[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 20:03:03 -0700
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
------=_NextPart_000_014D_01C7EF2E.99DB7920
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="Windows-1252"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
In the Nuremberg trials one of the defences were only following orders.
We do not debate the morality here.
We debate the right and privilege of presenting what happened.
Larry A. Ewashen, Curator & General Manager
The Doukhobor Discovery Centre
112 Heritage Way, Castlegar V1N 4M5
1-250-365-5327
www.Doukhobor-Museum.org
----- Original Message -----=20
From: bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca=20
To: bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca=20
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 3:50 PM
Subject: Re: [Bcma-l] War Museum - Autonomy in research and =
interpretation for educational institutions?
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
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..........
Patricia Kidd, M.A., Cultural Historian
1025 Moss Street
Victoria B.C. Canada
V8V 4P2
(250)382-2543
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=92t want to do =
those things, then of course you don=92t have to =85 but you also =
don=92t receive their funding.
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 =96 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.
Colin MacGregor Stevens,
Manager,
New Westminster Museum and Archives,
302 Royal Avenue,
New Westminster, BC,
V3L 1H7
Phone Office: 604-527-4639
Work Cellular : 604-830-6965
Fax: 604-527-4641
E-mail: cstevens@newwestcity.ca
Web Site: www.newwestminster.ca
-----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
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
=20
=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 <http://www.Doukhobor-Museum.org>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.=20
Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.13.2/983 - Release Date: =
9/1/2007 4:20 PM
------=_NextPart_000_014D_01C7EF2E.99DB7920
Content-Type: text/html;
charset="Windows-1252"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; =
charset=3Dwindows-1252">
<META content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.6000.16525" name=3DGENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY=20
style=3D"WORD-WRAP: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; =
-khtml-line-break: after-white-space"=20
bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi Cond" color=3D#808000>In the =
Nuremberg=20
trials one of the defences were only following orders.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi Cond" color=3D#808000>We do not =
debate the=20
morality here.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi Cond" color=3D#808000>We debate =
the right=20
and privilege of presenting what happened.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>Larry A. Ewashen, Curator & General Manager<BR>The Doukhobor =
Discovery=20
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><BR>=
</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #808000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<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> Tuesday, September 04, =
2007 3:50=20
PM</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Bcma-l] War =
Museum -=20
Autonomy in research and interpretation for educational =
institutions?</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>But surely the truth remains the truth. If you =
choose to=20
censor the facts because of the fear of loss of funding, you are still =
masking=20
the truth: a deeply disturbing state of affairs for any =
institution=20
which lists education as part of its mandate. Surely the way =
forward=20
would be to work with your funding agency (I admit, this could lead to =
a=20
stale-mate) and educate them so that they realize that what you're =
attempting=20
is not a personal attack, but a reflection on an historical incident =
which has=20
a variety of sides to it, pro and con. With consultation, =
incendiary or=20
emotive language can be edited while the truth (the death of hundreds =
of=20
thousands of unarmed and non-military citizens) remains =
intact.
