Time to return treasures plundered by the colonial powers

[Dom Tuk]

Do you think the british should still own (among other things) the Elgin marbles and the Kohinoor Diamond. These are a legacy of the plundering colonial past and should be returned to the correct countires. What justification is there to still keep them here?.

[Artemis]

The so called 'Elgin Marbles' were purchased from the Greek Government perfectly legally.

The Kohinoor diamond was a gift to Queen Victoria.

I see no problem with this and don't think they should be returned.

[january_bug]

If we own it legitimately, we should be allowed to keep things.  A gift is a gift is a gift - you can't ask for it back (with the exception of engagement rings where the bride doesn't make it to the altar!) 

If we nicked it and they want it back, then fine. 

One justification may be that we are better able to care for and display such items for the benefit of future generations.

 

Ooops- gotta run! Will post more later!

[goldenboy]

what about the bodies of aboriginies held in the british museum?

[Tatty Rollox]

.......... here is a part of the Elgin Marbles, here is the Koh-i-Noor diamond, and here are Aboriginal remains going home .........

[jno]

just that the 'Greek government' at the time of the Elgin purchase were in fact Turks. So it's as if Hitler had occupied Britain and sold off all the Turners to Americas; how would the British now feel about that?

[Tatty Rollox]

...... and here are the Turks wot did it ............

[qapmoc]

Hi,  Hey every country in the world and in every culture going back thousands of years had/has things which came from somewhere else as "spoils of war" or whatever else.  If you want to return all of it its going to take some time!!, or is it only the British kept stuff that upsets you and if so why?