Neither did I. No one I know did.
On Aug 26, 2005, at 11:19 AM, James Schulte wrote:

> Not really, but I didnt
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]  
> On Behalf
> Of unlisted
> Sent: Friday, August 26, 2005 10:07 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Lesson from: Well, I've seen everything else on this  
> list, so
> why not this?
>
>  "Okay, how many of you voted for
> the current president?"
>
> a very inappropriate question.
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "George Garner" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, August 26, 2005 11:00 AM
> Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Lesson from: Well, I've seen everything  
> else on this
>
> list, so why not this?
>
>
>
>> Rebecca,
>>
>> The museum field in general is very polarized - like the rest of the
>> country - and the majority of museum employees are would probably  
>> consider
>>
>
>
>> themselves or their beliefs "liberal."
>>
>> I had an experience at the last AAM that emphaiszed that point.  
>> There was
>> a large audience of mostly exhibit developers. The commentator  
>> asked, "How
>>
>
>
>> many of you believe we live in an extrememly polarized country?"  
>> Almost
>> every hand shot up. "Okay, how many of you voted for the current
>> president?" Only a few hands remained in the air - the rest shot  
>> down. The
>>
>
>
>> point, of course, was that the country is split almost right down the
>> middle, and the two sides are very far apart from each other. But we
>> museum folk are trying to reach /all /audiences, and we have to be  
>> aware
>> of that.
>>
>> That said, Rebecca, I think the posters who commented about Mr.  
>> Bottoms
>> article are not intolerant of different views. They are intolerant  
>> of the
>> bigotry and hatred seething throughout Mr. Bottoms' message. This  
>> is not
>> intolerance of a different point of view - this is a reaction  
>> against an
>> ugly, reactionary article that does more harm to this great  
>> country and
>> its many diverse people than the supposed threats the writer  
>> outlined.
>>
>> Rebecca, I'll discuss issues with someone of a different point of  
>> view any
>>
>
>
>> day. I enjoy the discussion. It flexes my mental muscles. :) It's an
>> excercise in intelligent, productive, thoughtful disagreement. And  
>> I will
>> disagree with people. And we'll argue, and yell, and feel  
>> passionate about
>>
>
>
>> our views. But I'll respect the person with an opposing view  
>> afterwards.
>>
>> Rebecca, I hope I've made the difference clear. Thoughtful,  
>> tolerant, and
>> respectful disagreement between different people is healthy and  
>> great and
>> encouraged. Mr. Bottoms' post promoted hatred, intolerance, and  
>> racism. I
>> cannot respect Mr. Bottoms' post, and I'm not ashamed of the  
>> incredibly
>> angry reaction against it. In fact, I'd be afraid if there wasn't.
>>
>> With all respect,
>> George
>>
>>
>> Rebecca Fitzgerald wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Hmmm...it's very interesting that while Mr. Bottoms posted a quoted
>>> article
>>> that is certainly controversial and expresses the purported  
>>> opinion of one
>>> retired general. But, Mr. Bottoms has not sunk to the depths of some
>>> members
>>> of this list. I've seen posts that referred to him as a "creep" or a
>>> "troll." Most posts dismissed him as a "mad ranter" or an  
>>> inflammatory
>>> "baiter."
>>> Mr. Bottom's post has actually helped expose a serious weakness  
>>> of this
>>> list, and one that prevents me from recommending it to my  
>>> colleagues and
>>> students. The Museum-L listserv is a very politically polarized  
>>> list, very
>>> intolerant of any views other than the extremely liberal one.  
>>> Folks who do
>>> express a contrary view are shouted down and characterized as  
>>> bumpkins or
>>> ignorant.
>>> I belong to several successful history listservs that could serve as
>>> models
>>> to this group. I'd like to recommend MARHST-L, a maritime history
>>> listserv.
>>> This list includes members from every corner of the world, and every
>>> political leaning. And because of the maritime content, politics  
>>> and war
>>> are
>>> necessarily part of the discussion. The difference is that these
>>> discussions
>>> are framed carefully, respectful to ALL members, regardless of  
>>> nation or
>>> viewpoint. We would do well to emulate this list.
>>>
>>> Successful listservs go beyond civility, to caring. I was in a  
>>> meeting
>>> yesterday with colleagues from Iraq and Lebanon. The gentleman  
>>> from Iraq
>>> was
>>> describing some of the country's internal problems that have  
>>> resulted from
>>> the war, and the ensuing poverty. He insisted on using his  
>>> English, and
>>> used
>>> the word "careless" to describe the behaviors of some of his  
>>> countrymen:
>>> looting, robbing and mugging other Iraqis. His meaning was that  
>>> they had
>>> no
>>> love of their own countrymen. I've thought lots about his use of  
>>> the word
>>> and it seems to apply here. We don't mean to hurt with our words,  
>>> but we
>>> are
>>> careless...meaning that we have no love/concern for the folks who  
>>> are
>>> reading our posts.
>>> Donning my asbestos suit!
>>>
>>> Becky Fitzgerald
>>> Susquehanna Museum
>>>
>>> =========================================================
>>> Important Subscriber Information:
>>>
>>> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
>>> http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed
>>> information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail
>>> message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message  
>>> should
>>> read "help" (without the quotes).
>>>
>>> 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).
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> -- 
>> George Garner
>> Director of Exhibitions
>> Center for History
>> 808 West Washington, South Bend, IN 46601
>> www.centerforhistory.org // (574) 235-9664
>>
>> --------
>>
>> Celebrate Founders Month in August at the Center for History with  
>> a visit
>> to the exhibitions, From Southold to South Bend and New Order on  
>> the Land.
>>
>> =========================================================
>> Important Subscriber Information:
>>
>> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
>> http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed
>> information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail
>> message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message  
>> should
>> read "help" (without the quotes).
>>
>> 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).
>>
>>
>
> =========================================================
> Important Subscriber Information:
>
> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
> http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed
> information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e- 
> mail message
> to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should  
> read "help"
> (without the quotes).
>
> 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).
>
> =========================================================
> Important Subscriber Information:
>
> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/ 
> museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the  
> listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to  
> [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read  
> "help" (without the quotes).
>
> 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).
>

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

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).