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'>&nbsp;</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'>Here is the Senate talking about =
it: <a
href=3D"http://www.parl.gc.ca/39/1/parlbus/commbus/senate/com-e/defe-e/re=
p-e/rep16jun07-e.htm">http://www.parl.gc.ca/39/1/parlbus/commbus/senate/c=
om-e/defe-e/rep-e/rep16jun07-e.htm</a>
</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'>&nbsp;</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'>CBC : <a
href=3D"http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2007/06/13/museum-070613.ht=
ml">http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2007/06/13/museum-070613.html</=
a></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'>&nbsp;</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'>CTV: <a
href=3D"http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070612/war_=
museum_070612">http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/200706=
12/war_museum_070612</a></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'>&nbsp;</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'>National Post: <a
href=3D"http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=3D42bf2494-=
a7e2-4233-93fc-83a971cff9c3">http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/stor=
y.html?id=3D42bf2494-a7e2-4233-93fc-83a971cff9c3</a>
</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'>&nbsp;</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'>Royal Canadian Legion: <a
href=3D"http://www.legionmagazine.com/frontline/editorials/06-11.asp?id=3D=
print">http://www.legionmagazine.com/frontline/editorials/06-11.asp?id=3D=
print</a>
</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'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

Current CEO who replaced Mr. Guerts =
at the
Canadian =
War =
Museum is: =

<h2><a name=3Ddirectorate></a><b><font size=3D4 color=3D"#cc3300" =
face=3DArial><span
 =
style=3D'font-size:13.0pt;color:#CC3300'>Director</span></font></b><font
color=3D"#cc3300"><span style=3D'color:#CC3300'>ate</span></font></h2>

<p><strong><b><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Mark O'Neill</span></font></b></strong><br>
Acting Director<br>
(819) 776-8622<br>
<a =
href=3D"mailto:mark.oneill@warmuseum.ca">mark.oneill@warmuseum.ca</a></p>=

Although I love military history, I =
have
refrained from offering opinions on the validity of the bombing strategy =
and I simply
remind people that there are many shades of grey and many opinions to =
the issue
of museums and free speech, accountability and pressure to change =
exhibits that
someone does not like.

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>&nbsp;</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'>&nbsp;</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:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
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;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&=
nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&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'>&nbsp;</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> September 4, 2007 =
12:42 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'>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'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dblue
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:blue'>September 4,
2007</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dblue
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:blue'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dblue
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:blue'>Dear
Colleagues:</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dblue
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:blue'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dblue
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:blue'>I =
have had a
deluge of material about the war museum, but no contextual content as to =
the
reason why the discussion is going on.&nbsp; If we are to have a =
coherent
discussion of anything, the full context must be laid out in the =
argument for
or against or to whatever position is taken.&nbsp; I see that Colin =
MacGregor
has also not seen what prompted the comments, but put forward a kindly
directional essay.</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dblue
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:blue'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dblue
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:blue'>I =
suggest that
the moderator return comments to the authors of list serve material when =
the
context is not included in the body of their text.&nbsp; The other =
possibility
is to have a place where these types of discussions can take place where =
the
context of the discussion is accessible.&nbsp; Perhaps the BCMA should =
look at
structuring the material in the list serve into categories of interest =
&#8211;
jobs, announcements, discussions are prominent elements of what goes on =
the
list serve.&nbsp; </span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dblue
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:blue'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<div>

W. =
(Bill) G.
Quackenbush, Curator

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dblue
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:blue'>Barkerville
Historic Town,</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dblue
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:blue'>Box =
19,
Barkerville, B.C.&nbsp; V0K 1B0</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dblue
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:blue'>bill.quackenbush@barkerville.ca</sp=
an></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dblue
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:blue'>visit -
www.barkerville.ca for general information</span></font></p>

</div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dblue
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:blue'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<div>

<div class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'margin-left:.5in;text-align:center'><font
size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>

<hr size=3D2 width=3D"100%" align=3Dcenter>

</span></font></div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><b><font size=3D2 =
face=3DTahoma><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</spa=
n></font></b><font
size=3D2 face=3DTahoma><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca [mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca] =
<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> September 4, 2007 =
11:15 AM<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> Dan Gallacher<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: [Bcma-l] =
</span></font><font size=3D2 face=3DTahoma><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>War </span></font><font
  size=3D2 face=3DTahoma><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Museum</span></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'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<div>

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&nbsp;an aim of describing ways and means of avoiding such trouble =
without
seriously compromising historical accuracy. More later . . . =
.

