In a message dated 4/18/2003 10:30:41 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<< 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.
  >>

Nonsense.  Even if one considers the symbolic value of all the lost Iraqi
artifacts to be somehow comparable to the symbolic value of the Constitution
and the Liberty Bell, the scientific and research values of the ancient
objects are clearly higher.  Lumping all historical artifacts together as
equivalent in signficance is a pointless exercise in cultural relativism.
Even "contemporary historians" value the research potential of ancient
artifacts, do they not?  "Antiquated practice developed by Eurocentric
academicians," my foot.

"Academically irresponsible and offensive"?  Come on.

David Haberstich

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