[MadIvan]

I think Mr. Lagat should remain in Britain - it's unlikely he's going to be able to go home.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Ping!

[CarrotAndStick]

I demand you return the Koh-i-Noor diamond, the Peacock Throne and te rest to India...or else! ;^)

[RWR8189]

Mr. Lagat is obviously a racist.

[denydenydeny]

Can you imagine what would happen to any "rightfully returned" artifacts in the righteous paradise of Zimbabwe?

Theft and resale on the black market would likely be the best fate for anything valuable there.

[FairOpinion]

GGG PING? (digest?)

[Berlin_Freeper]

'Stolen' treasures better off in the West, says African curator


What isn't?

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Fairopinion.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
"Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list or GGG weekly digest
-- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

[iceskater]

Art ping?

[rabidralph]

You'd think people would look at the condition of South Africa and figure this out for themselves.

[dangus]

Unfortunately, it's very hard to define "stealing" when dealing with societies instead of individuals. If native looters plunder and destroy what should be regarded as natural treasures, and the British move in, thwart the thieves, and seize the treasure, did they steal it?

If, apon finding it in such dangerous conditions, and they legally pay to acquire it, so that they can protect and preserve it, are they stealing? If, by paying for it, they help sustain the underground market which motivated the plunderers in the first place, are they stealing?

If, after having acquired a treasure, they go far beyond what the local society could ever do to protect and preserve it, and then *loan* it back to the local society, are they stealing?

If they sell it back at a nominal value which only reflects the investment they've made in keeping it safe, are they stealing?

If they give it back to an unstable or corrupt government, which uses the treasure to legitimize itself, but cannot effectively ensure their own continuance, let alone the safety of the treasure, during the civil unrest which is a natural consequence of their corruption, are they stealing?

If they use such treasures to steer a government towards integrity and democracy, thus "imposing Western values," are they stealing?

[Ditter]

Every time I hear an Egyptian whining about the Egyptian antiquities in museums around the world I think about where those antiquities would be if the Brits and others had not removed them. The Egyptians trashed every tomb they could find, it is BECAUSE the Brits removed them and put them in museums that they are valued. Let them whine, don't give anything back.

[Serb5150]

[AFreeBird]

Never the less, he is right. And, as any good curator charged with the protection of antiquities, right to do so. If his people really do care about what they want back, they will come around. Otherwise I don't see the British Museum, nor any other that has cataloged, displayed, preserved and protected the worlds history, as giving them up until they are assured of their well being.

[Little Ray]

I coulda told him that. Who would want to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece, esp. right now?