Could it be that PC is NOT involved in the proposed plan to break the MOC into three facilities? At least not to the degree that some (on and off this board) wish to imply?
Perhaps the MOC is simply not getting the money it needs to function due to poor location, lack of attendance and interest and getting no help from those organizations that cry the loudest over its plan to move from Richmond?
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
I have in my own lifetime seen many historical sites and assests, wasted, due to incompetence and poor management. I have also seen the lack of interest by the public in such resources contribute mightly to such historical waste.
The Ohio Village in Columbus is one such example. I have seen this site go steadily go downhill for years. A while ago, a group of Civil War reenactors volunteered to man the village, at no pay, and try to show daily life in the various buildings (i.e., telegraph office, bank, ladies school, doctors office, printing shop, church, hotel, blacksmith, private homes, barn, harness shop, general store, school, and frieght office, etc.) They were turned down flat.
Now the place is run down, broken windows and period artifacts no longer on display for the public.
The MOC suffers from the same reasons, not from some overt PC attack as some wish it so. No matter what your view of the war, the plan fact is, most people are not interested because they are not aware.
It takes effort to maintain and present history to the public. Sometimes it takes hard work and hard cash. Sometimes it may take a name change and new locations.
Seems to me, some folks should put up or shut up. Instead of trying to advance an agenda or a cause, they should simply try to save the history that is represented by the artifacts the MOC contains. Most of the time, a piece of history in the form of a flag, coat, weapon or personal item, can speak volumes.
The MOC is a battered ship on a stormy sea of indifference, not a PC gale. Either bail or jump ship, but quit blaming the water flooding in.
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
Neil, those are clear, concise and agreeable thoughts from my perspective. Seems to me the key to survival of our heritage is education, what the SCV now refers to as 'heritage offense'. We're tryin!
__________________ Ancestors in US Army: 13th TN Cav; 10th TN Cav; 3rd NC Inf
Ancestors in CSA Army: 48th VA; 63rd VA, 5th NC Cav; 37th NC
Wife and Grandson's CSA: 15th AL, 51st GA, 41st TN; 36th TN; GA Mil 1197 Dist
The national SCV. SUVCW, UDC and others concerned with heritage ought to combine to focus on such valuable examples, and leave the re-education camps to local chapters. It may be too late for Ohio Village and the MoC, but there are other places.
But, I feal Neil might be correct: The time is past.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
This is the US, we're all slaves to the dollar. Bottom line, the Museum of the Confederacy needs to attract dollars. Car makers need to sell cars people want, the Yankees need to win games and every one of us is subject to the whims of the market.
Museums really have to market to schools and getting buses filled with children in.
Were I on the board, I'd think about dropping the "Confederacy" angle. Now that will upset many, but we are talking about the current marketplace. This goes where it goes, you don't get to steer it.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Many of you have suggested the Confederacy belongs in a museum. If it's a Confederate museum, so be it. If it's a civil war museum, so be that too. Takes two sides to stage a war, even a civil one. A good market study ought to answer some of the question. I'd like to see Gen. Lee's artifacts, though if Grant's were nearby, I'd take a peek there as well.
__________________ Ancestors in US Army: 13th TN Cav; 10th TN Cav; 3rd NC Inf
Ancestors in CSA Army: 48th VA; 63rd VA, 5th NC Cav; 37th NC
Wife and Grandson's CSA: 15th AL, 51st GA, 41st TN; 36th TN; GA Mil 1197 Dist
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