Dear Mr. Jordan: Thank you for your e-mail. You claim: “They are not intended as political statements or to represent any “sides”. However, in using the terminology “West Bank” and coloring the area, as well as the Gaza Strip in the same color as the surrounding Arab states, indicates you HAVE taken a side. You have adopted the Arab narrative as well as the Arab terminology for that region which is, by all standards of international law, “disputed” territory – claimed by at least two parties – the Arabs and Israel. Therefore at a minimum BOTH sets of names (i.e. Judea-Samaria and “West Bank”) should be displayed and the regions including Gaza should be shaded or cross-hatched in a different color from either Israel or the surrounding Arab states. In your eagerness NOT to take sides and be PC, you in fact have taken a side, which reflects either a lack of historic knowledge or a deliberate act. My early statements stand. I hope that MIM will reevaluate your map. Prof. of History (retired) Associate Producer and Official Historian of Middle East Radio Forum www.middleeastradioforum.org Middle East Consultant Salem Radio Network News From: Manuel Jordan [mailto:Manuel.Jordan@themim.org] Dear Dr. Carol, I am here (below) copying a reply I shared with another gentleman with exactly the same concerns. I hope this at least addresses our intent: Thank you for your email and comments. Please know that our maps are only provided to assist our visitors with placing the geographic origin of the instruments we display. They are not intended as political statements or to represent any “sides”. On the contrary, part of the museum’s mission is to display musical instruments as part of traditions that define our sense of individuality as much as they speak of a shared human “language” or experience, which leads to understanding. To produce our maps, we rely on standard sources and atlases available in the United States. Our map of Israel is consistent with what you will find being used by the US Department of State and other government sources. In addition, if you do an internet search for “Israel map” you will find a large number of maps from non-political agencies and institutions that mirror the one we have used in our display. That being said, we continue to make revisions to our collections and interpretive materials. We have taken note of your comments for which I thank you. It may also interest you to know that we are currently working with a consultant who is helping us acquire and commission a number of new musical instruments for the Israel display. These will be incorporated into the exhibit when he returns from Israel. Thank you for sharing your perspective and concerns with us and best regards, Manuel Manuel Jordán, Ph.D. | Chief Curator and Director of Collections MIM—Musical Instrument Museum 4725 East Mayo Boulevard | Phoenix, AZ 85050 | 480.478.6000 main | 480.478.6020 direct 480.471.8690 fax | manuel.jordan@themim.org | www.themim.org From: drhistory [drhistory@cox.net] Ms. Farmer: It has been brought to my attention that the map of Israel which is displayed at the MIM is indeed one that totally supports the Arab-Muslim narrative in the Middle East conflict. The first major error is the labeling of Judea-Samaria (the correct and long standing historical names for the region) as the “West Bank”–a purely Arab contrived term which, thanks to the success of their propaganda campaign, has gained usage in the world among the unknowing and those hostile to Israel. The term “West Bank” was created in an effort to dejudaize the linkage of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel. I have an entire section in my book: Middle East Rules of Thumb: Understanding the Complexities of the Middle East devoted to this issue, as well as a section explaining the skilled use of key words –not accurate–to push the Arab-Muslim narrative. The Golan Heights have been in Israeli hands since 1967. Israeli law has been applied there since 1980. What is more important it is disputed territory (as is Judea-Samaria) and not “occupied.” Only a sovereign nation can be occupied. There was no sovereign Arab state of “Palestine” and thus to date, both the Gaza Strip and Judea-Samaria are disputed, pending a final resolution of their status by peace treaty. The Golan was illegally transferred by the British to the French (again in my book) and Syria came into “possession” once the French left. The fact that Syria used the Golan Heights as a springboard for aggression against Israel in 1948, 1967 and 1973, and was defeated in all three attempts makes Israel’s claim to the Golan Heights even stronger, under the international legal principle of ex injuria jus non oritur (right can not originate from wrong). The MIM should take steps immediately to correct that map. A suggestion: shade Gaza, Judea-Samaria, and Golan as “disputed.” Insert the names Judea-Samaria (and if you wish to continue to be PC – keep “West Bank” in brackets). But as it stands now, the MIM, seemingly inadvertently is acting as a shill for the Arab-Muslim propaganda jihad being waged against the United States, the Western democracies and Israel. I for one, if asked, would urge a boycott of this exhibition if no action is taken regarding the map. Dr. Steven Carol Prof. of History (retired) Associate Producer and Official Historian of Middle East Radio Forum Middle East Consultant Salem Radio Network News
Dr. Steve Carol
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2011 4:58 PM
To: drhistory@cox.net
Subject: FW: The map of the core of the Middle East that you have on display
Importance: High
Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2011 6:40 PM
To: Mary Farmer
Cc: radioforum@aol.com
Subject: The map of the core of the Middle East that you have on display
Saturday 11 June 2011
From:
"drhistory"
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