>I (also politely) informed her that I thought the museum was a perfect
>place for this day's activity, and questioned the use of the term
>"political agenda". I told her that had she stayed, she might have been
>able to see the day's activity in perspective, rather than reacting to the
>elder woman's five minute speech. The productive period after the session,
>when the public mingled informally with the couple, was perhaps the most
>gratifying event of the day.
>
>The caller and I agreed to disagree on the use of museums as political
>platforms, and also on the definition of "storytelling"...
>
>Anybody have any similar experiences?
>
Last year I attended a storytelling event given by a group of Korean women
at the Washington, DC Historical Society.  These women began writing
accounts of their lives after they had fled Korea in the 50's, had settled
here and had families.  They were spurned to write by their church pastor.
Their stories were extremely moving.  Through these women's bravery--to
share their life stories with us--I left that night feeling a kind of
closeness with the Korean community that exists in and around Washington,
DC, I had never felt before.  Because the historical society had sponsored
the event I was forced to expand my notion of my local "historical"
community.  I realized that these women's lives had in some significant way
intersected mine that night despite the fact that we have different
traditions and backgrounds.  Ultimately my view of what it is to be
American was expanded.  Museum's are wonderful places for people to share
their stories because they museum space can provide a kind of common or
neutral ground that exists outside daily agendas.



-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Laura Lewis
Museum Education Specialist
[log in to unmask]