George Clooney calling for repatriation of Parthenon Marbles

[Dodgypainting]

And thinks because he made the film ‘Monument Men’ he is qualified to speak on this? Is it one more bandwagon he wants to jump on along with trying to sort out Sudan, the Environment, the Syrian refugee crisis and BLM. Why does he feel qualified to step into some of the most sensitive situations on the planet as a white guy with no expertise in the complex and sensitive issues he speaks out on? It’s ok to raise awareness but he should leave his wife to act on behalf of the Greek government re The Marbles and the plight of the Yazidis as she actually knows what she’s talking about. Where is the fear of doing more harm then good whenever these celebs speak out on some of their pet projects?

He's right. It's entirely unjustified to keep them.

Complex and sensitive issue?
We took them. The Greeks want them back. Seems pretty simple to me.

But why does he feel he is going to be listened to? He’s an actor. It’s his wife’s case.

I agree with him

I agree with him too. They belong to their country of origin and there is a beautiful museum to house them in.

I agree with him. Britain took them. They belong in Greece.

@Dodgypainting

But why does he feel he is going to be listened to? He’s an actor. It’s his wife’s case.

Because he has huge international reach. You've listened to him. You've heard him. You're now posting on a forum and telling lots of other people what he said.

Job done, I'd say. You've got lots of people listening to him.

But why does he feel he is going to be listened to? He’s an actor. It’s his wife’s case.

Freedom of speech means he can say what he wants. Why shouldn't he have an opinion?

African Americans took the USA from indigenous Americans? ‘Interesting’ analysis.

He's just using his fame for a good cause, clearly he isn't a leading expert, but famous people often draw attention to something that those outside of the interested group otherwise wouldn't notice. There's a lot in the world to get angry about so I won't get worked up over that.

@Dodgypainting

But why does he feel he is going to be listened to? He’s an actor. It’s his wife’s case.

He has been listened to. By you, apart from anything else. Celebrities have reach. The vast majority of people are not experts in any field related to this but most of them can get their head around this and form an opinion.

He’s right though

The Parthenon Marbles were stolen/looted from Greece under the spurious claim that the Ottoman empire had sanctioned their removal (even if they had, the Ottoman's were not Greek).

The British Museum has repeatedly refused to return the stolen property, even though there are plenty of more modern precedents like valuable artwork being returned to the original families after being looted by the Nazi regime.

There is also scope in this modern world of ours to create replicas for display in the British Museum.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion about this, I imagine that living with someone who is involved in trying to get the British Museum to return stolen artifacts is going to feel strongly enough to share that opinion.

It's not complex and sensitive. A Scottish Lord looted ancient artifacts, the Museum displaying them for financial gain won't return them.

He’s right.

@JackieWeaverHandforthCouncil

African Americans took the USA from indigenous Americans? ‘Interesting’ analysis.

Thank you. I couldn’t articulate a response other than what the actual fuck are you on about.

Bonkers comparisons @TakeTheCuntOutOfScunthorpe

@Dodgypainting

But why does he feel he is going to be listened to? He’s an actor. It’s his wife’s case.

Well you listened to him, didn't you? Job done.

@TakeTheCuntOutOfScunthorpe

We'll return the marbles when European and African Americans return the USA to indigenous people. When the Irish return Scotland to descendants of the Picts. When the cost of Covid is returned to the country it originated in.

Who's the "we" in this? Everyone else on this thread has managed to distinguish between returning looted marble sculptures and the forced removal of people to countries they've never been to. Not that it's impossible. Millions were forcibly brought to the Americas. But that fact seems to have bypassed you.

To answer your question simply:

He's an egomaniac. Like 90% of celebs. In his mind, his opinion is the most important one in the world, and everybody in their grandmother's will fall over themselves to bow at the feet of such a powerful political seer.

@TakeTheCuntOutOfScunthorpe

We'll return the marbles when European and African Americans return the USA to indigenous people. When the Irish return Scotland to descendants of the Picts. When the cost of Covid is returned to the country it originated in.

Erm... keep African Americans out of this/your fight. They were violently dragged there without their permission and murdered/worked to death for European Americans. This is not their argument. Fight your own battles by yourself without blaming Black people.

I find this whole ‘celebrities/athletes shouldn’t speak about anything but their specific field’ very weird. That’s just their job, they are also people like anyone else, people who are listened to. You can work in an office and tell your friends and co-workers what you think, he’s doing the same just on a wider scale. It’s fine.

Complex and sensitive issue?
We took them. The Greeks want them back. Seems pretty simple to me.

This. There's nothing complicated about it. And he's right.

Where is the fear of doing more harm then good whenever these celebs speak out on some of their pet projects?

Because sometimes there's a right side and a wrong side that's obvious to almost everybody. And he's on the right side.

It's not like the Nazis looting artworks at all. As far as I can remember the Marbles were bought (whether from someone who had any right to sell them is debatable) and consequently removed from the Parthenon which the Ottomans were using to store gunpowder. So possibly saved from destruction.

I think maybe we should return them now as a gesture of goodwill, because they should be just as safe in Athens as they are in London and the Greeks really want them back.

It does raise the question of which museums should be housing which artefacts though – it is good for everyone's cultural education for museums to hold a wide range of exhibits from other countries/cultures. How much would giving back the Marbles cause a domino effect of giving other items back to their country of origin?

What it's got to do with George Clooney I don't know.

He's entitled to his opinion, just as everyone is. His shouldn't carry more weight than anyone else's though - actors do have a tendency to forget that their job is simply pretending to be someone else and their roles don't bestow special powers which make their opinions more worthy.

See also Sean Penn and Emma Thompson