[Bcma-l] War Museum - Bias, Accuracy and Context
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:51:25 -0700
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Napoleon said it best:
History is a lie agreed upon.
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: Thursday, September 13, 2007 9:52 AM
Subject: Re: [Bcma-l] War Museum - Bias, Accuracy and Context
With all due respect, Larry, to label conflicting opinions as "others
weeping because their viewpoints weren't put on" is a stereotype of
ivory-towered museum director snobbery that, in my opinion, has gone =
the
way of the dinosaur. How do you determine "factual history"? Doesn't =
it
all depend on your point of view? If you lost civilian relatives in
Dresden, you'd likely have a far different view of "facts" than =
someone in
England who was just about to be shipped out to the front lines when =
the
war ended. When Russia invaded Afghanistan, the mujahadeen were =
labelled
by the U.S. as "freedom fighters", but the equivalent group in Iraq =
are
"insurgents". Which represents "fact"? From who's standpoint are we
representing "factual history"?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mark Sakai
Manager, Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society
Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site of Canada
12138 Fourth Avenue, Richmond, BC V7E 3J1
t: 604-664-9192 f: 604-664-9008
www.pc.gc.ca/georgiacannery
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
=
=20
bcma-l-admin@museum =
=20
sassn.bc.ca To: =
<bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca> =20
cc: =
=20
11/09/2007 01:28 PM Subject: Re: =
[Bcma-l] War Museum - Bias, Accuracy and =20
Please respond to Context =
=20
bcma-l =
=20
=
=20
=
=20
Where does it end?How many viewpoint can there be?And still there'll =
be
others weeping because their views weren't put on.
What is the role of an history museum?
To present the factual history or an array of differing opinions?
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 -----
From: bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca
To: bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2007 5:37 PM
Subject: RE: [Bcma-l] War Museum - Bias, Accuracy and Context
Hello -
I am also following this discussion with interest. My question: why =
does
there have to be one, authoritative voice on a printed panel? Why =
not
display multiple voices, multiple views, comments, discussion...what =
a
lovely opportunity for the museum to promote a dialogue.
Kathleen Trayner
Alizarin Consulting
Victoria BC
-----Original Message-----
From: bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca
[mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca]
Sent: September 10, 2007 10:51 AM
To: bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
Subject: Re: [Bcma-l] War Museum - Bias, Accuracy and Context
Hello all,
I am finding this discussion to be very interesting.
The sheer volume of email!
I have also had the experience of being criticized for
panel text and other published items. There are many
positions attached to any subject.
Trying to be factual and unbiased is, I believe, the
goal of most museums.
The point of whose voice is in an exhibit is usually
brought up in courses on this topic (Curator's voice
or others?). Context is also considered extremely
important in exhibits.
When I read the text panel under discussion it
screamed at me that there is the voice of someone from
today with a distinct bias talking. While likely
"accurate" it leaves out an important statement of
"Context or the whole picture" - a media trick I have
noticed time and again. Although I am unable to see
the whole exhibit and feel the overall context, it is
clear that there is a problem of a missing contextual
statement or the veterans would not likely be so
upset.
Although I stepped back from the museum world I am
still very interested in what happens there.
Carry on!
Kim Allen
Heritage Details
Your Personal Shopper for Quality Period Hardware,
Lighting, Fixtures and Finishes for New Construction
and Restoration projects.
Mail: Box 3335, Mission, BC V2V 4J5
Ph: 604.826.7678
--- bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca wrote:
> I would like to clarify my position slightly - I did
> not mean to say that I agree with the position on
> the contentious interpretive panel - everything on
> said panel is true, but it is presented in a "biased
> and unbalanced" way. I have seen the panel myself
> and although it hardly gave me pause as I think back
> on it, I never reflected on how a Bomber Command
> veteran would see it. I did think it was a little
> incongruous. I think that it is good to show all
> sides of an issue and the human costs of war, but I
> would not call the bombing of German cities as part
> of total war "an Enduring Controversy." Although
> it seems creating something of an enduring
> controversial debate in the museum community!
