Enough is enough.
We are not usually giving our opinion about the Brontë Society wars because, as a matter of fact, it is something we don't really like to report. But the resignation of Bonnie Greer as President is actually the straw that broke the camel's back.
We are sick of these nitpicking intestine wars between the so-called 'modernists' and 'establishment' and the dirty war played on the newspapers between them. We don't forget that all of them (but not all of them in the same way and with the same unscrupulous behaviour) have been leaking to the press opinions and comments denigrating the Society or the critics: the critics are 'agitators', the museum staff is leaving in an 'atmosphere of bullying and criticism', calling the President 'the American lady' in a mocking ton and so on. This is not the way in which to help the Society, this is not the way to show your love for the Brontë legacy, this is not the way to celebrate their lives and works. Regrettably, it seems that maybe this is the way to win or maintain a seat in the Council, whatever the cost.
And the point is that it doesn't matter anymore who is right, if anyone. The damage is done. Years of building a corporative image have been lost and the new Council will have a very difficult time to recover the pathetic image the Society as a whole has been given to the world these last few years.
This is not the way to settle the differences, even if they are genuine and sincere. Because the image the Society conveys is that everybody there wants a piece of the Brontë cake (which now with the upcoming bicentenaries looks like a pretty appetising cake): the 'snobs' who run the Society ignoring the Haworth natives with the help of American ladies on the one side and the indigenous population who as the chosen people of the Brontë cult deserve the biggest cut, on the other side.
Is this really the image that the Society wants to project? Because this is the one that it is delivering.
I totally agree with every word of M. I've been a Life Member since early 70's, although now disabled, I happily follow the many adventures of fellow members.
ReplyDeleteAmong our tens of hundreds of members around 100 were present at the meeting - I can't help wondering about the love and generosity to one other and to the people whose home it is all year; where was the kindness which seeks to please, not to win by planning disruption, for a plan of some sort there must have been...reducing opposition is one.
It is until comparatively recently that we could happily walk & talk, eat & drink, in and around Haworth, museum & church, ditto surrounding villages. Sadly I can attest that out relationships are not the same now anymore and the Society needs to take the knife quickly and remove these 'Jonny-cankers'.
Another danger is, and indeed the object may well be, the looting of the museum. The items housed there are wroth many millions. Every time a letter of Charlotte's comes up for auction, seemingly a new record is made. Frankly I can easily see it being said down the line " oh yes items must be sold because the Parsonage can't pay for itself." It would serve very well to run the Parsonage down before hand.
ReplyDeleteI watched a local museum being emptied out in this manner. Indeed today every museum has a similar target on its back I suggest loot is more on their minds than the Brontes .
Thank you both for the input.
ReplyDeleteAnne - that is truly terrifying and we certainly hope it won't come to that.
I certainly hope it does not come to that as well. But to be fore warned is to be fore armed . Everything we decry as a result of this relentless public tear down campaign in the way of tarnishing and undermining the Parsonage may be the campaign's actual goal. Museums around the world are under such pressures and attacks and it's for their holdings , not to save the collections . I sincerely hope my concerns are groundless
ReplyDeleteShame on them all
ReplyDelete