I don't beleive that you should be controversial just for the sake of being controversial. Stimulating the mind and presearving history are certainly worthy causes, but there should be a higher purpose to public debate than just raising a controversy. If it forces you to ask a question, than it is worthy of an answer. We have far too many people in society today who create controversy just to promote their own personnal agenda. Never shy away from contoversy, but don't create it for it's own sake. All this disciussion of human skin book bindings and so forth has been very interesting, if not a bit morbid. It does prove however that not all history and "art" in culture are pleasant. There are many practices that at the time may have been considered "art" that are quite morbid. The account of someone using a departed freind's skin as a book binding is fascinating. This is a practice that I was not aware of to such a large degree. The RM or Archivist caring for such items has a strange task indeed! ---------------------- Information from the mail header ----------------------- >Sender: Archives & Archivists <[log in to unmask]> >Poster: jlenze <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Re: HUMAN REMAINS ON EXHIBIT >------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > While I do not condone grave robbing, I do believe that museums, >archives, and libraries, have a similar mission to stimulate the minds. >Controversial subjects are necessary to that purpose. If it will cause >controversy and stimulate public debate, I say it belongs in these public >institutions. > > My opinions are my own. > >James B. Lenze, Librarian/Archivist email: [log in to unmask] >Roseville Public Library Phone: (810) 445-5407 >29777 Gratiot Ave Fax: (810) 445-5499 >Roseville MI 48066 TDD: (810) 445-4383 > > Phil Donahue Records Management Officer Board of Elections in the City of New York "The truth is out there" (212) 487-4025 Fax (212) 487-5349