>   This Stephen Weil passage brings out the contrarian in me...
>
>   Besides being mushy on a scale right up there with Mark Helprin's
>   speech for Dole; it not only doesn't reflect my 15 years of
>   experience in the museum biz, it also is full of the "ain't we grand
>   and morally superior" tone that affects me like eating a package of
>   nutra-sweet(tm).



Eric, is it not possible to feel good about the choices we've made without
feeling morally superior?  In my own case, I left a reasonably good (paying)
job with a high profile corporate company to pursue both museum and
conservation studies.  For me the choice seemed very easy.  Either continue
for another 30-40 years in a HUM-DRUM working environment until retirement,
or have the opportunity to be in an environment that not only peaks most of
my interests, but also challenges my skills and talents beyond anything ells
that I have experienced through life (and the daily conversation usually goes
beyond weather, sports scores, children , and diseases)!

Morally superior we are definitely not, but we should be able to feel that we
are a distinct group of individuals, who despite the lack of financial
rewards play an important role within our communities.  If you polled, say a
1,000 people, and asked if they would be willing to pursue a career that meant
sacrificing earnings, and competing in a very small and at times declining
job market, how many people would honestly say yes?

How does morally courageous sound?

Robert.


--
Robert P. Van Eyk, Director  *   Providing Museum Quality Restoration &
Canadian Conservation &      *    Conservation Treatments / Solutions.
Restoration Services         *   Specializing in Antiques, Industrial Objects
[log in to unmask]    *    Monuments, and Architectural Components