[Bcma-l] War Museum - Autonomy in research and interpretation for educational institutions?
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
Tue, 4 Sep 2007 17:05:01 -0700
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" But surely the truth remains the truth." ---- The more I study history
the more I realize that there are many, many faces of truth. I suggest
that it is far from simple. Yes, the facts will say that the Allies
dropped "X" tons of bombs, so many planes and crews were lost, so many
factories were hit, production was slowed "Y" amount, "Z" civilian
casualties etc. Note that they were not all "innocent" civilian
casualties for a civilian working in a factory producing armaments (as
my grandmother did in WWI) is a legitimate target in war etc. How did
the German soldiers occupying Holland, Denmark etc. feel watching the
endless streams of Allied bombers passing overhead to bomb their
homeland? Did it have any effect on their morale and will to fight? If
the truth were simple, we might only need one book on each event, not
the dozens we sometimes see.=20
=20
"As for the men who dreamt up the atrocity.........." --- Good question
... Do we go back to the bombing of London ("The Blitz") and the bombing
of Coventry by the Germans who switched from bombing military sites to
bombing civilian cities in 1940? Do we go to the Far East where the
Japanese bombed cities in China; to Stalingrad; to Spain in the Spanish
Civil War or back in time to World War I with German Zeppelins bombing
London by night? The Allied bomber offensive of WWII was not an isolated
incident and it was part of a "total war" effort as well as a page in
evolution of aerial bombing. Was it horrible? Yes of course it was -
for both sides. My father lost many good friends. I had a house-keeper
after the war who had survived the firebombing of Hamburg. Was it
wrong? Ah, that is harder to answer, especially out of context. =20
=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 3:50 PM
To: bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
Subject: Re: [Bcma-l] War Museum - Autonomy in research and
interpretation for educational institutions?
=20
But surely the truth remains the truth. If you choose to censor the
facts because of the fear of loss of funding, you are still masking the
truth: a deeply disturbing state of affairs for any institution which
lists education as part of its mandate. Surely the way forward would be
to work with your funding agency (I admit, this could lead to a
stale-mate) and educate them so that they realize that what you're
attempting is not a personal attack, but a reflection on an historical
incident which has a variety of sides to it, pro and con. With
consultation, incendiary or emotive language can be edited while the
truth (the death of hundreds of thousands of unarmed and non-military
citizens) remains intact. =20
=20
I feel very strongly about this topic. Both my father and my husband
fought in WWII (unusual for someone my age, I know) and both felt deeply
ashamed of the allied carpet bombing of parts of Germany. I agree with
the letter writer in the Times Colonist this a.m. who stated, point
blank, that the flight crews themselves were only obeying orders. As
for the men who dreamt up the atrocity..........
=20
=20
Patricia Kidd, M.A., Cultural Historian
1025 Moss Street
Victoria B.C. Canada
V8V 4P2
(250)382-2543
=20
On 4-Sep-07, at 11:43 AM, bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca wrote:
I believe that an educational institution is usually accountable to its
funders and is not really autonomous. Any granting agency or benefactor
has its things they want to fund. If you don't want to do those things,
then of course you don't have to ... but you also don't receive their
funding.
=20
A city museum is accountable through the administration to its City
Council which in turn is accountable to the citizens. Such a museum
might wish to address issues of racial prejudice for example in that
city, but the reality is that they might not be able to do so in the way
that staff might want to. Sometimes it is in the timing. The Vancouver
Museumnow has an exhibit about the Japanese in Vancouver but the issue
of the forced evacuation in 1942 could not have been addressed by them
at the time. Even a museum of an educational facility (e.g. MOA) might
face censorship if staff decided in the name of educational freedom to
address a very controversial and emotional topic. Sometimes it is
self-censorship - reading the situation and realizing that discretion is
the better part of valour sometimes. On the other hand, a Museum
Director could stick their neck out.
