As a visitor studies professional I look at this question not as to whether
the flag is retired or kept, but as to how the decision was made...  It
seems that the public or many museums were not included in the discussion of
what would happen to the flag.  Therefore, when the story got out, many
people felt discluded from that decision making process.  I feel that there
are good points on both sides of the debate, and that again the decision
making process should have been more open so that this discussion did not
have to happen at the "last minute."

Jennifer E. Lanning
Audience Research Specialist
Minnesota Historical Society

> ----------
> From:         Panza, Robin
> Reply To:     Museum discussion list
> Sent:         Thursday, October 18, 2001 12:09 PM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Re: [WTC artifact to be burned]
>
> If one accepts the concept that the flag represents the country, then
> think
> about the message.  There is no shortage of twisted, broken, burnt, and
> tattered items to use as a memorial to the WTC tragedy.  But a ragged and
> tattered representation of America?  Is that how we want to think of
> ourselves and have others see us?  Ragged and tattered?  The national
> anthemn is all about how the flag/country still stood proud despite the
> destruction going on, quite the opposite sentiment to memorializing this
> flag.  Laying to rest one more victim of the bombing seems a better
> symbolic
> gesture than identifying with the remnants.
>
> Robin K Panza                         [log in to unmask]
> Collection Manager, Section of Birds          ph:  412-622-3255
> Carnegie Museum of Natural History       fax: 412-622-8837
> 4400 Forbes Ave.
> Pittsburgh  PA  15213-4008  USA
>
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