The Newseum

The Newseum, Washington, D.C. [15 May 2011]

When the Newseum [http://www.newseum.org/ ] was in Arlington, VA, I never visited.  Since it moved to its Pennsylvania Ave. location across from the National Gallery of Art, it has become my favorite museum in Washington.  With all the amazing attractions around the Mall, that is saying a lot. 

It was improper for me to have thought the place was simply about journalism and newspapers.  In celebrating the First Amendment, the Newseum addresses all five of the rights protected in our Constitution.  Elegant and comprehensive, the First Amendment embodies the freedom that makes this country great.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

In this era of self-serving, right wing blather about ‘American Exceptionalism’, we must remember what our founding fathers codified in the Constitution because there are always forces at work to subvert and undo these freedoms.  Civil liberties are not just important.  They are vital in a free society.  They don’t call the first ten amendments the Bill of Rights for nothing.

I visited the Newseum on 15 May to see a presentation by the authors of a new book on editorial cartoons but spent more time cruising the photography displays, especially the 2010 Pictures of the Year exhibit [http://www.newseum.org/exhibits-and-theaters/temporary-exhibits/pictures-of-the-year/2011/index.html ].  Seventy winning images from a prestigious, international contest are on display until 31 October.  Enlarged and mounted under four category topics, the shots range from beautiful and pleasant to sad and terrifying.  With ongoing wars and revolts and the disasters in Haiti and Pakistan, one appreciates the power of an image and the danger photographers sometimes face to capture them.

If you are interested in some terrific photography displays, go to the Newseum.  Among the permanent exhibits is the Pulitzer Prize winning photo display [http://www.newseum.org/exhibits-and-theaters/permanent-exhibits/pulitzer/index.html].  In addition to the mounted images, there are short films with the photographers telling their stories.  All great stuff.