=20
Colin MacGregor Stevens,
Manager,
New Westminster Museum and Archives,
302 Royal Avenue,
New Westminster, BC,
V3L 1H7
=20
Phone Office: 604-527-4639
Work Cellular : 604-830-6965
Fax: 604-527-4641
E-mail: cstevens@newwestcity.ca <mailto:cstevens@newwestcity.ca>=20
Web Site: www.newwestminster.ca <http://www.newwestminster.ca>=20
=20
-----Original Message-----
From: bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca
[mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca]=20
Sent: September 1, 2007 2:23 AM
To: bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
Subject: Re: [Bcma-l] War Museum
=20
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
=09
=20
=09
=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.
=09
The idea of political and single interest groups lobbying in
such a case is reprehensible, and I believe we should make our views
known.
=09
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?
=09
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.
=09
To our shame, we accepted their ultimatum in, but it still does
not destroy the principle and concept of museum independence,.
=09
Our alternative would have been to close the museum.
=09
This is an important issue and I am surprised that I have not
heard any pronouncements about this by our museum organizations.
=09
Are we too busy planning conferences and workshops and patting
ourselves on the back to pay attention to such an important issue?
=09
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>
<http://www.Doukhobor-Museum.org>=20
=20
=20
=20
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<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D2 =
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nt></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'>”</span></f=
ont> But
surely the truth remains the truth.” ---- The more I study history =
the
more I realize that there are many, many faces of truth. I suggest that =
it is
far from simple. Yes, the facts will say that the Allies dropped =
“X”
tons of bombs, so many planes and crews were lost, so many factories =
were hit,
production was slowed “Y” amount, “Z” civilian
casualties etc. Note that they were not all “innocent” =
civilian
casualties for a civilian working in a factory producing armaments (as =
my
grandmother did in WWI) is a legitimate target in war etc. How did the =
German
soldiers occupying Holland, Denmark etc. feel watching the endless
streams of Allied bombers passing overhead to bomb their homeland? Did =
it have
any effect on their morale and will to fight? If the truth were simple, =
we might
only need one book on each event, not the dozens we sometimes see. </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>
<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'>“</span></f=
ont>As
for the men who dreamt up the atrocity..........” --- Good =
question …
Do we go back to the bombing of London (“The Blitz”) and the
bombing of Coventry by the Germans who switched from bombing military =
sites to
bombing civilian cities in 1940? Do we go to the Far East where the =
Japanese
bombed cities in China; to Stalingrad; to Spain in the Spanish Civil War =
or
back in time to World War I with German Zeppelins bombing London by =
night? The Allied
bomber offensive of WWII was not an isolated incident and it was part of =
a “total
war” effort as well as a page in evolution of aerial bombing. =
Was
it horrible? Yes of course it was – for both sides. My father lost =
many
good friends. I had a house-keeper after the war who had survived the
firebombing of Hamburg. Was it wrong? Ah, that is harder to =
answer, especially
out of context. </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'> </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> September 4, 2007 =
3:50 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 -
Autonomy in research and interpretation for educational =
institutions?</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>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>But surely the truth remains the truth. =
If you
choose to censor the facts because of the fear of loss of funding, you =
are
still masking the truth: a deeply disturbing state of affairs for =
any
institution which lists education as part of its mandate. Surely =
the way
forward would be to work with your funding agency (I admit, this could =
lead to
a stale-mate) and educate them so that they realize that what you're =
attempting
is not a personal attack, but a reflection on an historical incident =
which has
a variety of sides to it, pro and con. With consultation, =
incendiary or
emotive language can be edited while the truth (the death of hundreds of
thousands of unarmed and non-military citizens) remains =
intact. </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'> </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'>I feel very strongly about this topic. =
Both my father
and my husband fought in WWII (unusual for someone my age, I know) and =
both
felt deeply ashamed of the allied carpet bombing of parts of =
Germany. I
agree with the letter writer in the Times Colonist this a.m. who stated, =
point
blank, that the flight crews themselves were only obeying orders. =
As for
the men who dreamt up the atrocity..........</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><span style=3D'border-spacing: 0px =
0px;text-align:auto;-khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none;
-apple-text-size-adjust: auto;orphans: 2;widows: =
2;word-spacing:0px'><span
style=3D'border-spacing: 0px =
0px;text-align:auto;-khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none;
-apple-text-size-adjust: auto;orphans: 2;widows: 2;word-spacing:0px'>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D1 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'>Patricia Kidd,
M.A., Cultural Historian</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D1 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'>1025 Moss
Street</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D1 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'>Victoria B.C.
