Well, I know. We do tend to be tacky. But there is a strain in us that bypassed those Romans and urges us--some of us anyway--not to polish the marble. I'll bet Ruth's right, that it's our original strain and comes straight from Columbus.
BTW, I think we have a clear and overwhelming claim to the Elgin Marbles. Not to mention the Venus de Milo and the Victory of Samothrace.