Isn't this also inappropriate Mr. moderator? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steven Miller" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Monday, July 21, 2003 1:55 AM Subject: Re: Looting The Musuem of Stupidity > David, thank you for your well stated, and well reasoned, attempt put this whole issue > in its proper perspective. It is a much welcome breath of fresh air after having to read the garbage that started the whole marines in iraq "discussion"! Your thread I'll enjoy following! > > David Harvey wrote: > > > I nominate the Musuem-L thread on "marines" and "appropriate topics" to the > > Museum of Stupidity. It is especially noted that the particpants hurled > > personal invectives, political diatribes, and missed the entire point of the issue > > that first started this all. > > > > Oh! The Musuem of Stupidity has just been looted! > > > > Looting of cultural heritage....remember that? > > > > It is appropraite to discuss the US military's responsibility to protect > > cultural heritage in any conflict - we are signatories of the UNESCO convention, > > after all. > > > > I think it is a bit over the top to blame the american and british forces for > > the looting, as if they had kicked open the doors and loaded the goodies on > > to a truck themselves. The truth is that citizens of Iraq did that - and it > > appears to have been a phenomenon linked to a long-standing practice of looting > > cultural heritage for gain. (Most ot the Pyramids are empty after all!) > > > > But the larger issue here, and one that has a long, long history (that > > invovled many prominent museums until recently) is that of the thriving trade in > > antiquities and stolen art. Correct me if I am wrong, but many of the world's > > musuems bought stolen works from the black market (no questions asked), or they > > acquired them through their colonialst or imperialist pasts (The Elgin Marbles). > > > > Much of this has abated, at least formally, by the adoption of the UNESCO > > conventions in the 1980's. > > > > But there is still a thriving market for stolen cultural heritage. And this > > is what really feeds the phenomenon. If there wasn't such a huge demand for > > these treasures in Europe, Asia, and America, and elsewhere in the world, then > > there would not be the market to create the lucre necessary to feed the looting. > > > > So much could be done by stricter intervention on international borders. On > > having groups that monitor auctions and online trading, of higher priority > > given to the protection of cultural resources and heritage by national and local > > governements. On having more severe penalities for trafficking in cultural > > heritage - not just fines, but real hard time. > > > > As the current issue of Archaeolgy magazine points out, this is the issue. > > > > http://www.archaeology.org/magazine.php?page=curiss/index > > > > Cheers! > > Dave > > > > David Harvey > > 2930 South Birch Street > > Denver, CO 80222 > > 303-300-5257 > > [log in to unmask] > > > > ========================================================= > > Important Subscriber Information: > > > > The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). > > > > If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes). > > ========================================================= > Important Subscriber Information: > > The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). > > If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes). > ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).