[Bcma-l] (Fwd) CMA Clip Serv: Museum of Ideas, Not Atorcity &
Insult
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
Mon, 25 May 2009 15:17:51 -0700
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Many good points.
A couple of years ago I spent time with the Dean of Law Studies at the U of
Vic, who was writing a book on the mistreatment of minorities by the
dominion government.
Among others, the Doukhobors figured prominently in this.
Should all of these groups be in the afore mentioned *museum?*
Here at the Doukhobor Discovery Centre we are pleased to present the
Doukhobor experience [and mistreatment] of the Doukhobors in Canada.
We are fortunate we can do this.
If we didn't, I doubt that we too, would have a corner in this museum.
An Irish connection: Markers to the Irish and the Doukhobors stand in close
proximity to each other on the quarantine island of Grosse Isle.
2009/5/25 <bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca>
> *EDITORIAL*
> *Museum of ideas, not of atrocity and insult*
> David O'Brien, Winnipeg Free Press, Sunday, May 24, 2009
>
> In the early days of planning for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights,
> when the concept was still being developed by the Asper family, I told on=
e
> of their executives that I was sure the Irish story would figure prominen=
tly
> in the new facility and would, no doubt, have its own permanent exhibit. =
I
> was joking, of course, but the executive wasn=92t laughing. He wasn=92t e=
ven
> smiling. The grim poker face that greeted my lame attempt at humour said =
it
> all, namely that deciding which stories to tell, who would tell them and
> how, was going to be a painful exercise. The fear was that every group in
> Canada and beyond would demand its own pride of place in the museum, or a=
t
> least a corner office.
>
> Clearly, if that was the expectation, there was going to be a lot of
> disappointment, particularly if groups like the Irish demanded some room =
in
> the castle.
>
> Then again, why not the Irish story? It=92s a tale of woe loaded with hat=
red,
> famine, cultural genocide and religious persecution, and, finally, peace,
> sort of. The words holocaust and ethnic cleansing have even been used in
> connection with Irish suffering over the centuries. In other words, the
> Emerald Isle has all the themes that any respectable museum dedicated to
> human rights would need to educate visitors about respect for the dignity=
of
> man. All rolled into one convenient package.
>
> The Irish, it is said, saved civilization when Christian monks and scribe=
s
> laboured to protect classic literature from the barbarians who ravaged
> Europe when the Roman Empire collapsed. It was the Irish, or so the story
> goes, who introduced this literature back into continental Europe. Could
> this new museum, then, be an opportunity for the land of saints and poets=
to
> save us once again, from ourselves?
>
> Of course, I=92m joking, but then again, maybe not. Maybe there=92s an O=
=92Grady
> or an O=92Malley out there who believes the Irish tragedy is too big to
> ignore. And who=92s to say he or she would be wrong?
>
> Someone has to make those decisions, but it doesn=92t have to be a painfu=
l
> exercise. What needs to be understood, however, is that the museum really
> isn=92t a museum in the conventional sense. It=92s actually an education =
centre,
> a school, if you like. The only reason it was called a museum, besides th=
e
> fact that museum sounds better than
> educational centre, is so that it would fall within federal guidelines fo=
r
> receiving museum funding and support.
>
> The federal government doesn=92t operate schools, but it does manage nati=
onal
> museums. It=92s not that museums aren=92t educational, but they are built=
around
> fixed objects and collections, whereas the human rights museum is being
> built around ideas with the express goal of compelling visitors to examin=
e
> their prejudices and, according to the government=92s corporate plan, "to
> encourage reflection and dialogue."
>
> As it stands, the plan includes several permanent themes, including the
> Holocaust, Canadian stories, other historical issues that will vary with
> time, contemporary issues, forums for discussion, and multi- media
> presentations on a variety of human rights questions.
>
> Key documents, such as the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and a
> heroes gallery, will also have a permanent place. All of this is subject =
to
> approval by the museum=92s board of trustees, but the basic concepts are =
not
> expected to change that much.
>
> What this means is that the victims of Mao Zedong and Josef Stalin, who
> were responsible for some of the worst crimes against humanity, should no=
t
> expect to see their stories enshrined at the museum. It doesn=92t mean th=
at
> there isn=92t room for them in some form. In a museum of ideas, everythin=
g is
> possible, but it=92s also important
> to note that every atrocity is not equal or equally valid as a teaching
> tool.