>
>
> Andrew R. Minigan
> Curator
> North Pacific Historic Fishing Village
> PO Box 1109
> 1889 Skeena Drive
> Port Edward BC V0V 1G0
> Website: www.cannery.ca
>
> Email: northpac@citytel.net
> Site Phone: 250-628-3538
> Fax: 250-628-3540
>
> WE ARE OPEN - Monday thru Saturday 10am-7:30pm
> (Sundays 10am to 5pm)
>
>
> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in
> this e-mail and any attachments may contain
> confidential information and/or may be
> attorney-client privileged and exempt from
> disclosure under applicable law, and is intended
> only for the use of the addressee. Any unauthorized
> use, disclosure, distribution, dissemination, or
> copying is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful.
> If you are not the intended recipient, you are
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> will not be received please fax the information to
> the above number. We are on dial-up and unable to
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>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca
> To: bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
> Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2007 12:26 PM
> Subject: Re: [Bcma-l] War Museum - Autonomy in
> research and interpretation for educational
> institutions?
>
>
> I think museums should show the whole truth even
> if it is unpalatable to some. Would you go to the
> Killing Fields in Cambodia and tell them to "tone
> down" their interpretive displays?
>
> Yes, we carpet bombed German cities, in
> retaliation for the targeting of civilians by German
> forces. Hundreds of thousands were killed. An
> example of "total war," a doctrine which states that
> civilians are part of the social and industrial war
> machine and thus must be considered as enemy
> combatants. Therefore, according to the strategic
> doctrines of the day, destroying German cities was
> perfectly legitimate as an act of war. Besides,
> Nazi Germany was busy exterminating the Jews of
> Europe. I think war museums should not try to
> impose any kind of moral judgement in their
> interpretation - the horrors of war speak for
> themselves and let the visitor make his or her own
> moral judgements or conclusions based on the
> information presented.
>
> The USA not only firebombed Japanese cities like
> Tokyo, they also dropped 2 nuclear weapons on
> civilian targets during the war. I wonder if they
> have these types of soul-searching dialogues in
> their museum community?
> North Pacific Historic Fishing Village
> PO Box 1109
> 1889 Skeena Drive
> Port Edward BC V0V 1G0
> Website: www.cannery.ca
>
> Email: northpac@citytel.net
> Site Phone: 250-628-3538
> Fax: 250-628-3540
>
> WE ARE OPEN - Monday thru Saturday 10am-7:30pm
> (Sundays 10am to 5pm)
>
>
> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained
> in this e-mail and any attachments may contain
> confidential information and/or may be
> attorney-client privileged and exempt from
> disclosure under applicable law, and is intended
> only for the use of the addressee. Any unauthorized
> use, disclosure, distribution, dissemination, or
> copying is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful.
> If you are not the intended recipient, you are
> prohibited from any further viewing of the e-mail or
> any attachments or from making any use of the e-mail
> or attachments.
>
>
>
> E-MAIL SIZE LIMITATIONS: E-mails larger than 2 MB
> will not be received please fax the information to
> the above number. We are on dial-up and unable to
> get High Speed Internet here.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca
> To: bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
> 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.
>
>
> 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't want to
> do those things, then of course you don't have to ...
> but you also don't 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 - reading the
> situation and realizing that discretion is the
> better part of valour sometimes. On the other hand,
> a
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9/13/2007 11:45 AM
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<DIV><FONT face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi Cond" color=3D#808000>Napoleon =
said it=20
best:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi Cond" color=3D#808000>History is =
a lie=20
agreed upon.</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> Thursday, September 13, =
2007 9:52=20
