ISIS and the Destruction of Antiquities

I know that ISIS' abhorrent and barbaric behavior towards their fellow human beings has been well talked about, but their wonton destruction of antiquities is a crime against all humanity. I cannot imagine wanting to live in the world that they want to create.

It just boggles my mind and saddens me deeply.

 

The artifacts and objects extreme Islam has destroyed over the last 30 years... Those Buddha statues in Afghanistan were almost wonders of the world.

 

I know nothing lasts forever, but still, watching these temples and other places getting blown up is just sad beyond comprehension.

 

I agree, Norris. Disgusting, senseless behavior. Saddening.

 

A minor issue compared to what they're doing to individuals but still senseless

 

ISIS cares nothing about lives and artifacts. They only care about creating fear to get their way. Wipe 'em out.

 

Destroying something like that is taking away from every individual who will come to exist. A small thing, but compounded over all future members of humanity.

 

I still value a person more that

 

Looking at this very callously... a farmer getting beheaded is no real loss to humanity. It's an affront, but it isn't a loss.

These ruins have stood invasions from the Romans, Muhammed, the Mongols and the Crusaders. It also withstood colonial era conquests.

These are a human relic and that is why they were destroyed. ISIS doesn't just stand idly by while relics to tolerance and shared culture remains standing, they're even more intolerant and singular than any of the aforementioned conquerors. That's a stark indictment of ISIS.

 

Millennia of shared human history unfortunately doesn't.

 

I see what you're saying 53. I hope you can see what I am saying. I wouldn't choose an artifact over a Syrian farmer, but the impact of the artifact will reach further into time and space. We aren't that special.

 

Exactly. I don't think there is a single person here that would, if given the choice, choose to disarm a bomb strapped to the Great Pyramid or one strapped to the poorest street bum in Cairo, would choose the Pyramid.

But, because we base a lot of ourselves on our past, it grounds us in many ways, seeing these things destroyed is taking away from every human on the planet. We all own the Mona Lisa, the Pyramids, the Great Wall of China, etc. They belong to you, me, my kids, my great grandkids and their great grandkids.

It is just sad what they are doing in the name of their religion.

 

We don't know the reach that the farmer/individual could have had either. I agree that it's sad but I'd rather them blow up a statue or temple than behead someone.

 

It takes someone special to create that artifact.

 

Me too. That isn't the situation. The situation is they are doing all of the above.

 

An individual doesn't make a cultural artifact, a culture does.

 

It takes a unique talent like da Vinci to make a cultural artifact. Without him we won't see the great works that represented the Renaissance.

 

1. These artifact vary in their contemporary uniqueness and value

2. da Vinci was part of a culture, and partly a product of a culture. No man is an island. We all stand on the shoulders of those before us. Etc, etc. You didn't build that [infrastructure you used].

This isn't even an argument, this is a butthurt "center of the universe is me" mindset that is prevalent these days. Sorry, you're on team Humanity and the only way off is death.

 

Cultures that emphasizes the individual are the strongest. Tribalism is human nature though so we always revert back to it over time.

 

All individuals originate from a pair of people. All pairs from four others. Those four came from eight. Like it or not, if you exist, you came from a group and you're part of a group.