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The British museum collection

• dghlsakjg 3y ago
  The Nazis put up some stiff competition when it comes to the wholesale theft of art.
• booleandilemma 3y ago
  The British museum (and other museums) preserve what would have otherwise been destroyed had it remained wherever they took it from. The nations they recovered artifacts from probably don't even exist anymore. The artifacts only survive because the museum discovered them.
  • sva_ 3y ago
    I've heard they even preserve a whole group of islands next to Argentina among other places.
    • travem 3y ago
      They are certainly preserving the right to self-determination for the people who live there…
  • dghlsakjg 3y ago
    Wales, Chile, Greece, China and Egypt aren't countries? That's news to me. Its even more surprising since all of those imaginary countries have museums that hold ancient artifacts that did survive the British museum's "preservation". Even if you accept the argument that the British Museum "saved" these artifacts, what argument is there now to keep them? Greece has gone so far as to build an entire world class museum in anticipation of the return of the artifacts they claim. Sarcastically: If there is real concern about these artifacts wouldn't it make sense to remove them from an insular island monarchy with unstable governance and a declining economy?
    • 0x457 3y ago
      Let's see. China, destroyed whole of things during "Cultural Revolution". "Cool and traditional" you see there is just there as a tourist attraction. Countless ancient sites and artifacts were destroyed during the Syrian civil war. Egypt...they literally created art destruction before Christianity and then Christianity really speed things up. Look up "Pharaonic Iconoclasm". Then there was take two in 13-14th centuries. Many monuments were destroyed to reuse materials. Nearly every country that was under communism rule long enough had their heritage destroyed. Too lazy to lookup Chile and Greece, but I bet Greece would be a pretty different relationship with its past if KKE won. While Brits did steal a lot, can't argue that they did preserve plenty.
      • krapp 3y ago
        If China wants to destroy their cultural heritage, that's their right. Same with Syria, Egypt, India, Africa, wherever. No one owes colonizers the gift of their heritage, culture or artifacts. Sure, the British preserved plenty, but that isn't relevant when none of it was theirs to preserve.
        • pests 3y ago
          Exactly. It seems almost as if the person your replying to thinks these cultures and people are somehow unable or not to be trusted with their own history. Very entitled.
          • 0x457 3y ago
            If you actually dig a little deeper than my comment you will find that: 1) Mostly done by dictators and not it's not people's will 2) ISIS 3) In the case of Ancient Egypt, people thought that those things were living gods and Pharaohs inside, and destroying it would kill them. So yes, I don't trust ISIS and CPP to preserve history.
            • pests 3y ago
              Go steal some of their history then so you can preserve it for them.
  • staplers 3y ago
    The nations they recovered artifacts from probably don't even exist anymore. The previous homeowners were killed in the robbery, I didn't steal from any living soul your honor!
• motohagiography 3y ago
  was going to say, it's apparently only theft if it's from a museum or collection, and not say, WWII plunder, or the whole music industry.
  • mcv 3y ago
    I was going to argue generative AI, but the British Museum collection is definitely a good contender.