GDG- Re...wanting to preserve the battlefield and show it's history

[Margaret D. Blough]

David,

>>I don't see anything remotely reflecting an aged outdated electric map within 
the initial charter of the Gettysburg Battlefield  Commission. Contrary to 
what many think (mostly nostalgic) about the electric map it has anything to do 
with the history of that battlefield. The difference between Dr. Rollins and 
myself back in 1997 during the "New VC proposal and the saving of Artillery 
Ridge" was the fact that the good Dr. wanted nothing changed whatsoever whereas 
I 
was then and am still in favor for the new VC and the reconstruction the 
Angle it was.  Margaret, as well as many old GDG'ers, can attest to   
differences 
of opinion which it nearly cost me a revered friendship. Logic and reasonable 
progress won over Richard and he became a staunch supporter of the NPS 
proposal.<<

And you also had some very valid concerns about the future of the Baltimore Pike artillery line that had to be addressed and were addressed before you could support the LeVan tract as location of the new VC.  As, I think, each of us found, logic, reason, patience, and an acceptance of the enormous emotional significance that the battlefield has for so many went a long way in persuading people of the value of the NPS proposal.  The period encompassing the developing and approval of the current General Management Plan is one of those periods in the battlefield's history where crucial decisions had to be made that would affect the future of the park for decades.  I kept reminding myself during that difficult time that these were decisions about which reasonable people could differ.  

The one thing I never truly understood was why there were a small number of people (you and Rich were never among them) who had to express their opposition to the NPS proposal in terms of invective and scurrilous personal attacks on the NPS, particularly the superintendent, and Mr. Kinsley and his employees and family.  I strongly believe that those who, regardless of the degree to which they supported or opposed the NPS proposal, refused to descend to those depths and used logic, reason, and factual arguments to debate the choices to be made all contributed positively to the final result, regardless of whether they ultimately came to support the proposal or not.  The free marketplace of ideas is what the First Amendment is all about.

Regards,

Margaret

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: DShultz180 at aol.com 

> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes: 
> 
> 
> > <> > focus.>> 
> > 
> I don't see anything remotely reflecting an aged outdated electric map within 
> the initial charter of the Gettysburg Battlefield Commission. Contrary to 
> what many think (mostly nostalgic) about the electric map it has anything to do 
> with the history of that battlefield. The difference between Dr. Rollins and 
> myself back in 1997 during the "New VC proposal and the saving of Artillery 
> Ridge" was the fact that the good Dr. wanted nothing changed whatsoever whereas 
> I 
> was then and am still in favor for the new VC and the reconstruction the 
> Angle it was. Margaret, as well as many old GDG'ers, can attest to 
> differences 
> of opinion which it nearly cost me a revered friendship. Logic and reasonable 
> progress won over Richard and he became a staunch supporter of the NPS 
> proposal. 
> 
> There is nothing wrong with progressive change that will enhance a better 
> understanding of that significant part of American History. 
> 
> And there nothing wrong with eliminating all that is obsolete which when 
> technically thinking about it had nor has nothing to do with the history of that 
> battle or battlefield ... it's a tool and like all tools should be replaced 
> when something better comes a long. I think a computer enhanced IMAX 
> presentation 
> in itself would more than suffice for the loss of that map. 
> 
> For crying out loud, put it up on ebay and donate the funds to battlefield 
> preservation. Just thinking out loud. 
> 
> Dave S. 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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