Thanks, Deb!

Related, this is an electronic forum/list: a public meeting place for open
discussion.  In regards to the posting, 'interpretation' is directly related
to the subject of museums.  True, the posting had offensive, erroneous and
negative descriptions used by the resource (checking with the source the
phrase is no longer listed).  As mentioned, it was not sent to be
discriminatory towards anyone, but as a resource for future discussion and
to bring out the terms to the list.   I suspected many of the phrases used
by the site were invented recently by reenactment groups mentioned.

Yes, Deb~~as you said -- let's let it be.  I am
breathing.......contemplating.....sending out good vibes. And yes,
smiling.......

Except, interpretation is a subject that has not been discussed for a while,
and the reason for the posting.

Question/opinions:   If re-enactors use such terms that are offensive today
(which were common in a specific time or period) and we say they are wrong,
unpluralistic and do not use them in our living history programs--are we
presenting history accurately?  Should we take such words out or note in the
program or documentation at the site/museum, mentioning that the historic
text or script was presented only as a means to maintain authenticity and
realism to the time period and culture?

John

----- Original Message -----
From: "Deb Fuller" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, May 24, 2003 8:52 AM
Subject: "Cloth Jews" and Museum-L irritability


> Is it just me or does the population of Museum-L seem rather touchy as of
late?
> While the recent war is bound to flare tempers, there have been complaints
from
> posting too many job listings from USAJobs or other online sources to
flogging
> the person who posted a list of reenactor and living historian terms that
he
> thought "we should be familiar with" but not necessarily use.
>
> Yes, I think "cloth jew" is offensive but fortunately, I've never heard
anyone
> in the reenactment community use it. We generally refer to those types of
> sutlers as just bad sutlers or "sutlers who sell crap".
>
> I would again hope that the educated people on this list would be more
> enlightened than to attack someone who uses that term (or someone who
> innocently posts a list containing that term). Instead, I would hope that
our
> gentle readers on this list and elsewhere would channel the spirit of Miss
> Manners and politely correct the offending user and explain why you think
that
> term should not be used.
>
> As an aside note, how many of you use the term "gyp" as in "I got
gypped!!"
> Comes from the derogatory term for the Romany peoples of Europe -
"gypsies".
>
> So gentle museum professionals, please take a deep breath, think happy
thoughts
> and relax before you post. We are here to share information and educate.
> Indignation for the sake of indignation rarely does any good.
>
> Calmly,
>
> Deb Fuller
>
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If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).