An Open Letter to Fernbank Museum:
This morning when I did my weekly check of the Fernbank website to see what new and interesting programming that my family might enjoy, I was sorely disappointed to see that GLADIATORS is the latest theme at the museum.
I do not consider "armed combatants who entertained audiences in blood sport or other types of violence violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals" as "natural history". Rather, I think it an exercise of especially poor judgement to use your platform to glorify warriors, violence, and death through your programming:
- Gladiators: Heroes of the Colosseum special exhibit
- A Saturday family Gladiator Day with "...live gladiator demos, Roman-themed crafts, ancient architectural activities and more"
- A Gladiator theme for the science-focused (???) Fernbank After Dark night ("Do you have what it takes to be a warrior? Earn the tile of “champion” as you learn more about the unique lives of warriors.")
- Gladiators: A Timeless Affair 2017 fundraising event
If you want to be realistic, the exhibit and events should include disturbing and inappropriate-for-family-programming images and realities of the maiming and killing of wild animals and people for sport. Hardly a topic to be highlighted at a museum of natural history in my opinion.
Moreover, the timing could not be worse. Right now, protections for wild animals are being removed in favor of sport killing, and extreme fighting between people is being promoted as entertainment. We are also perpetrating seemingly endless wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and appear to be on the precipice of a new conflict with North Korea. Extensive programming about blood sport is the last thing we need to cool down heated rhetoric that every day brings us closer to a war, the likes of which we have never seen.
As a peace activist, I will ensure that my family will not be attending any events or exhibits on this theme.
I would encourage your educational team to reflect more carefully on the messages and contributions to our community that your future programming provides, At a minimum, I would hope you would put together some type of exhibit even more strongly glorifying the PEACEMAKERS of this world. For it is they on whom our future is likely to depend.
Sincerely,
The Susan S. family
(longstanding Fernbank Museum member)
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