Chuck,
You have pointed to the obvious difficulties when dealing with people
who suffer from polar thinking - believing entirely in one side or the
other, as if there are no shades of grey in the middle.
To head your comment off at the pass, so to speak, I pointed out (in my
first message) that the way to combine the two - pluralism and
"intellectual integrity" - is to:
(1) invite teachers to prepare their class(es) before
the museum tour (or discuss the issues during or
after);
AND,
(2) present what is considered "intellectual integrity"
by the Museum community (i.e., AAM, museums
professionals, etc.) and academics.
I would add - with a note of caution against censorship or
close-mindedness - the following: If a group objects so strongly to
material presented in a museums, they ought to consider self-censoring
(i.e., not visiting a museum) . . . rather than demand/expect a museum
to compromise its ethical duty to present information of "intellectual
integrity." How dare anyone ask a museum to omit information and tell a
half-truth? That does not strike me as a suitable demand/expectation
from a Christian group. (Granted, I'm not Christian; so perhaps I
misunderstand Christian ethics.)
Not trying to stir up a tempest in a teapot. But without "intellectual
integrity," there's little point in having museums. Is there?
Sincerely,
Jay Heuman
Visitor & Volunteer Services Coordinator
Joslyn Art Museum
2200 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68102
342-3300 (telephone) 342-2376 (fax)
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Museum
* Etymology: Latin Museum place for learned
occupation, from Greek Mouseion, from
neuter of Mouseios of the Muses, from Mousa
* an institution devoted to the procurement,
care, study, and display of objects of lasting
interest or value; also, a place where
objects are exhibited.
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