<DIV><BR class=3Dkhtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV>I feel very strongly about this topic. Both my father and =
my=20
husband fought in WWII (unusual for someone my age, I know) and both =
felt=20
deeply ashamed of the allied carpet bombing of parts of Germany. =
I agree=20
with the letter writer in the Times Colonist this a.m. who stated, =
point=20
blank, that the flight crews themselves were only obeying =
orders. As for=20
the men who dreamt up the atrocity..........</DIV>
<DIV><BR class=3Dkhtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV><BR>
<DIV><SPAN class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"WORD-SPACING: 0px; FONT: 12px Times New Roman; =
TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; WHITE-SPACE: =
normal; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; =
border-spacing: 0px 0px; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; =
-apple-text-size-adjust: auto; orphans: 2; widows: 2"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"WORD-SPACING: 0px; FONT: 12px Times New Roman; =
TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; WHITE-SPACE: =
normal; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; =
border-spacing: 0px 0px; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; =
-apple-text-size-adjust: auto; orphans: 2; widows: 2">
<DIV>Patricia Kidd, M.A., Cultural Historian</DIV>
<DIV>1025 Moss Street</DIV>
<DIV>Victoria B.C. Canada</DIV>
<DIV>V8V 4P2</DIV>
<DIV>(250)382-2543</DIV><BR=20
class=3DApple-interchange-newline></SPAN></SPAN></DIV><BR>
<DIV>
<DIV>On 4-Sep-07, at 11:43 AM, <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.b=
c.ca</A>=20
wrote:</DIV><BR class=3DApple-interchange-newline>
<BLOCKQUOTE type=3D"cite"><SPAN class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"WORD-SPACING: 0px; FONT: 12px Times New Roman; =
TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; WHITE-SPACE: =
normal; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; =
border-spacing: 0px 0px; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; =
-apple-text-size-adjust: auto; orphans: 2; widows: 2">
<DIV class=3DSection1>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I =
believe=20
that an educational institution is usually accountable to its =
funders and is=20
not really autonomous. Any granting agency or benefactor has its =
things they=20
want to fund. If you don=92t want to do those things, then of course =
you don=92t=20
have to =85 but you also don=92t receive their =
funding.</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></SPAN></FONT><BR=20
class=3Dkhtml-block-placeholder> </DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A =
city=20
museum is accountable through the administration to its City Council =
which=20
in turn is accountable to the citizens. Such a museum might wish to =
address=20
issues of racial prejudice for example in that city, but the reality =
is that=20
they might not be able to do so in the way that staff might want to. =
Sometimes it is in the timing. The </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT =
face=3DArial=20
color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Vancouver</SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial">=20
</SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Museum</SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">now has an=20
exhibit about the Japanese in </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT =
face=3DArial=20
color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Vancouver</SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> =
but the=20
issue of the forced evacuation in 1942 could not have been addressed =
by them=20
at the time. Even a museum of an educational facility (e.g. MOA) =
might face=20
censorship if staff decided in the name of educational freedom to =
address a=20
very controversial and emotional topic. Sometimes it is =
self-censorship =96=20
reading the situation and realizing that discretion is the better =
part of=20
valour sometimes. On the other hand, a Museum =
</SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Director</SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> =
could=20
stick their neck out.</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></SPAN></FONT><BR=20
class=3Dkhtml-block-placeholder> </DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128)"><SPAN =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128)">Colin MacGregor=20
Stevens,</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128)"><SPAN =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: =
rgb(0,0,128)">Manager,</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128)"><SPAN =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128)">New Westminster =
Museum and=20
Archives,</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128)"><SPAN =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128)">302 Royal=20
Avenue,</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128)"><SPAN =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128)">New Westminster,=20
BC,</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128)"><SPAN =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128)">V3L=20
1H7</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128)"><SPAN =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: =
rgb(0,0,128)"></SPAN></SPAN></FONT><BR=20
class=3Dkhtml-block-placeholder> </DIV>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128)"><SPAN =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128)">Phone =
Office: =20
604-527-4639</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128)"><SPAN =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128)">Work Cellular :=20
604-830-6965</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128)"><SPAN =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: =
rgb(0,0,128)">Fax: &=
nbsp; =20
604-527-4641</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN =
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">E-mail:=20
</SPAN><A href=3D"mailto:cstevens@newwestcity.ca"><SPAN =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,255); FONT-FAMILY: Arial; =
-khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: =
underline">cstevens@newwestcity.ca</SPAN></A><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128)"><SPAN =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128)">Web Site: </SPAN><A=20
href=3D"http://www.newwestminster.ca"><SPAN class=3DApple-style-span =
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,255); =
-khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: =
underline">www.newwestminster.ca</SPAN></A></SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: =
rgb(0,0,128)"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: =
rgb(0,0,128)"></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></SPAN></FONT><BR=20
class=3Dkhtml-block-placeholder> </DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; MARGIN-LEFT: =
0.5in"><FONT=20
face=3DTahoma size=3D2><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">-----Original=20
Message-----</SPAN><BR style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma"><B=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma">From:</SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma">=20
bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca [<A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca">mailto:bcma-l-admin@museum=
sassn.bc.ca</A>]=20
