Destroying Artifacts

[LovelyLadyLux]

Yeah am talking about ISIS again and the latest video of them destroying ancient artifacts and then the bombing of an ancient city in Iraq.

IS the rationale for destroying all these ancient artifacts that they don't want fellow ISIS (I honestly can't say fellow Muslims as these ISIS people are a perversion of humanity) worshipping false Gods?

Do they really believe that WE as in generic people really "worship" ancient artifacts and that looking at ancient artifacts in some way diminishes love for Allah or God?

I'm just not getting what their point is anymore. I never got it in the first place but am getting it less and less as time goes on.

[Mad Dilys]

As far as I can see they are anarchists who, through the modern means of communication have attracted and enrolled sadists and psychopaths to achieve their end - which is chaos.

[Horus]

As far as I can see they are anarchists who, through the modern means of communication have attracted and enrolled sadists and psychopaths to achieve their end - which is chaos.

Could not have put it better, they are desperate for publicity and will keep committing more and more outrageous acts to gain media attention

[LovelyLadyLux]

I see them as ugly spirited little kids in adult bodies throwing massive temper tantrums in efforts to get their own way. But - yeah - really psychopaths and sociopaths.

I'd love to think there is some way 'we' can protect that which we can't replace but I know once the proverbial crystal is broken it isn't going back again. Definitely hope there is increased security around some of the worlds super famous landmarks - Taj Mahal, pyramids and sphinx ... would be so tragic if these and lots of others were to disappear. AND I'm not even going down the path of all the loss of human life these barbarians are responsible for.

[Horus]

They are one of the best reasons the West could have for NOT returning so called national treasures to these places, our museums are a much safer bet.

[Mad Dilys]

I'm very much afraid you are right Horus.

[LovelyLadyLux]

Totally agree and right now I would be returning anything to anybody. I'd even go a step further and say if we could get any (course reasonably sized) treasures out of harms way and into our care we should be doing it...... i.e. Mask of King Tut. How safe is it really these days in Egypt? It is a more well known 'symbol' and I honestly think it is a target.

[Horus]

Obviously we cannot protect everything and of course each country has a right to whatever artifacts they have in their country, but as to returning stuff that we currently have then, no way. I would even go as far as to say that things such as the Elgin Marbles which could be considered as something we maybe aught to return to Greece should no longer be considered due to the poor state of Greece's ecconomy, they may flog them off to the nearest bidder to raise money, it really could happen.

[LovelyLadyLux]

Seriously do you really think Isis is "destroying" all artifacts? OR do you actually believe they are selling all they can get their hands on on the black market?

I'm of a mind they are videoing some of what they're smashing but most of it is being sold. They need to keep raising $$ to fund their efforts somehow and I think any national treasures they get their hands on are being sold.

[Horus]

Personally I reckon that they destroy most of it, common sense does not enter into it, only a rabid mindset that sees their own corrupted version of Islam and intollerant views as being paramount.

[Grandad]

I seem to remember some years ago, the Taliban going on similar missions to destroy artifacts in Afghanistan. It does not seem to matter what banner they operate under, Al Queda, Taliban, Islamic State or whatever, they are always bent on destruction of anything viewed as 'valuable' to the rest of the world.
I am not convinced that they would make any religious justification for these actions. Although we know that in Islam there are no images of worship, I think the destruction of any such antiquities is as more to antagonise the rest of the world than it is religious.
As for possibly selling antiqities, I am not convinced about that. IS seems perfectly capable of funding its actions without going into black market trading.