On Sun, 22 Jan 1995, rich jones wrote:
 
> On 20 January, James Delgado inquired:
>
> >I am interested in the views of the museum community on the National Air
> >and Space Museum's exhibition on the atomic bombing of Japan...
>
 
> Professionally speaking, my first reaction is to be an activist on the side
> of institutional free expression.  If the Enola Gay exhibition was taking
> place somewhere other than a "national" museum in the 50th anniversary year
> of the event in question, I would have no second thoughts whatsoever about
> this issue.
>
> However, I have huge second thoughts that are very hard for me to dispel.
> Second thoughts because of where the exhibition is being held AND because of
> the timing.
>
> I think I can handle the heat of any flames that come from asking the
> following questions rhetorically.
>
> 1) Does the Smithsonian's timing obligate it to follow a more "patriotic"
> storyline?  The 50th anniversary is the last monumental date that veterans
> of WWII have to commemorate the event that defined and transformed their
> lives. Doesn't this fact call for retrospection through their eyes, one last
> time?
>
> 2) What public interest is served by a "national" museum presenting cultural
> treasures out of historical context to advance the perspective of another
> culture?  Isn't their an aura that surrounds the Smithsonian that endows an
> exhibition with a specialness that commands respect?  Who should be served
> by such a frightfully wonderful and powerful force?  The public good?
>
> Now I need to put on my fireproof suit.
>
> OK, I'm ready.
>
 
I don't know what you're ready for...your thoughts appear rational to me.
 
What seems inconsistent, perhaps, is this discussion running side-by-side
with the "those guys want to stop public funding of the arts" discussion.
 
Or is there a connection?  Maybe so?
 
David
sans suit