‘As ye sow, so shall ye reap.’ The British Museum; the writhing …

[SurpriseSparDay]

I can’t be the only person utterly fascinated by the level of distraught handwringing disbelief the British Museum is experiencing right now.

Theft, eh?

How, pray, did this great institution acquire the artefacts contained therein? How?

If Ming isn’t China, then the British Empire under which auspices these objects were taken isn’t the modern day UK. The British have no moral justification for keeping looted goods.

So where does it go? To virtually closed to outsiders China? To the height of the antiquities trade and unrest in Baghdad? To an oil rich middle eastern playboy's collection in their basement, attempting to show culture?

Do you apply the same principles to The Louvre? Pergamon? How about the USA return their original copy of Magna Carta to the UK? Or is it just Britain you hate?

If those countries want the artefacts back, then why should Britain set itself up as the arbiter of what should be done with them?

I never said I hate Britain, I don't. True and mature patriotism is wanting your country to do the right thing, not believing that everything it does is right!

I can't help you with that one because I'm Chinese. Why do you think I keep banging on about Chinese artefacts when no one else here does? I don't want them to go to the Communists.

The Communists aren't interested in traditional Chinese culture. They respect traditional Tibetan or Manchu culture even less, although they will want to get their hands on lots of stuff in the British Museum.

I believe that the Oba of Benin has the right to decide what happens to the Benin Bronzes, but I cannot accept that the CPC has the right to decide what happens to Chinese, Tibetan, Uyghur or Manchu artefacts.

I believe that these artifacts are the property of mankind, not a country or people. Given that BM fulfils the role of making them accessible I don't see why it is beneficial to gamble by sending them elsewhere.

It doesn’t matter what you personally think or accept. International museum ethics codes govern stolen goods and advocate their return if requested and if they were taken forcibly.

Well luckily there doesn't seem any immediate prospect, so I'll continue to enjoy these items, hopefully so will my great grandchildren one day.

Hopefully by visiting them where they actually belong.

Meanwhile ...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-66843922