I agree! The tiny but true wisper of imagination is drowned out by the loud but empty shout of televisionshoppingmalland. On Wed, 29 May 1996, Anne Lane wrote: > Just a few points regarding this (free = worthless) (?) discussion. We four > children were taken to libraries and museums practically from birth, and as > a result of being indoctrinated thusly into our parents' value systems we > don't know any better than to value museums and books. (I was also kept > quiet as an infant by the playing of the Brandenburg Concerti, and therefore > have had to maintain a love of classical music in the face of a hostile > world.) As far as not valuing something because it is free or cheap, the > basic problem there is that how much it costs is the only criterion most of > society has been equipped with for evaluation. If a society is not taught > from birth to value time, training, craftsmanship, skill, practice, > tradition, any and all of the trappings of history and culture, then sure, > the mall will win out over the museum every time. But shucks, now you're > going to ask me what to do about all this, and gosh darn, I just don't have > any answers that won't take generations to put into practice. And by then > will the world have changed beyond all recognition and none of this matter > any more? > Anne Lane > Curatorial Assistant > Museum of York County > 4621 Mt. Gallant Road > Rock Hill, SC 29732-9905 > 803-329-2121 ext 122 * [log in to unmask] >