I am glad that Phil Barnes has enough upbringing to apologize to the list.
Unfortunately, his attempts at justifying his rudeness and lack of manners
with juvenile versions of history does little to convince one that his
apology is in any way genuine. In addition, his secondary rationalization of
"but I said what I was feeling at the time" is not the statement of an
adult. We can overlook a lack of social skills in a child but an adult needs
to control his/her feelings/language to be taken seriously. His third
justification of his churlish behavior is that he could not stand the
"bashing the military." I suggest, that this is a projection. No one was
bashing the military but merely reporting the facts as they understood them.
I cannot sympathize with folks who are unable to deal with facts whenever
these facts go against cherished prejudices.

My own posts were directed towards showing the need for a moral dimension in
formulating museum policy. This was a legitimate response to a question
dealing with a request for help in policy formulation. In my view the
military and artifacts associated with it are contrary to most systems of
morality. The fact is, that it was not he military that defeated communism
but the peaceful protest of people in Poland, Russia, Czechoslovakia,
Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, etc.. The 1990's saw nearly one billion people become
free with virtually no shot being fired. In our own history we would
probably be still part of England had that government the wisdom of
adequately addressing the colonist's grievances. Instead, by sending troops
we had a wholly preventable bloodbath. Others may disagree with my, or any
other, views-that is their right, but there is no need to be verbally
abusive or try to attempt to justify one's rudeness with a series of
rationalizations.  Since I have been in the museum business since 1989 and
have been a founding curator of one successful museum, a founding director
of another, the designer and implementer of an opening exhibition of another
museum (not counting half- dozen other exhibits and exhibitions), and am
currently working on developing my third museum I believe that I can
contribute to questions of policy, museum philosophy, and administration.

Museum-L list appeals to me precisely because of the range of subjects and
views expressed. One day there are posts dealing with highly technical
questions (something that helps me learn in areas of my own weaknesses)
other days there are policy or philosophically oriented posts. I contribute
to those where I feel that I can add an unexpressed view, and in which I
have some experience. I hope my posts help, but I see no reason to take the
ranting of some seriously, even if I may not be right on a particular issue.
The purpose of Museum-L is to meet the needs of all museum professionals and
not to reflect the view of the List of any one group of subscribers.
PeaceNick



-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf
Of Phil Barnes
Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2004 9:51 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Dissapointment in list (Apologies to list)

I want to apologize to the list for the manner in which I said what I did
yesterday.  It was late in the afternoon and things have been hectic.  I
followed the initial post for nearly two weeks and watched it regress into a
"bash the military" issue which I hoped was going to die down.  Remember, if
it wasn't for them over the years, we wouldn't have the freedom to speak
like we do.  Would some of the things that have been said been allowed under
the regimes of a Saddam Hussein, Joseph Stalin, or Adolf Hitler?  NO!  As
long as there are evil people bent on controlling others there will have to
be military actions taken to remove them.  Diplomacy works (Right!!)  Anyone
remember Neville Chamberlain or any agreement that von Ribbentrop ever
signed?  It is unfortunate that it comes to this, but that is part of man's
fallen nature.  I digress.  How I said things may not have been palatable to
all, but I said what I was feeling at that time.  Mr. Burlakof, and
others -- let us keep this list for what it is supposed to be -- a place for
museum related questions to be answered by those who have been in the
"business" and have valuable knowledge to impart.  That is why I joined in
the first place.

Sincerely,

Phil Barnes
American Airpower Heritage Museum

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of Heather-Marie Wells
> Sent: Monday, April 05, 2004 4:25 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Dissapointment in list
>
>
> Disappointment museum studies graduate and I joined this list (about 5
> months ago) to learn more about what is going on in the museum world and
> help me in my job as a collections assistant.
>
> Thus far it has been a wonderful resource for me about all kinds of topics
> that there just was never time to cover in classes.  I've enjoyed learning
> about all the workshops and conferences that are held all over
> and hope that
> I will have the time and money to attend some in the future.  The recent
> topics on copyright, photo policies, and various exhibit supplies
> have given
> me a lot of insight into things that might effect the museum that
> I work at.
>
> Then the "Iraq donation" topic came along.  It started off so nice and
> helpful, I doubted that it would be a problem for my museum, but
> then I know
> we do have a few of those Nazi items that we constantly wonder what are we
> going to do with this, so I have been following it.  I planned to not say
> anything about it getting off-topic and was hoping that all the off topic
> comments would die out.  But I find I can no longer hold my fingers from
> typing.
>
> It was very disappointing to me to open an email today to find one museum
> professional calling another a "pompous overblown jackass" and
> then calling
> for professional museum manners.  I'm sorry, but I just don't see how
> cursing at someone is suppose to be professional museum manners.
>
> I would like to remind everyone that there are many students and recent
> graduates who use this list as a resource.  We look to many of you on this
> list as role models and a source of guidance in our career paths.  So
> please, think before you type and try to remain on topic with out stooping
> to personal blows.
>
>
> Heather Marie Wells
>
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