Hello Betty:

The items destroyed/stolen in Baghdad were of extreme international
value, but no more or less than and the hypothetical destruction/theft
of the Constitution/Liberty Bell.  The Constitution and the Liberty Bell
are symbolic of the reenergizing of a representational form of democracy
that has, history indicates, affected the rest of the world.  Consider
the number of nations that modified/overthrew/replaced feudal and
monarchical systems.

To try to say which item(s) is/are "more valuable" is academically
irresponsible and offensive.  The qualitative evaluation of history is,
thankfully, an antiquated practice developed by Eurocentric academicians
but dismissed by the vast majority of contemporary historians.

Sincerely,

Jay Heuman
Visitor & Volunteer Services Coordinator
Joslyn Art Museum



> Tim Atherton wrote:
> > An American expert in Islamic art tries to measure the
> >cultural devastation caused by the Baghdad museum looting.
>
> Yes, but the Iraq loss is even worse because it affects the
> history of all civilization -- 7000 years' worth -- where
> ours is important to *us* but it doesn't affect the rest of
> the world so much.
> Betty in Texas

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