Sunday, December 26, 2010

Mausoleum to Ukrainians--You're In!

Ukrainian-Canadians were understandably peeved to learn that the Holodomor, their mass starvation at the hands of Communist Russians, had been left out of the Canadian Museum for Victimhood "Human Rights." However, that oversight will soon be corrected, as per this CMHR media release (written in deliciously ghastly "human rights"-speak):

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, December 21, 2010 - Stuart Murray, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR), met Saturday December 18, 2010 with members of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Canadian Ethnocultural Council to address their concerns and any misunderstandings about the CMHR.
This discussion reaffirmed the Museum’s commitment to ongoing engagement with Canadians as it works to enhance the public’s understanding of human rights, promote respect for others, and equip visitors to take a stand for human rights.

“The Canadian Museum for Human Rights will continue to engage with Canadians throughout the development of the Museum’s inaugural exhibits, and beyond,” said Stuart Murray, President and CEO of the CMHR. “We were glad to meet with representatives from the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Canadian Ethnocultural Council, and pleased we were able to address many of the issues brought forward concerning the Museum.”

The content of the Museum is still in development. “It is important to note that the Content Advisory Committee (CAC) final report makes recommendations to the CMHR for consideration and while important, it is not the only source of advice to the Museum,” said Murray. “As noted in my letter released with the CAC report on September 17, 2010, the CAC Report captures the reflections of the committee and reminds us that there are voices that still need to be heard. The Report is one of many sources being considered as we develop our content.”

The Holodomor and the internment of Ukrainian Canadians during World War I are particular stories that the UCC wanted to ensure were visible within the CMHR and the Museum confirmed that these stories have always been identified as part of the content planning process.

The CMHR was also able to re-affirm that numerous mass atrocities, genocides, and crimes against humanity will be featured in one of the permanent zones of the Museum. Canada’s War Internment Operations, which affected Ukrainian, Japanese, Italian, German, and other communities, will also be explored within the permanent zone dedicated to Canada’s human rights culture. The role of the CMHR is not to memorialize human rights atrocities, but allow visitors to examine them through a human rights lens, to be able to recognize human rights violations, and to be empowered to take a stand against them...
Yeah, because "memorializing" such atrocities and examining them through a (shudder) "human rights lens" are two entirely different potages, right?

Me? I wish Canadians felt more empowered to "take a stand" against the kooky modern spin on "human rights" (as exemplified by this most behemothic of money pits).

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