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Post by Jody on Jan 12, 2011 6:46:47 GMT -5
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Post by sunshine817 on Jan 12, 2011 8:22:37 GMT -5
I'm really, really torn over this issue.
I absolutely understand the need to preserve and protect the heritage, of which France does an exemplary job. I'm in awe of how lovingly the history is cared for and made accessible here.
I also understand the need to try to stop the hemorrhaging of public money into buildings prone to crumbling and decay...and it's hard to justify millions of euros when the economy is struggling...and budget cuts (austerity measures) that affect people's lives are being implemented.
Do we cut pensions, or do we cut loose an old building for which the private sector is willing to assume liability?
I don't have an answer to this...and this shouldn't be taken as an opinion either way.
It's the horns of a dilemma.
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Post by Darcy on Jan 12, 2011 16:41:45 GMT -5
"Sarkozy, who is under fire for building a much-maligned museum of French history," What and where is this? I know this is hardly a comparison but when I drive through small, beautiful, old towns in the US and see that the oldest, largest, most beautiful house in town has been converted into a funeral home, I remind myself that it probably would have been torn down otherwise.  |
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Post by sunshine817 on Jan 12, 2011 16:51:12 GMT -5
I can vouch for that one personally, Darcy...an important family home on my father's side is now the town funeral home, and they take loving care of it. (The house had been built by a great-great uncle who had no heirs when he and his wife moved to a nursing home, so they sold it.)
Happily, the funeral directors were happy to show us all around the house when we were there several years ago, and loaned my mother (the family genealogist) a huge stack of photos of the house and the family that they'd found in a corner of the attic -- some of which hadn't been seen by family in decades, if at all.
The rest of the family wasn't in an economic position to take it over when it was sold, so I'm thrilled to death that she stands in all of her full glory -- even the little gazebo in the garden.
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Post by Jody on Jan 13, 2011 5:15:14 GMT -5
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Post by Anne on Jan 13, 2011 11:31:26 GMT -5
It is no secret that Sarko isn't half as cultured as any of his predecessors, and doesn't care about culture anyway. So this museum is also criticized by many as being the obliged (since each of his predecessors created "his" museum) but fake token of culture of his presidency.
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Let the riot begin! LOL - 
hahahha