AM</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Bcma-l] War =
Museum - Bias,=20
Accuracy and Context</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>With all due respect, Larry, to label conflicting =
opinions as=20
"others<BR>weeping because their viewpoints weren't put on" is a =
stereotype=20
of<BR>ivory-towered museum director snobbery that, in my opinion, has =
gone=20
the<BR>way of the dinosaur. How do you determine "factual=20
history"? Doesn't it<BR>all depend on your point of view? =
If you=20
lost civilian relatives in<BR>Dresden, you'd likely have a far =
different view=20
of "facts" than someone in<BR>England who was just about to be shipped =
out to=20
the front lines when the<BR>war ended. When Russia invaded =
Afghanistan,=20
the mujahadeen were labelled<BR>by the U.S. as "freedom fighters", but =
the=20
equivalent group in Iraq are<BR>"insurgents". Which represents=20
"fact"? From who's standpoint are we<BR>representing "factual=20
=
history"?<BR><BR>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<BR=
>Mark=20
Sakai<BR>Manager, Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society<BR>Gulf of Georgia =
Cannery=20
National Historic Site of Canada<BR>12138 Fourth Avenue, Richmond, =
BC =20
V7E 3J1<BR>t: 604-664-9192 f: 604-664-9008<BR><A=20
=
href=3D"http://www.pc.gc.ca/georgiacannery">www.pc.gc.ca/georgiacannery</=
A><BR><BR>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<BR><B=
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To: <<A=20
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11/09/2007 01:28 PM =
Subject: =20
Re: [Bcma-l] War Museum - Bias, Accuracy =
and =20
=
<BR> &nb=
sp; =20
Please respond =
to =20
=
Context =
&=
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bcma-l &=
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<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>Where does it end?How many viewpoint can there =
be?And=20
still there'll be<BR>others weeping because their views weren't put=20
on.<BR>What is the role of an history museum?<BR>To present the =
factual=20
history or an array of differing opinions?<BR>Larry A. Ewashen, =
Curator &=20
General Manager<BR>The Doukhobor Discovery Centre<BR>112 Heritage Way, =
Castlegar V1N 4M5<BR>1-250-365-5327<BR><A=20
=
href=3D"http://www.Doukhobor-Museum.org">www.Doukhobor-Museum.org</A><BR>=
-----=20
Original Message -----<BR> From: <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.b=
c.ca</A><BR> To:=20
<A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca</A><BR>=
Sent:=20
Monday, September 10, 2007 5:37 PM<BR> Subject: RE: [Bcma-l] War =
Museum -=20
Bias, Accuracy and Context<BR><BR> Hello -<BR><BR><BR> I am =
also=20
following this discussion with interest. My question: why=20
does<BR> there have to be one, authoritative voice on a printed=20
panel? Why not<BR> display multiple voices, multiple views, =
comments, discussion...what a<BR> lovely opportunity for the =
museum to=20
promote a dialogue.<BR><BR> Kathleen Trayner<BR> Alizarin=20
Consulting<BR> Victoria BC<BR><BR> -----Original=20
Message-----<BR> From: <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.b=
c.ca</A><BR> [mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca]<BR> Sent: =
September 10, 2007 10:51 AM<BR> To: <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca</A><BR>=
Subject:=20
Re: [Bcma-l] War Museum - Bias, Accuracy and =
Context<BR><BR> Hello=20
all,<BR><BR> I am finding this discussion to be very=20
interesting.<BR> The sheer volume of email!<BR><BR> I have =
also had=20
the experience of being criticized for<BR> panel text and other =
published=20
items. There are many<BR> positions attached to any=20
subject.<BR><BR> Trying to be factual and unbiased is, I believe, =
the<BR> goal of most museums.<BR> The point of whose voice =
is in an=20
exhibit is usually<BR> brought up in courses on this topic =
(Curator's=20
voice<BR> or others?). Context is also considered=20
extremely<BR> important in exhibits.<BR><BR> When I read the =
text=20
panel under discussion it<BR> screamed at me that there is the =
voice of=20
someone from<BR> today with a distinct bias talking. While=20
likely<BR> "accurate" it leaves out an important statement=20
of<BR> "Context or the whole picture" - a media trick I=20
have<BR> noticed time and again. Although I am unable to =
see<BR> the=20
whole exhibit and feel the overall context, it is<BR> clear that =
there is=20
a problem of a missing contextual<BR> statement or the veterans =
would not=20
