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 ========================================================= 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).