week of 3/20/02
 
 
 

Beware of rose-colored history
By Gary Carden
I think the majority of us are perfectly willing to let someone else make the big decisions. When politicians, scientists and lawyers tell the media that a crisis is at hand — that world peace is threatened, the ozone level is increasing and our basic liberties are in jeopardy — we may become momentarily anxious. “Somebody had better do something,” we mutter anxiously. Usually, a specialist, an expert, someone who claims to understand the dilemma appears to announce that solutions are at hand. We listen to a soothing voice that mutters the often incomprehensible language of the experts and our interest wavers. Listening to terms like “parameters,” and “paradigms,” “nanameters” and “quarks,” we mutter, “They know what they are doing, I guess,” and change the channel.

Reduced to the level of local politics, the same scenario takes place daily. A confident speaker with impressive credentials offers to “enrich the school curriculum with a series of educational programs designed to increase student awareness of our history,” or perhaps a fellow with impressive business cards, a good tailor and a flip-chart offers to improve staff job performance with a three-day seminar. Maybe the educator shows up dressed like Groucho Marx and sings funny songs, or the efficiency expert has a fast delivery filled with one-liners, and a week after their departure, someone wonders if we have been .... misled. Well, if it was a scam, says the embarrassed victims, it was painless and .... well, sort of fun.

There are people out there who are perfectly willing to snucker you, be it in church, the commissioners’ meeting or the schools. Some are slick, accomplished con-artists. Some are serious but well-meaning folks who are embarrassingly self-decieved. Regardless, the results are the same.

Two weeks ago, news articles began to appear regarding the launching of a plan to convert the venerable old Jackson County Courthouse into a museum. The organization dedicated to this concept was “The Majesty of the Mountains Program” which operates under the aegis of another organization, “Catch the Spirit of Appalachia.” Most residents of Jackson County are familiar with CSA, which has been involved with school-oriented projects for the past decade.

I felt an immediate wave of anxiety. An organization which was normally associated with children’s programs, street dancing and light-hearted celebrations seemed ill-prepared to plan, design, research and install exhibits which reflected the history and culture of my county. However, the inconsistency was just beginning. As I continued to read, I learned that CSA proposed the construction of a series of “murals” which would be a kind “living history.”

Apparently, the murals would be an expansive and grandiose undertaking since it would begin in “primodial times” and extend to the present day. It is here that I first heard the circus music playing ... figurative, of course ... a kind of whimsical calliope that would be good background for the entrance of the clowns.

I began to conjure up terrifying images of what would be depicted on those “living history murals.” Based on CSA’s previous approach to Appalachian culture, I think we could anticipate very happy people who would be dancing and playing musical instruments. Well, it isn’t fair to expand on my imaginative anticipations except to note that if CSA intends to paint the murals, the basic colors would probably be pink and chartruse.

Still, as I said at the beginning, I was perfectly willing to let someone else make the decisions. After all, Jackson County has a board of commissioners, and the citizenry could probably assume that rational thinking and common sense would prevail. I said as much to several friends who shook their heads and noted that the project had considerable support.

Now, the calliope music is getting louder. I see people with polka-dots painted on their faces and pink wigs gamboling up the steps to the Jackson County courthouse.

Perhaps I am being an alarmist. I certainly hope so. However, my concern is prompted by the fact that I love Jackson County, and I especially treasure our highly visible courthouse fronted by the most impressive set of steps in this state. I want it honored and preserved in a matter befitting our history. Maybe it would make a great museum.

I worry about things like parking, which has always been inadequate on courthouse hill. Regardless, I do agree that we need a museum, and I would add that there are resources readily obtainable that would make it a reality. We have the resources in WCU’s Mountain Heritage Center — the research and the development of the exhibits if we ask for it — and there are a dozen small museums in this region that would readily assist in identifying resources, funds and expertise.

Perhaps I should hush now. However, I do think I will retain an interest in local government for a while. I’m deaf, of course, and don’t know what they are saying. But I can still recognize a clown when I see one.

(Gary Carden is a writer who lives in Sylva. He can be reached at gcarden498@aol.com)