likely be so<BR> upset.<BR><BR> Although I stepped back from =
the=20
museum world I am<BR> still very interested in what happens=20
there.<BR> Carry on!<BR><BR> Kim Allen<BR> Heritage=20
Details<BR> Your Personal Shopper for Quality Period=20
Hardware,<BR> Lighting, Fixtures and Finishes for New=20
Construction<BR> and Restoration projects.<BR> Mail: Box =
3335,=20
Mission, BC V2V 4J5<BR> Ph: =
604.826.7678<BR><BR><BR> --- <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.b=
c.ca</A>=20
wrote:<BR><BR> > I would like to clarify my position slightly =
- I=20
did<BR> > not mean to say that I agree with the position=20
on<BR> > the contentious interpretive panel - everything=20
on<BR> > said panel is true, but it is presented in a=20
"biased<BR> > and unbalanced" way. I have seen the panel =
myself<BR> > and although it hardly gave me pause as I think=20
back<BR> > on it, I never reflected on how a Bomber=20
Command<BR> > veteran would see it. I did think it was a =
little<BR> > incongruous. I think that it is good to =
show=20
all<BR> > sides of an issue and the human costs of war, but=20
I<BR> > would not call the bombing of German cities as=20
part<BR> > of total war "an Enduring Controversy." =
Although<BR> > it seems creating something of an=20
enduring<BR> > controversial debate in the museum=20
community!<BR> ><BR> ><BR> > Andrew R.=20
Minigan<BR> > Curator<BR> > North Pacific Historic =
Fishing=20
Village<BR> > PO Box 1109<BR> > 1889 Skeena=20
Drive<BR> > Port Edward BC V0V 1G0<BR> > =
Website: =20
<A =
href=3D"http://www.cannery.ca">www.cannery.ca</A><BR> ><BR> =
>=20
Email: <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:northpac@citytel.net">northpac@citytel.net</A><BR> &g=
t; Site=20
Phone: 250-628-3538<BR> > Fax:=20
250-628-3540<BR> ><BR> > WE ARE OPEN - Monday thru =
Saturday=20
10am-7:30pm<BR> > (Sundays 10am to=20
5pm)<BR> ><BR> ><BR> > CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: =
The=20
information contained in<BR> > this e-mail and any attachments =
may=20
contain<BR> > confidential information and/or may =
be<BR> >=20
attorney-client privileged and exempt from<BR> > disclosure =
under=20
applicable law, and is intended<BR> > only for the use of the=20
addressee. Any unauthorized<BR> > use, disclosure, =
distribution,=20
dissemination, or<BR> > copying is strictly prohibited and may =
be=20
unlawful.<BR> > If you are not the intended recipient, you=20
are<BR> > prohibited from any further viewing of the e-mail=20
or<BR> > any attachments or from making any use of the=20
e-mail<BR> > or=20
attachments.<BR> ><BR> ><BR> ><BR> > =
E-MAIL=20
SIZE LIMITATIONS: E-mails larger than 2 MB<BR> > will not be =
received=20
please fax the information to<BR> > the above number. We are =
on=20
dial-up and unable to<BR> > get High Speed Internet=20
here.<BR> ><BR> ><BR> > ----- =
Original=20
Message -----<BR> > From: <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.b=
c.ca</A><BR> > =20
To: <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca</A><BR>=
> =20
Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2007 12:26 PM<BR> > =
Subject: Re: [Bcma-l] War Museum - Autonomy in<BR> > research =
and=20
interpretation for educational<BR> >=20
=
institutions?<BR> ><BR> ><BR> > =
I=20
think museums should show the whole truth even<BR> > if it is=20
unpalatable to some. Would you go to the<BR> > Killing =
Fields in=20
Cambodia and tell them to "tone<BR> > down" their interpretive =
displays?<BR> ><BR> > Yes, we carpet =
bombed German=20
cities, in<BR> > retaliation for the targeting of civilians by =
German<BR> > forces. Hundreds of thousands were =
killed. =20
An<BR> > example of "total war," a doctrine which states=20
that<BR> > civilians are part of the social and industrial=20
war<BR> > machine and thus must be considered as =
enemy<BR> >=20
combatants. Therefore, according to the strategic<BR> >=20
doctrines of the day, destroying German cities was<BR> > =
perfectly=20
legitimate as an act of war. Besides,<BR> > Nazi Germany =
was=20
busy exterminating the Jews of<BR> > Europe. I think war =
museums=20
should not try to<BR> > impose any kind of moral judgement in=20
their<BR> > interpretation - the horrors of war speak=20
for<BR> > themselves and let the visitor make his or her=20
own<BR> > moral judgements or conclusions based on =
the<BR> >=20
information presented.<BR> ><BR> > The USA =
not=20
only firebombed Japanese cities like<BR> > Tokyo, they also =
dropped 2=20
nuclear weapons on<BR> > civilian targets during the =
war. I=20
