"Raina Johns"
<[log in to unmask]> schrieb:
Raina,
as you mix some things, let me try to
explain the matter once again.
As cultural institutions, it is our job
to be accessible to all people.
No doubt. But what has this to do
with this discussion? The discussion is about wishes and greetings,
maybe also about exhibitions around Xmas. You can arrange exhibitions
around Xmas even without wishes and greetings at all. But if you wish
and greet and your audience is mostly Christian, so why retreat to a
neutral exhibition and neutral wishes and greetings? There is no need.
People of other faiths also have to accept the fact that there are other
religions and that Christians have their particular time of the year.
In this discussion, I said several
times: This discussion would not take place in so many countries ruled
by other religious majorities, so why have it again and again in
Northern America? Because of complaints in the past and of the try to
sell more tickets? Let us concentrate on the first item: For me, living
far abroad from your problems, no visitor has the right to complain
about the way an exhibition is arranged as long it is done
scientifically. Take this example: No Muslim will be compelled to visit
a Xmas exbition - but he is invited. Our problem in Germany is that most
Muslims do not visit our museum exhibitions because they
- do not understand enough
German
- are not interested in museums at
all
- learn at home and at Muslim schools
that our culture and civilization is devil's work.
To some the topic of Christmas vs. Happy
Holidays is silly, but to others it is
the basis for hate.
I read some really silly mails and
some good jokes, but I found no mail based on hate. Christmas as well as
the Christian faith is the contrary of hate. I am a little bit
shocked.
Despite the majority's belief or even
our personal
ones, it is our responsibility to be
respectful of all people and their
beliefs.
No doubt.
We take no sides.
This is exactly the wrong conclusion.
In life, the one without a standpost has already lost. Why? Because
others with a standpoint (The ones complaining!) have already won. I
like to mention just two examples: On the last biennale in Venice as
well as the Museum of Ethnography in Hamburg WORKS OF ART had to be
removed from the exhibition because of complaints of one or two Muslim
representatives (Their policy: "Avoid problems"). This
discussion, by far, does not shot a dead horse. If you are not
willing to deal with religious conflicts all over the world, you can
only ask "My God, how could this happen?" viewing again at the
pictures of September 11th. Also in the US, there is lot of cultural
background "unmelted" into one culture.
Best regards
Christian
We only share history and the knowledge
gained from that history. Unless there is an exhibition specifically
addressing Christian, Jewish, Pagan, etc. holiday traditions, then the
use of "Happy Holidays" acknowledges all beliefs and
practices, takes no sides, and wishes blessings to all.
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