>
> The museum will be a balance of historical and contemporary issues, with
> the latter category subject to more fluidity than the first.
> I=92ve argued before that the Holocaust =97 a crime committed by a modern=
,
> sophisticated culture =97 belongs in the museum because of its immense
> educational value and I won=92t labour the point any more.
> The Irish may feel aggrieved by this slight =97 who, after all, can forge=
t
> the Battle of the Boyne and the Twelfth of July =97 but they will have to
> adjust, perhaps by building their own museum in Ireland.
>
> Then again, is that really fair to the Irish? Is anyone else being asked =
to
> build their own museum if they=92re unhappy with their role in our facili=
ty?
>
> It sounds difficult, but it doesn=92t have to be. Just think of it as a p=
lace
> that wants to change behaviour and inspire action, as opposed to serving =
as
> a repository for every insult that was ever hurled.
>
> The Irish will understand.
>
>
> --- 30 ---
>
> _______________________________________________ Bcma-l mailing list
> Bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca http://hp.bccna.bc.ca/mailman/listinfo/bcma-l
--=20
Larry A. Ewashen
Doukhobor Discovery Centre
112 Heritage Way
Castlegar BC V1N 4M5
www.Doukhobor-Museum.org
250-365-5327
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<div>Many good points.</div>
<div>A couple of years ago I spent time with the Dean of Law Studies at the=
U of Vic, who was writing a book on the mistreatment of minorities by the =
dominion government.</div>
<div>Among others, the Doukhobors figured prominently in this.</div>
<div>Should all of these groups be in the afore mentioned <em>museum?</em><=
/div>
<div>Here at the Doukhobor Discovery Centre we are pleased to present the D=
oukhobor experience [and mistreatment] of the Doukhobors in Canada.</div>
<div>We are fortunate we can do this.</div>
<div>If we didn't, I doubt that we too, would have a corner in this mus=
eum.</div>
<div>An Irish connection: Markers to the Irish and the Doukhobors stand in =
close proximity to each other on the quarantine island of Grosse Isle.=A0<b=
r><br></div>
<div class=3D"gmail_quote">2009/5/25 <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailt=
o:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca</a>></s=
pan><br>
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0=
px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">
<div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"1"><span style=
=3D"FONT-SIZE: 8pt"><b>EDITORIAL</b></span></font> </div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"4"><span style=
=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><b>Museum of ideas, not of atrocity and insult</b></sp=
an></font> </div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"2"><span style=
=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt">David O'Brien, Winnipeg Free Press, Sunday, May 24=
, 2009</span></font> </div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"2"><span style=
=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><br></span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt">In the early days of planning for the Canadian Museum for Human Rig=
hts, when the concept was still being developed by the Asper family, I told=
one of their executives that I was sure the Irish story would figure promi=
nently in the new facility and would, no doubt, have its own permanent exhi=
bit. I was joking, of course, but the executive wasn=92t laughing. He wasn=
=92t even smiling. The grim poker face that greeted my lame attempt at humo=
ur said it all, namely that deciding which stories to tell, who would tell =
them and how, was going to be a painful exercise. The fear was that every g=
roup in Canada and beyond would demand its own pride of place in the museum=
, or at least a corner office.</span></font> </div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt"><br></span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt">Clearly, if that was the expectation, there was going to be a lot o=
f disappointment, particularly if groups like the Irish demanded some room =
in the castle.</span></font> </div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt"><br></span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt">Then again, why not the Irish story? It=92s a tale of woe loaded wi=
th hatred, famine, cultural genocide and religious persecution, and, finall=
y, peace, sort of. The words holocaust and ethnic cleansing have even been =
used in connection with Irish suffering over the centuries. In other words,=
the Emerald Isle has all the themes that any respectable museum dedicated =
to human rights would need to educate visitors about respect for the dignit=
y of man. All rolled into one convenient package.</span></font> </div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt"><br></span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt">The Irish, it is said, saved civilization when Christian monks and =
scribes laboured to protect classic literature from the barbarians who rava=
ged Europe when the Roman Empire collapsed. It was the Irish, or so the sto=
ry goes, who introduced this literature back into continental Europe. Could=
this new museum, then, be an opportunity for the land of saints and poets =
to save us once again, from ourselves?</span></font> </div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt"><br></span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt">Of course, I=92m joking, but then again, maybe not. Maybe there=92s=