wonder if they<BR> > have these types of soul-searching =
dialogues=20
in<BR> > their museum community?<BR> > =
North=20
Pacific Historic Fishing Village<BR> > PO Box=20
1109<BR> > 1889 Skeena =
Drive<BR> > =20
Port Edward BC V0V 1G0<BR> > Website: =
<A=20
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href=3D"http://www.cannery.ca">www.cannery.ca</A><BR> ><BR> =
> =20
Email: <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:northpac@citytel.net">northpac@citytel.net</A><BR> &g=
t; =20
Site Phone: 250-628-3538<BR> > Fax:=20
250-628-3540<BR> ><BR> > WE ARE OPEN - =
Monday thru=20
Saturday 10am-7:30pm<BR> > (Sundays 10am to=20
5pm)<BR> ><BR> ><BR> > =
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-----=20
Original Message -----<BR> > From: <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.b=
c.ca</A><BR> > =20
To: <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca</A><BR>=
> =20
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 3:50=20
PM<BR> > Subject: Re: [Bcma-l] War =
Museum -=20
Autonomy in<BR> > research and interpretation for=20
educational<BR> >=20
=
institutions?<BR> ><BR> ><BR> > =
=20
But surely the truth remains the truth. If you<BR> > =
choose to=20
censor the facts because of the fear of<BR> > loss of funding, =
you are=20
still masking the truth: a<BR> > deeply disturbing state =
of=20
affairs for any<BR> > institution which lists education as =
part of=20
its<BR> > mandate. Surely the way forward would be to=20
work<BR> > with your funding agency (I admit, this could=20
lead<BR> > to a stale-mate) and educate them so that=20
they<BR> > realize that what you're attempting is not =
a<BR> >=20
personal attack, but a reflection on an historical<BR> > =
incident=20
which has a variety of sides to it, pro and<BR> > con. =
With=20
consultation, incendiary or emotive<BR> > language can be =
edited while=20
the truth (the death of<BR> > hundreds of thousands of unarmed =
and=20
non-military<BR> > citizens) remains=20
=
intact.<BR> ><BR> ><BR> > =
I=20
feel very strongly about this topic. Both my<BR> > =
father and my=20
husband fought in WWII (unusual for<BR> > someone my age, I =
know) and=20
both felt deeply ashamed<BR> > of the allied carpet bombing of =
parts=20
of Germany. I<BR> > agree with the letter writer in the =
Times=20
Colonist<BR> > this a.m. who stated, point blank, that the=20
flight<BR> > crews themselves were only obeying orders. =
As=20
for<BR> > the men who dreamt up the=20
=
atrocity..........<BR> ><BR> ><BR> ><BR> >=
;<BR> > =20
Patricia Kidd, M.A., Cultural =
Historian<BR> > =20
1025 Moss Street<BR> > Victoria B.C.=20
Canada<BR> > V8V=20
4P2<BR> > =20
=
(250)382-2543<BR> ><BR> ><BR> ><BR> ><BR>=
> =20
On 4-Sep-07, at 11:43 AM,<BR> > <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.b=
c.ca</A>=20
=
wrote:<BR> ><BR> ><BR> > &=
nbsp; =20
I believe that an educational institution is<BR> > usually =
accountable=20
to its funders and is not really<BR> > autonomous. Any =
granting agency=20
or benefactor has<BR> > its things they want to fund. If you =
don't=20
want to<BR> > do those things, then of course you don't have =
to=20
...<BR> > but you also don't receive their=20
=
funding.<BR> ><BR> ><BR> ><BR> > &nb=
sp; =20
A city museum is accountable through the<BR> > administration =
to its=20
City Council which in turn is<BR> > accountable to the =
citizens. Such=20
a museum might<BR> > wish to address issues of racial =
prejudice=20
for<BR> > example in that city, but the reality is that=20
they<BR> > might not be able to do so in the way that=20
staff<BR> > might want to. Sometimes it is in the timing.=20
The<BR> > Vancouver Museumnow has an exhibit about =
the<BR> >=20
Japanese in Vancouver but the issue of the forced<BR> > =
evacuation in=20
1942 could not have been addressed by<BR> > them at the time. =
Even a=20
museum of an educational<BR> > facility (e.g. MOA) might face=20
censorship if staff<BR> > decided in the name of educational =
freedom=20
to<BR> > address a very controversial and emotional=20
topic.<BR> > Sometimes it is self-censorship - reading=20
the<BR> > situation and realizing that discretion is =
the<BR> >=20
better part of valour sometimes. On the other hand,<BR> >=20
a<BR> =3D=3D=3D message truncated=20
=3D=3D=3D<BR><BR><BR><BR> Ask a =
question on any=20
topic and get answers from real people. Go to<BR> Yahoo! Answers =
and=20
share what you know at <A=20
=
href=3D"http://ca.answers.yahoo.com">http://ca.answers.yahoo.com</A><BR>&=
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