In Defense of Culture

Image source: http://on.msnbc.com/fnXUgL

My heart breaks to read of the Egyptian looters and the irreparable damage they inflicted on the learning of future generations. Years and years of accumulated cultural heritage, lifeworlds and memories had disappeared in Iraq during the US-led invasion. And now, we face the same threat to the Egyptian cultural heritage. Why some people would do this is unthinkable to me. But well, many other things are unthinkable acts too. When emotions are not managed, and misguided decisions are made too quickly, we live with the consequences.

Read more here about the events:

Egypt worries about antiquities being smuggled 

Archaeologists assess Tut tragedy

Iraq finds missing artifacts in premier's storage

The cultural heritage of a people, no matter how old -- Egyptian, Mesopotamian (Iraqi), or young, like Singapore, must be protected at all costs. The saddest victim in these conflicts is not the mere loss of history or artifacts, but the heritage and identity of a people. Sad.