an O=92Grady or an O=92Malley out there who believes the Irish tragedy is =
too big to ignore. And who=92s to say he or she would be wrong?</span></fon=
t> </div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt"><br></span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt">Someone has to make those decisions, but it doesn=92t have to be a =
painful exercise. What needs to be understood, however, is that the museum =
really isn=92t a museum in the conventional sense. It=92s actually an educa=
tion centre, a school, if you like. The only reason it was called a museum,=
besides the fact that museum sounds better than</span></font> </div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt">educational centre, is so that it would fall within federal guideli=
nes for receiving museum funding and support.</span></font> </div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt"><br></span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt">The federal government doesn=92t operate schools, but it does manag=
e national museums. It=92s not that museums aren=92t educational, but they =
are built around fixed objects and collections, whereas the human rights mu=
seum is being built around ideas with the express goal of compelling visito=
rs to examine their prejudices and, according to the government=92s corpora=
te plan, "to encourage reflection and dialogue."</span></font> </=
div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt"><br></span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt">As it stands, the plan includes several permanent themes, including=
the Holocaust, Canadian stories, other historical issues that will vary wi=
th time, contemporary issues, forums for discussion, and multi- media prese=
ntations on a variety of human rights questions.</span></font> </div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt"><br></span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt">Key documents, such as the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,=
and a heroes gallery, will also have a permanent place. All of this is sub=
ject to approval by the museum=92s board of trustees, but the basic concept=
s are not expected to change that much.</span></font> </div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt"><br></span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt">What this means is that the victims of Mao Zedong and Josef Stalin,=
who were responsible for some of the worst crimes against humanity, should=
not expect to see their stories enshrined at the museum. It doesn=92t mean=
that there isn=92t room for them in some form. In a museum of ideas, every=
thing is possible, but it=92s also important</span></font> </div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt">to note that every atrocity is not equal or equally valid as a teac=
hing tool.</span></font> </div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt"><br></span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt">The museum will be a balance of historical and contemporary issues,=
with the latter category subject to more fluidity than the first.</span></=
font> </div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt">I=92ve argued before that the Holocaust =97 a crime committed by a =
modern, sophisticated culture =97 belongs in the museum because of its imme=
nse educational value and I won=92t labour the point any more.</span></font=
> </div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt">The Irish may feel aggrieved by this slight =97 who, after all, can=
forget the Battle of the Boyne and the Twelfth of July =97 but they will h=
ave to adjust, perhaps by building their own museum in Ireland.</span></fon=
t> </div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt"><br></span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt">Then again, is that really fair to the Irish? Is anyone else being =
asked to build their own museum if they=92re unhappy with their role in our=
facility?</span></font> </div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt"><br></span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt">It sounds difficult, but it doesn=92t have to be. Just think of it =
as a place that wants to change behaviour and inspire action, as opposed to=
serving as a repository for every insult that was ever hurled.</span></fon=
t> </div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt"><br></span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt">The Irish will understand.</span></font> </div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt"><br></span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt"><br></span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 12pt">---=A0=A0 30=A0=A0 ---</span></font> </div>
<div align=3D"left">=A0</div></div>________________________________________=
_______ Bcma-l mailing list <a href=3D"mailto:Bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca" tar=
get=3D"_blank">Bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca</a> <a href=3D"http://hp.bccna.bc.c=
a/mailman/listinfo/bcma-l" target=3D"_blank">http://hp.bccna.bc.ca/mailman/=
listinfo/bcma-l</a> </blockquote>
</div><br><br clear=3D"all">
<div></div><br>-- <br>Larry A. Ewashen<br>Doukhobor Discovery Centre<br>112=
Heritage Way<br>Castlegar BC V1N 4M5<br><a href=3D"http://www.Doukhobor-Mu=
seum.org">www.Doukhobor-Museum.org</a><br>250-365-5327<br><br>
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