</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'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

</div>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><strong><b><font =
size=3D4
face=3D"Brush Script MT"><span =
style=3D'font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Brush Script MT"'>Dan
G.</span></font></b></strong></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'>&nbsp;</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'>&nbsp;----- Original Message ----- =
</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 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'> Friday,
August 31, 2007 3:35 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'> RE:
[Bcma-l] </span></font><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
 font-family:Arial'>War </span></font><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span
  style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>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'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

</div>

Larry&#8217;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&#8217;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.

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

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. &nbsp;I do not have =
any
information on the exhibit in question, the disputed phrases, or the
appropriateness (or not) of the staff change.

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

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 &#8220;Freedom of the =
Press&#8221;
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.

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><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:.8in'><font size=3D2 =
color=3Dnavy
face=3DSymbol><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:navy'>&middot;</span><=
/font><font
size=3D1 color=3Dnavy><span =
style=3D'font-size:7.0pt;color:navy'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=

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 &#8220;Enola Gay that had =
dropped
the first atomic bomb on Japan)

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.8in'><font size=3D2 =
color=3Dnavy
face=3DSymbol><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:navy'>&middot;</span><=
/font><font
size=3D1 color=3Dnavy><span =
style=3D'font-size:7.0pt;color:navy'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=

</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 &#8230;)</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.8in'><font size=3D2 =
color=3Dnavy
face=3DSymbol><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:navy'>&middot;</span><=
/font><font
size=3D1 color=3Dnavy><span =
style=3D'font-size:7.0pt;color:navy'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=

&nbsp;Making a judgment from the comfort =
of
one&#8217;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&#8217;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 &#8230; 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.

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.8in'><font size=3D2 =
color=3Dnavy
face=3DSymbol><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:navy'>&middot;</span><=
/font><font
size=3D1 color=3Dnavy><span =
style=3D'font-size:7.0pt;color:navy'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=

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.

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

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. =

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

US Marine Corps =
General
&#8220;Chesty&#8221; 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 &#8211; =
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.)

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

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 &#8211; many of which have =
never
been published since.

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

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.&nbsp; 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.

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><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 style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><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 style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><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 style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><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 style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><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 style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><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 style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dnavy
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>Phone
Office:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 604-527-4639</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><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 style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dnavy
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>Fax:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&=
nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
604-527-4641</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><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 style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><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 style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:1.0in'><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] =
</span></font><font size=3D2 face=3DTahoma><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>War </span></font><font
  size=3D2 face=3DTahoma><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Museum</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:1.0in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<div>

Wholehearted support for =
Larry's
suggestion. We must continue to&nbsp;recount, retell and depict history =
as
accurately as possible, presenting&nbsp;it as closely to the&nbsp;way it
happened as possible, NOT the way someone or some group wanted it to be. =
An
incorrect legacy&nbsp;IS no legacy; a dangerous =
situation.

</div>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:1.0in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

</div>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:1.0in'><font size=3D2 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Apologies for my =
over-stating</span></font>&nbsp;<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:1.0in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

</div>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:1.0in'><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&nbsp; Revelstoke BC&nbsp;&nbsp; V0E 2S0<br>
Ph. 250 837 8078<br>
Email&nbsp; <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:1.0in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

</div>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:1.0in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;</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:1.0in'><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:1.0in;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:1.0in'><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:1.0in'><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:1.0in'><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] =
</span></font><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>War </span></font><font
  size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Museum</span></font></p>

</div>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:1.0in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

</div>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:1.0in'><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:1.0in'><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:1.0in'><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>

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.

</div>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:1.0in'><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&nbsp;accepted their ultimatum&nbsp;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:1.0in'><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&nbsp;alternative would have been to close the =
museum.</span></font></p>

</div>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:1.0in'><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:1.0in'><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>

Larry A. Ewashen, Curator &amp; General Manager 
The Doukhobor Discovery Centre 
112 Heritage Way, Castlegar V1N 4M5 
1-250-365-5327 
<a =
href=3D"http://www.Doukhobor-Museum.org">www.Doukhobor-Museum.org</a></sp=
an>

</div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:1.0in'><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>

</blockquote>

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