Chapter 3: The Destruction of Culture
The reinterpretation of history and culture is dizzying and dangerous. But is the bedrock of the hatred and intolerance that leads to war.
(Hedges, War Is a Force p.77) |
Iraq Looting
As tanks rolled into downtown Baghdad on April 9, 2003, the Americans claimed regime-change from the power of Saddam Hussein to "freedom" for Iraqis. With this also came freedom to loot and destory as the National Museum of Iraq lost 170,000 items to destruction and theft.
Articles
Lost
from the Baghdad museum: truth (The Guardian) June 10, 2003.
When, back in mid-April, the news first arrived of the looting at the Iraqi
National Museum in Baghdad, words hardly failed anyone. No fewer than 170,000
items had, it was universally reported, been stolen or destroyed, representing
a large proportion of Iraq's tangible culture. And it had all happened as
some US troops stood by and watched, and others had guarded the oil ministry.
And
Now: 'Operation Iraqi Looting' (New York Times) April
27, 2003.
Let it never be said that our government doesn't give a damn about culture.
It was on April 10, the same day the sacking of the National Museum in
Baghdad began, that a subtitled George W. Bush went on TV to tell the Iraqi
people that they are ''the heirs of a great civilization that contributes
to all humanity.'' And so what if America stood idly by while much of the
heritage of that civilization -- its artifacts, its artistic treasures,
its literary riches and written records -- was being destroyed as he spoke?
The Sacking
of Baghdad (Counterpunch) April 15, 2003
I saw the looters. One of them cursed me when I tried to reclaim
a book of Islamic law from a boy of no more than 10. Amid the ashes
of Iraqi history, I found a file blowing in the wind outside: pages
of handwritten letters between the court of Sharif Hussein of Mecca,
who started the Arab revolt against the Turks for Lawrence of Arabia,
and the Ottoman rulers of Baghdad. And the Americans did nothing.
President's
Message to the Iraqi People (WhiteHouse.gov) April 10,
2003.
You are a good and gifted people -- the heirs of a great civilisation that
contributes to all humanity. You deserve better than tyranny and corruption
and torture chambers. You deserve to live as free people. And I assure
every citizen of Iraq: your nation will soon be free.
Scupture/Memorials
Czappa, Bill. A
Never Ending War Sculpture (2008).
This is a ship floating on a sea of nails that is being sawed by a hacksaw
with a wooden blade, while a hammer bears down on it. The smoke from the
ship is baseballs signifing loosing fun time when you are at war. The war
may just be strugling with an artwork or a real war. The saying on the
scroll says, I hammered and sawed aimlessly through the night, Each nail
like a war with battle ships sunk, the sawdust as usless as bullits struck."
Muir,
James. Civil
War Sculpture: Allegorical Sculpture & Monuments in Bronze.
"Allegorical Art" is a term James Muir uses to describe his work,
which is filled with symbology to help create a heightened social, political
and spiritual awareness. "The allegorical symbolism in my sculptures bridges
the centuries of history to make contemporary statements about the human condition,
in order to exemplify the highest qualities of man. My work speaks of Duty,
Honor, Courage, Liberty and Justice, but above all, it speaks of Truth and
the ultimate triumph of the human spirit."
Edwards, Daniel. Iraq War Memorial (2007). The "Iraq War Memorial" features Prince Harry - who is alive and well - laid out before the British flag with a bouquet of red roses filling his helmet.The inspiration came from what he was willing to risk," Edwards said. "It's an idea of bravery."
Johnston, Barry Woods. Freedom
from War. Bronze, (1973).
This sculpture is part of the modern collection of the Vatican Museum in
Rome. The work evolved out of the years of the Vietnam War. Waves of war
clash, sweeping humanity into despair. Also at the point of clash is a
cross being raised by another group of figures lead by a figure of Christ.
Lin, Maya. Vietnam Veteran's
Memorial (1982).
Deliberately setting aside the controversies of the war, the Vietnam Veterans
Memorial honors the men and women who served when their Nation called upon
them. The designer, Maya Lin, felt that "the politics had eclipsed the
veterans, their service and their lives." She kept the design elegantly
simple to "allow everyone to respond and remember."
First World War Sculpture A collection of First World War sculpture by various artists. Various materials.
Rogers, John. Council
of War group statue (1868).
Sculptor once very popular whose "Rogers Groups" were prized
objects in many a Victorian parlor in ordinary homes across the country.
He was extremely popular from c. 1863 to the early 1890's. Lincoln,
Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War, and General Grant. This was patented
c. 1868 to 1878. It sold for $25.00 in 1878, and for $20.00 from 1882-1895.
This was a high price at the time, and the statue was considered one of
his most popular groups. There were at least 60 copies extant.
Egyptian
Seated Sekhmet Lioness God of War Sculpture Egyptian Museum,
Cairo.
(26th Dynasty 600 B.C.) Her name meant "The Mighty One". Her
nature being that of a Goddess of War, she accompanied the King to battle
and was often described as his mother. She spread terror everywhere. Sekhmet
was represented as a lioness or as a woman with lion's head. Her weapons
were arrows "with which she pierces hearts" and a fiery glow
emanated from her body. The hot desert winds were regarded as the Goddess's
hot breath. She was connected with the fire-spitting Uraeus of the King
and thereby became the "Eye of Ra". Sekhmet was also regarded
as the one "Great of Magic" whose knowledge of sorcery gave her
a place in the service of healing.