To the Editor:
Re “Accountability for Museums’ Plunder, at Last,” by Erin Thompson (Opinion guest essay, Feb. 5):
Some might cringe at Ms. Thompson’s suggestion that museums that return stolen artifacts could replace them with replicas.
Frankly, my recent museum visits to big-name shows have left me more irritated than awed by being in the presence of revered “originals.”
First, the virtual queue tickets, then the snaking lines and then the crush — straining to see over the heads of other acolytes, some of whom cannot resist giving curatorial mini-lectures to their companions as they block your view entirely. And all those iPhones snapping away, held high to capture every precious moment.
So much of seeing hyped-up museum exhibits today seems to be about telling people you saw them, not learning from them.
Aside from doing the right thing by returning plundered goods to their original owners, Ms. Thompson’s suggestions of how best to honor ritual artifacts, by placing replicas in meaningful cultural and historical contexts, might just lower the hype and remind us to see, in quieter and richer ways, what she defines as a museum’s goal: “to educate us about other ways of being in the world.”
Cathy Bernard
New York
To the Editor:
Erin Thompson’s essay may leave readers with the impression that the Rubin Museum of Art’s decision to close our galleries and move to a decentralized museum model stems from issues relating to repatriation. Her assessment is wrong.
The Rubin vehemently opposes the trafficking of stolen items and has never knowingly acquired objects that were illicitly obtained. We’ve taken decisive action whenever wrongdoing was found — and will continue to do so. In fact, we hired a full-time staff member whose job is dedicated to the ongoing, proactive research of our collection.
We are not shying away from these issues — we are addressing them head on — and our new approach means refocusing our resources on bringing art to people where they are.
This global model will enable us to advance the appreciation of Himalayan art through an ambitious international program of partnerships and collaborations designed to share our collection in new ways, provide direct support to contemporary artists and researchers, and expand access to educational resources. We’re proud to share our work with a wider public than before — one that is local, national and international.
Jorrit Britschgi
New York
The writer is the executive director of the Rubin Museum.
To the Editor:
On a recent trip to Japan, my wife and I visited the Tokyo National Museum. Many of the artifacts there were high-quality reproductions. We saw this display strategy in many museums and historic sites in Japan.
We did not feel cheated, because these artifacts were meant to convey a better understanding of the culture they represented. The artifacts were accompanied by excellent interpretive information that described their creation and context, as well as graphics including photos of the original pieces the reproductions represented.
Before closing galleries and museums, our institutions would do well to adopt this alternative strategy.
Paul Aldretti
Denver
Biden’s ‘Stellar Climate Leadership’
To the Editor:
Re “Democrats Want Biden to Shine Brighter Light on His Climate Achievements” (news article, Jan. 28):
President Biden has prioritized and delivered transformational climate progress and jump-started our transition to a more equitable and just clean energy future since Day 1 of his administration. From the biggest investment our country has ever made in climate solutions through the Inflation Reduction Act, to strong international leadership on the world stage, to transitioning away from dirty and dangerous fossil fuels, Mr. Biden has done more on climate than any president in history.
We are confident that we will hear him make that case vigorously in the months ahead and believe that he will continue to highlight the many benefits of acting on the climate crisis, including reducing energy costs and saving people money; creating well-paying, family-sustaining jobs; and protecting the planet now and for future generations.
Elections are about choices, and the contrast in the upcoming presidential election could not be more stark, nor the choice more clear. While President Biden is a true climate champion, Donald Trump was the most anti-environment president ever, and by far.
The League of Conservation Voters applauds Mr. Biden for his stellar climate leadership to date, is looking forward to more climate progress through executive action in his first term, and is all-in to help re-elect him so he can finish the job in a second term.
Tiernan Sittenfeld
Washington
The writer is senior vice president, government affairs, for the League of Conservation Voters.
Giving Voters Choices Beyond the Two Major Parties
To the Editor:
In “Running for President Is Not a Hobby” (column, Feb. 1), Gail Collins writes that it’s “worrisome” that the presence of independent presidential candidates could “screw up the outcome” of a Trump-Biden presidential contest.
Ms. Collins advises that if any independents want to use the presidential election to elevate ideas they care about, they should “leave this to the primaries.”
But America’s major-party primaries are low turnout affairs that don’t reflect the priorities of most American voters and often prevent independents from participating entirely. In 2024, the primaries are on track to produce some of the most unpopular major-party presidential candidates since the advent of modern polling, and both parties have gone to extreme lengths to prevent real competition from emerging.
The Democratic Party has ensured that primary competitors, like Representative Dean Phillips, aren’t even allowed on many state primary voting ballots. Meanwhile the Republican National Committee was just considering a resolution to name Donald Trump the party’s presumptive nominee after the New Hampshire primary before ultimately backpedaling.
The ongoing effort to disenfranchise groups or candidates challenging the entrenched powers in both parties is rooted in contempt for voters — 64 percent of whom want another choice in 2024 beyond what the major parties seem poised to offer. No Labels has been working for two years to secure ballot access for 2024 to ensure that American voters have this choice.
Ms. Collins and other critics should spend less time dismissing independent voices and more time exploring why voters are so hungry to hear them in the first place.
Ryan Clancy
Brooklyn
The writer is chief strategist for No Labels.
Make SAT Tutoring Free
To the Editor:
Re “Why the Requirement for SAT or ACT Scores Returned to Dartmouth,” by David Leonhardt (The Morning, Feb. 6):
Mr. Leonhardt reports that the SAT is gaining a rebirth at various colleges. Research has shown over decades that those who are tutored in preparation for the SAT will do significantly better than those who aren’t tutored. This then translates to the notion that SAT results are clearly related to family support and finances.
There is a simple solution to reduce this discrepancy: SAT tutoring should be provided without cost after school hours by the school districts to students who wish to participate. This would minimize the issue of financial advantages and help level the playing field.
Alfred Posamentier
River Vale, N.J.
The writer is professor emeritus of mathematics education and a former dean at the City College of New York, CUNY.