Canada</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D1 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'>V8V =
4P2</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D1 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'>(250)382-2543</span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D1 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'><br>
<br>
</span></font></p>
</div>
</span></span>
<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'>On 4-Sep-07, at 11:43 AM, <a
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.b=
c.ca</a>
wrote:</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'><br>
<br>
</span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><span =
class=3Dapple-style-span><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'><span style=3D'border-spacing: 0px =
0px;text-align:auto;-khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none;
-apple-text-size-adjust: auto;orphans: 2;widows: 2;word-spacing:0px'>I =
believe
that an educational institution is usually accountable to its funders =
and is
not really autonomous. Any granting agency or benefactor has its things =
they
want to fund. If you don’t want to do those things, then of course =
you
don’t have to … but you also don’t receive their =
funding.</span></font></span></p>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><span =
class=3Dapple-style-span><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> </span></font></span></p>
</div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><span =
class=3Dapple-style-span><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>A city museum is accountable through the administration to =
its City
Council which in turn is accountable to the citizens. Such a museum =
might wish
to address issues of racial prejudice for example in that city, but the =
reality
is that they might not be able to do so in the way that staff might want =
to.
Sometimes it is in the timing. The Vancouver Museumnow has an exhibit =
about the
Japanese in Vancouver but the issue of the forced evacuation in 1942 =
could not
have been addressed by them at the time. Even a museum of an educational
facility (e.g. MOA) might face censorship if staff decided in the name =
of
educational freedom to address a very controversial and emotional topic.
Sometimes it is self-censorship – reading the situation and =
realizing
that discretion is the better part of valour sometimes. On the other =
hand, a
Museum Director could stick their neck out.</span></font></span></p>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><span =
class=3Dapple-style-span><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> </span></font></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoAutoSig style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><span =
class=3Dapple-style-span><font
size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
color:navy'>Colin MacGregor Stevens,</span></font></span></p>
<p class=3DMsoAutoSig style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><span =
class=3Dapple-style-span><font
size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
color:navy'>Manager,</span></font></span></p>
<p class=3DMsoAutoSig style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><span =
class=3Dapple-style-span><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></span></p>
<p class=3DMsoAutoSig style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><span =
class=3Dapple-style-span><font
size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
color:navy'>302 Royal Avenue,</span></font></span></p>
<p class=3DMsoAutoSig style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><span =
class=3Dapple-style-span><font
size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
color:navy'>New Westminster, BC,</span></font></span></p>
<p class=3DMsoAutoSig style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><span =
class=3Dapple-style-span><font
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style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
color:navy'>Phone Office: =
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color:navy'>Work Cellular : 604-830-6965</span></font></span></p>
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sp;
604-527-4641</span></font></span></p>
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style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
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face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><a
href=3D"mailto:cstevens@newwestcity.ca"><span =
class=3Dapple-style-span><span
style=3D'-khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: =
underline'>cstevens@newwestcity.ca</span></span></a></span></font></p>
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class=3Dapple-style-span><font
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color:navy'>Web Site: </span></font></span><font color=3Dnavy><span
style=3D'color:navy'><a href=3D"http://www.newwestminster.ca"><span
class=3Dapple-style-span><span =
style=3D'-khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: =
underline'>www.newwestminster.ca</span></span></a></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><span =
class=3Dapple-style-span><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> </span></font></span></p>
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<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:1.0in'><span =
class=3Dapple-style-span><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DTahoma><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:black'>-----Original Message-----</span></font></span><font =
size=3D2
color=3Dblack face=3DTahoma><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:black'><br>
<span class=3Dapple-style-span><b><span =
style=3D'font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b>
bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca [<a =
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca">mailto:bcma-l-admin@museum=
