Shock and Awe? Or Shocking and Awful?

I have always been astounded at people who go to a foreign land and never learn anything about the place they're visiting. What better way of getting to know our fellow men than by looking at their history and culture. Like most families I'm sure, our holidays were fun to plan with the children as we negotiated 'days of culture' and 'days of lazing'. My children (now adults) aren't cultural philistines, nor I anti-seaside, it was just a question of balance; a morning in the museum, an afternoon at the beach, and so forth. So when I came across this short film, I was deeply shocked. The cultural rape of a nation is a loss to us all whatever our nationality. As one commenator says, if you want to destroy a people, destroy their history, their culture.

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So it begs the question, why were the museums and archives of Iraq not protected against looters? Surely someone in authority must have at least thought about it? Looking at some of the scenes and listening to what has been destroyed - its heartbreaking.

During the Second World War, the Allies had the foresight to create a special group, attached to the British and American armies, to ensure the protection of cultural heritage (as much as war would allow). They were also to track down and restore stolen artworks. This was the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Section, nicknamed the 'Monuments Men' . The group of about 350 (mostly men and some women) were museum directors, curators, art historians, and educators from thirteen countries, and their work was utterly remarkable.

Before everyone jumps up and starts talking about places like Monte Cassino, I know there were many places destroyed. My point is that at least there was thought given to the protection and reclamation of Europe's cultural heritage. Why not in Iraq?

If you are interested in reading more on either of these topics there are two books.

The Destruction of Cultural Heritage in Iraq

by Peter G Stone & Joanne Farchakh Bajjaly
(click above for an interesting Times Online article)

Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves,

and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History

by Robert Edsel