Quasi-Colonlism continues (2) the Thurley report,

Yesterday's post on Quasi-colonialism does possibly be argued that a company demanding that people  should not speak in Cymraeg in the workplace "out of politeness to Monoglot English speakers could (Just) be put down to ignorance,

But there can be no excuse for a  report on Wales’ national museums which has been criticised after it called on them to abandon a “narrowly Welsh” perspective on history.

Nation Cymru tells us

The report was written by Dr Simon Thurley, who served as Chief Executive of English Heritage from April 2002 to May 2015, on behalf of the Welsh Government.
The report was completed last year but will be debated at the Senedd this week.
The report criticises Wales’ museums for being unambitious and suggests that they focus instead on the history of Wales as part of the British Empire.

 Dr Thurley said.

“My main criticism was a lack of ambition in the story that was being told,”

“These sites were presented as if they were telling part of the social history of a small country.
“Whereas they could be telling the story of how Wales, a small country, together with its larger neighbours England and Scotland, transformed the world in the 19th century.”
The change would make the museums more interesting for tourists “from outside Wales”,
“Wales played a crucial role in the British century and its raw materials and know-how made a major contribution to the industrial revolution and the empire,” he said.
“Of course the human story in Wales is interesting and compelling, but so is the big picture of how Wales, as part of Britain, changed the face of the globe.”

 So what does he want the  Welsh Museums  be decked with Union flags , maybe Zulu being permanently shown on a loop?

Perhaps he wants them to be renamed  the Museum of the British Empire  and Little Wales?

Perspective
Dr Thurley’s recommendation was criticised by Elfed Wyn Roberts, the author of a petition asking that the history of Wales be taught in schools.
His petition, signed by 4821 people, calls on the Welsh Government to change National Curriculum to teach Welsh history, from a Welsh perspective, in Primary, Secondary and Sixth form Schools.
“Wales’ museums should celebrate Wales’ history, its workers and its peasantry,” Elfed Wyn Roberts said.

“It’s disgraceful that they would seek to reduce Wales’ history to its contribution to England and Scotland.
“We have the history of the Welsh Princes, the Merthyr Rising and the battle for the Welsh language and these should teach the Welsh to take pride in how we stood on our own two feet.
“The history of how we served the British Empire doesn’t do that.”

 Government Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills, Ken Skates welcomed Dr Thurley’s report, saying that it was “balanced, thoughtful and impartial”.

“The review is a key step to help the Welsh Government identify the most appropriate ways in which we can help ensure Amgueddfa Cymru continues to thrive in the future, in what continue to be challenging financial times.”

  Mr Skates you may remember  backed the Iron Ring sculpture at Flint Castle which  Plaid Cymru's North Wales AM Llyr Gruffydd said it symbolises the oppression of Welsh people.

"The 'ring of steel' is the description given to the chain of castles across Wales that were built to conquer and subjugate Wales," he said.
"From a Welsh perspective, this is certainly not something to celebrate. It does not either reflect the many rich Welsh legends that could have been the source of a far more appropriate sculpture."

Responding to the report, former Plaid AM Dafydd  Elis-Thomas, who joined the cabinet  as Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport in the Welsh Government. in November,  seems to have avoided commenting on Thurley's British Empire crap said: 

"I don't want to reopen events which happened before I took responsibility for culture.
"I am very keen on moving on and ensuring that we have a very positive relationship between Welsh government, myself as the minister, officials and the institutions of the National Museum of Wales.
"And we need to ensure that for the future we don't have the kind of breakdown in relationships which Thurley sets out very clearly.
"I have worked as hard as I can since I have been in post to ensure that everything is now positive and forward-looking."

Of course insulting view point from Thurley was only part of the review  There may be some parts s on organisation  for example which may be worth considering, but it ridiculous that we asked someone who seems to be an expert on English Palaces  and seemingly nothing of his own culture blow that  to carry this out.