7 ms·

So that it can be destroyed/stolen/sold in a future riot/coup?

by turbo_fart 4y ago

luma 4y ago
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- turndown 4y ago
  Fact of the matter is, Egypt exists in an incredibly unstable place. I am friends with native Egyptians that do not go back to their home country. I’d prefer that all artifacts were returned, but I also find posts like this to be ignorant of, you know, the last eight or ten thousand years of human history where people simply pillaged and moved on. How much does it really matter that Egypt wants the Rosetta Stone back so bad, when the fact of the matter is that Egypt’s own interest in this stuff - as historical pieces for a museum, and not a quick buck - is much more recent than either of us would prefer to admit?
  - luma 4y ago
    I'm not terribly concerned about how recent Egypt's request to have their treasures returned are. They were stolen hundreds of years ago, now they want it back. I don't see any good reason why that request should not be honored that doesn't boil down to racism. The Egyptian people have a right to their own history, and claiming that they simply can't be trusted with their own heritage is a statement only a white person would think is reasonable.
    - turndown 4y ago
      I didn't claim Egypt can't be trusted, I said your judgment of the safety therein was - don't miscontrue that. As I said, I believe all artefacts should be returned to the stated country. As I implied, Egypt mainly cares about these things for the same reason the UK does - tourism money. The Rosetta Stone only matters because of the story attached to it, there are many other copies that have been found since. Egypt only clamors for its return because it wants to cash in on the hundreds of years of marketing around this object. Also, I just find your reasoning reductive when it comes to things that happened hundreds and thousands of years ago. You are aware that the Rosetta Stone was written by Macedonian monarchs, who lived in a brand new city found by another Macedonian, who all spoke Greek, killed any Egyptian's that didn't submit to their rule, and refused to learn their language? ... You are aware that Ancient Egypt itself subjugated untold millions, pillaged their lands, carried off valuables, raided neighbors, harbored suspicion for outsiders, and would have done the exact same thing the French did, and or the exact same thing the British did in stealing it from them, since this is how they lived? Should Italy demand the Meroe head?
    - turbo_fart 4y ago
      I have been in Cairo post Arab spring and it's a mess. They can get the stone back when the country is not a complete disaster. Will this ever happen? Probably no. Love how you assumed we are white! I'm actually green
  - deleted 4y ago
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deleted 4y ago
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AlecSchueler 4y ago
This argument feels close to the white man's burden.
- readthenotes1 4y ago
  It's a little bit closer to the Elgin Marbles
  - AlecSchueler 4y ago
    Feels like someone rich and powerful stealing items from the houses of poor people on the basis that the things will be better protected in their safe, and then charging money for people to come look at them including the original owners
zen_1 4y ago
Well seeing as it's already stolen...

So that it can be destroyed/stolen/sold in a future riot/coup?

luma 4y ago

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
turndown 4y ago
Fact of the matter is, Egypt exists in an incredibly unstable place. I am friends with native Egyptians that do not go back to their home country. I’d prefer that all artifacts were returned, but I also find posts like this to be ignorant of, you know, the last eight or ten thousand years of human history where people simply pillaged and moved on. How much does it really matter that Egypt wants the Rosetta Stone back so bad, when the fact of the matter is that Egypt’s own interest in this stuff - as historical pieces for a museum, and not a quick buck - is much more recent than either of us would prefer to admit?
- luma 4y ago
  I'm not terribly concerned about how recent Egypt's request to have their treasures returned are. They were stolen hundreds of years ago, now they want it back. I don't see any good reason why that request should not be honored that doesn't boil down to racism. The Egyptian people have a right to their own history, and claiming that they simply can't be trusted with their own heritage is a statement only a white person would think is reasonable.
  - turndown 4y ago
    I didn't claim Egypt can't be trusted, I said your judgment of the safety therein was - don't miscontrue that. As I said, I believe all artefacts should be returned to the stated country. As I implied, Egypt mainly cares about these things for the same reason the UK does - tourism money. The Rosetta Stone only matters because of the story attached to it, there are many other copies that have been found since. Egypt only clamors for its return because it wants to cash in on the hundreds of years of marketing around this object. Also, I just find your reasoning reductive when it comes to things that happened hundreds and thousands of years ago. You are aware that the Rosetta Stone was written by Macedonian monarchs, who lived in a brand new city found by another Macedonian, who all spoke Greek, killed any Egyptian's that didn't submit to their rule, and refused to learn their language? ... You are aware that Ancient Egypt itself subjugated untold millions, pillaged their lands, carried off valuables, raided neighbors, harbored suspicion for outsiders, and would have done the exact same thing the French did, and or the exact same thing the British did in stealing it from them, since this is how they lived? Should Italy demand the Meroe head?
  - turbo_fart 4y ago
    I have been in Cairo post Arab spring and it's a mess. They can get the stone back when the country is not a complete disaster. Will this ever happen? Probably no. Love how you assumed we are white! I'm actually green
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

AlecSchueler 4y ago

This argument feels close to the white man's burden.

readthenotes1 4y ago
It's a little bit closer to the Elgin Marbles
- AlecSchueler 4y ago
  Feels like someone rich and powerful stealing items from the houses of poor people on the basis that the things will be better protected in their safe, and then charging money for people to come look at them including the original owners

zen_1 4y ago

Well seeing as it's already stolen...