Wendy:

Please read a little history.
All this drivel makes me think I should seek another profession...

george

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>The reason we as a country and we as museum people still need to use
>words like "sensitivity" and "diversity" stems from the fact that we are
>still a nation divided by race, background, economics, and education
>level.  Museums are informal educational institutions.  We work with the
>public to share information and guide understanding.  I have yet to
>visit a museum who should not reach for an audience as diverse as this
>country's entire population. Can we maintain diversity and still be
>sensitive to one another?  Can we look at diversity as an asset rather
>than a liability?
>
>Museums are a business... a business focused on education.  Are we
>inviting our visitors into our space because we genuinely care about
>their learning, or because we care about their money?  We MUST be
>sensitive to the people who come to museums with a desire for knowledge
>and a slim pocketbook.  A private, for-profit museum has the perogitive
>to be exclusive and insensitive.  I would hope a public, non-profit
>museum sees its entire community as the target audience.  In this day
>and age working with a diverse community requires sensitivity.
>
>p.s.  As a person with a tight pocketbook I rarely return to businesses
>where I am accosted by salespeople.(people and layout)  I do appreciate
>being informed of goods and services and being allowed to make choices.
>
>you wrote:
>I am getting sick and tired of hearing the words "sensitive" and
>"diverse". In my opinion, diversity is what is tearing our musuem
>apart.  It used to be we were united, but with all this gargabe recently
>worshipping "sensitivity" and diversity" we are rapidly heading down the
>drain.
>
>I know what I an saying is not politically correct--I'm sick and tired
>of that too.  Someday enough people will recognize the problem and the
>pendulum will change to where we again become the UNITED STATES and
>remember our heritage as it is expressed FROM MANY, ONE. Until that
>time, I fear for our future.   George
>
>George,... Have we ever been a country that is not diverse.  "United"
>describes our geographical boundries and governance, not our society.
>
>Wendy
>
>