Decontextualization, Information Values and the Older Generations

Museums, Management, Media and Memory: Lessons from the Enola Gay Exhibition
by: Elizabeth Yakel

This is quite an interesting read. One of the most important first questions posed here is:

"Who has the authority to interpret history to the public-indeed, who 'owns' history?"

We already know what the answer was in the time of the atomic bombing of Nagaski and Hiroshima; the government and other great lords of censorship. However a person feels about this part of our history, they cannot deny that things are very different now. Whether good or bad, the media should uncover and present all sides of an issue to the public. I believe it is safe to say that we all know that this is not always the case in real-life, but it is not a crime to dream of a more balanced and truly democratic country.  My belief is that if scholarship is presented honestly, it can only aid in the public's intellectual and emotional decision-making process. Unfortunately, in some cases, more fully researching our past is not considered to be patriotic. I believe that we all need to have a more fully fleshed-out discussion about our past, as a country; but this is because I am from a certain, younger generation. My Grandfather was almost old enough to have been on of the potentionally dead as the time that the atomic bomb was dropped from the Enola Gay, referring to President Truman as "MY President." This is a source of true pride for him and I would never wish to rob him of that pride. On the other hand, I also believe that teaching the future generations of young people in this country to ask the tough questions and research the OTHER side of the issue is necessary for building a better and more humanitarian country.
Mom and Me: A difference in Information Values
I have never gone to a dealership to purchase a new car but I did purchase a used car and it was probably one of the worst car experiences ever for me! Wayne Wiegand's article in American Libraries was relatable, sweet and heart-felt, showing how the issues of the field of Library and Information Studies can be applied to everday life. I understand totally what he is saying because when I worked in public libraries, I would rarely see or be asked to pull out Consumer Reports for products. Few people think to do that when looking for a car unless they have used that information resource before and it has worked. It would be the first thing a librarian would do, but it is not the best way to decide for everyone. Color of a car, how it feels, and how it makes you feel emotionally when you see it or drive it are all factors that cannot be described as well thought-out or proven in a scientific sense but they are still the deciding factor for most people anyway.
Science isn't always the deciding factor. Information recieved from television, radio and discussion with other people like us can be the most important information for us. He uses as personal story to illustrate why we, in the field of Library and Information Studies, need to be sure to include all different kinds of ways of getting information and why one, cutting-edge, technological way may not be the best way and should certainly not be the ONLY way,Cute!