</SPAN><BR style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><B=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma">Sent:</SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma">=20
September 1, 2007 2:23 AM</SPAN><BR=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><B=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma">To:</SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma"> <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca</A></SP=
AN><BR=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><B=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma">Subject:</SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma"> Re:=20
[Bcma-l] War Museum</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<DIV style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: =
16px"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: =
16px"></SPAN></SPAN></FONT><BR=20
class=3Dkhtml-block-placeholder> </DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; =
MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in"><FONT=20
face=3DVerdana size=3D1><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: =
Verdana"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">This is an =
important=20
issue and all of us as museum professionals should be concerned.=20
Irregardless of the source of funding we need to be =
autonomous=20
in the research and interpretation that we offer as an educational, =
not a=20
political, institution.</SPAN><BR style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><BR =
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><SPAN class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">James Tirrul-Jones</SPAN><BR=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><SPAN class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Railway and Forestry Museum</SPAN><BR =
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><BR=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"></SPAN></FONT></P>
<BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt">
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; MARGIN-LEFT: =
0.5in"><FONT=20
face=3DVerdana size=3D1><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; =
FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><BR=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><SPAN class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> </SPAN><BR=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><BR style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: =
Verdana"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: =
Verdana"> </SPAN><BR=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT color=3Dgreen><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); =
FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">I=20
believe that BC Museums and CMA should lend what little =
weight they=20
have in support of the War Museums independent ability to =
present=20
history.</SPAN><BR=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: =
Verdana"></SPAN></FONT><BR=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT color=3Dgreen><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">The idea of =
political=20
and single interest groups lobbying in such a case is =
reprehensible,=20
and I believe we should make our views known.</SPAN><BR=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: =
Verdana"></SPAN></FONT><BR=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT color=3Dgreen><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">In a land =
where people=20
died over the issue of free speech, where is it, and where =
is the=20
free [and independent prerogative] in doing our job=20
objectively?</SPAN><BR=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: =
Verdana"></SPAN></FONT><BR=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT color=3Dgreen><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Our museum was =
subjected=20
to such pressure and caved in due to an in-camera meeting by =
our=20
city council, which went on to dictate as to what we could =
or could=20
not exhibit. No members of the public or delegations were =
allowed to=20
debate such an important issue.</SPAN><BR=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: =
Verdana"></SPAN></FONT><BR=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT color=3Dgreen><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">To our shame, =
we=20
accepted their ultimatum in, but it still does not destroy the=20
principle and concept of museum independence,.</SPAN><BR=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: =
Verdana"></SPAN></FONT><BR=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT color=3Dgreen><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Our =
alternative=20
would have been to close the museum.</SPAN><BR=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: =
Verdana"></SPAN></FONT><BR=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT color=3Dgreen><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">This is an =
important=20
issue and I am surprised that I have not heard any =
pronouncements=20
about this by our museum organizations.</SPAN><BR=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: =
Verdana"></SPAN></FONT><BR=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT color=3Dgreen><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Are we too =
busy planning=20
conferences and workshops and patting ourselves on the back =
to pay=20
attention to such an important issue?</SPAN><BR=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: =
Verdana"></SPAN></FONT><BR=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT color=3Dgreen><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Larry A. =
Ewashen,=20
Curator & General Manager</SPAN><BR=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">The Doukhobor =
Discovery=20
Centre</SPAN><BR style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: =
Verdana"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">112 Heritage =
Way,=20
Castlegar V1N 4M5</SPAN><BR=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: =
Verdana">1-250-365-5327</SPAN><BR=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: =
Verdana">www.Doukhobor-Museum.org=20
</SPAN><A href=3D"http://www.Doukhobor-Museum.org"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,0,255); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; =
-khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: =
underline"><http://www.Doukhobor-Museum.org></SPAN></A><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,128,0); FONT-FAMILY: =
Verdana"></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: =
16px"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: =
16px"></SPAN></SPAN></FONT><BR=20
class=3Dkhtml-block-placeholder> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16px; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: =
16px"><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: =
16px"></SPAN></SPAN></FONT><BR=20
class=3Dkhtml-block-placeholder> </DIV></DIV><BR=20
=
class=3DApple-interchange-newline></SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR></DIV>
<P>
<HR>
<P></P>No virus found in this incoming message.<BR>Checked by AVG Free =
Edition. <BR>Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.13.2/983 - Release =
Date:=20
9/1/2007 4:20 PM<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
------=_NextPart_000_014D_01C7EF2E.99DB7920--