Give Me Back My Marbles!!!

Ah, how many times do you hear politicians complain like school kids? How many times do you see politicians act like school kids?

While we were perusing the pillages of Lord Elgin I snuck up and listened to one of the tour guides:

"Of course, whether the freize should stay here in England or return to Greece is a matter of extreme controversy that we will not go into here...*insert plum British laugh*"

And from a passing Greek lady who was walking by "*insert rather loud mocking of plum British laugh*"

The elephant in the tour guide's cupboard. Hmmm!

To me it smacks of the worst kind of cultural imperialism. Poor little Greece is complaining that big bully Britain won't give her back what someone stole from her. What is Britain's argument? We can look after them better than you can! (and if we give them back, then we will have to give everything else back too!)

Okay, I am simplifying the issues a little (it is a matter of extreme controversy that we will not go into here) but in weighing up the arguments those calling for the retention of the marbles (and, by the extension of their arguments, ALL museum held antiquities) do smack of paternalism.

All I can say is: What about the CHILDREN!?!?

You can go here for more info on the push for the return. There are also some good tidbits and links here.

On a less controversial note (unless you are against cruelty to animals) here are some nice desktop pics I took for your computer that have lions being shot by Assyrian arrows.

Tags: British Museum, Parthenon, Elgin marbles