sassn.bc.ca</a>]
</span><br>
<span class=3Dapple-style-span><b><span =
style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b>
September 1, 2007 2:23 AM</span><br>
<span class=3Dapple-style-span><b><span =
style=3D'font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> <a
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca</a></sp=
an><br>
<span class=3Dapple-style-span><b><span =
style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b>
Re: [Bcma-l] War Museum</span></span></font></p>
<div style=3D'margin-left:.5in'>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><span =
class=3Dapple-style-span><font
size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> </span></font></span></p>
</div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in'><span
class=3Dapple-style-span><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3DVerdana><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'>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.</span></font></span><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack
face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><br>
<br>
<span class=3Dapple-style-span>James Tirrul-Jones</span><br>
<span class=3Dapple-style-span>Railway and Forestry =
Museum</span></span></font></p>
<blockquote style=3D'margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:1.0in'><font size=3D1 =
color=3Dblack
face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><br>
<span class=3Dapple-style-span> </span><br>
<br>
<span class=3Dapple-style-span> </span><br>
</span></font><span class=3Dapple-style-span><font size=3D1 =
color=3Dgreen
face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;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></span><font
size=3D1 color=3Dgreen face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:green'><br>
</span></font><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><br>
</span></font><span class=3Dapple-style-span><font size=3D1 =
color=3Dgreen
face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;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></span><font
size=3D1 color=3Dgreen face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:green'><br>
</span></font><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><br>
</span></font><span class=3Dapple-style-span><font size=3D1 =
color=3Dgreen
face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;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></span><font size=3D1 color=3Dgreen =
face=3DVerdana><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:green'><br>
</span></font><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><br>
</span></font><span class=3Dapple-style-span><font size=3D1 =
color=3Dgreen
face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;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></span><font
size=3D1 color=3Dgreen face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:green'><br>
</span></font><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><br>
</span></font><span class=3Dapple-style-span><font size=3D1 =
color=3Dgreen
face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;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></span><font
size=3D1 color=3Dgreen face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:green'><br>
</span></font><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><br>
</span></font><span class=3Dapple-style-span><font size=3D1 =
color=3Dgreen
face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:green'>Our
alternative would have been to close the =
museum.</span></font></span><font
size=3D1 color=3Dgreen face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:green'><br>
</span></font><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><br>
</span></font><span class=3Dapple-style-span><font size=3D1 =
color=3Dgreen
face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;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></span><font
size=3D1 color=3Dgreen face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:green'><br>
</span></font><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><br>
</span></font><span class=3Dapple-style-span><font size=3D1 =
color=3Dgreen
face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;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></span><font
size=3D1 color=3Dgreen face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:green'><br>
</span></font><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><br>
</span></font><span class=3Dapple-style-span><font size=3D1 =
color=3Dgreen
face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:green'>Larry
A. Ewashen, Curator & General =
Manager</span></font></span><font
size=3D1 color=3Dgreen face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:green'><br>
<span class=3Dapple-style-span>The Doukhobor Discovery Centre</span><br>
<span class=3Dapple-style-span>112 Heritage Way, Castlegar V1N =
4M5</span><br>
<span class=3Dapple-style-span>1-250-365-5327</span><br>
<span class=3Dapple-style-span>www.Doukhobor-Museum.org </span><a
href=3D"http://www.Doukhobor-Museum.org"><span =
class=3Dapple-style-span><span
style=3D'-khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: =
underline'><http://www.Doukhobor-Museum.org></span></span></a></spa=
n></font></p>
</blockquote>
<div style=3D'margin-left:.5in'>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><span =
class=3Dapple-style-span><font
size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> </span></font></span></p>
</div>
<div style=3D'margin-left:.5in'>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><span =
class=3Dapple-style-span><font
size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> </span></font></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D1 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;color:black'><br>
<br>
</span></font></p>
</div>
</span>
<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>
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