National Museum of the American Indian

I just came back from the new National Museum of the American Indian. What an experience! I had been to the museum when it was in New York--there the tone was that of a salvaging what was left of a vanishing people. The new center is all about Indian people still being here in the 21st century. It was refreshing to see multi-media presentations with Indians speaking about their culture and their history. Multi-media at an Indian museum is almost entirely unheard of. At the NMAI, the Indians aren't stuck in the past, their not noble "creatures" we should emulate, and their not terrible savages to be feared. Rather, the peoples presented in the most beautiful and respectful manner are just that--people. Thanks to the folks at the Smithsonian for their dedication to presenting history in its fullest form, both the good and the bad.

The way the history of Indian America is presented at the new museum is incredibly powerful. Combine this with a trip to the Holocaust museum and their is no way the avaerage American citizen could ever forget what this country is built upon and what the perils of forgetting (or never knowing) the history of this nation. The Smithsonian (and especially this new museum) are models for historians to look at for how the public should confront history that is less than the ideal and doesn't play into the national myths. Truly, a moving expereince, at times I wanted to cry, but when I left, I felt that it was good and was glad that the museum was so full on this day.

On another note, have you ever noticed that there are some places that just seem to inspire writing? New Orleans helped me write a great short story. Pierre, South Dakota helped me conceptualize life of the people in my Canton manuscript, and DC seems to force some creativity out of me. However, Las Vegas I find too many distractions and Hays, maybe I just haven't found the inspiration there. Just an odd observation.