Of course, It's a terrible thing to see major artworks destroyed for
the sake of religion.

But, what's new?  This has been happening as long as there has been
religion. While the Taliban actions are stupid, uncivilized,
irreverent, and irreversible, they are a normal historical process.

I question the wisdom of our taking a position on the issue.

We are supposed to be social scientists or historians, observing and
recording events, and I trust the specialists in Afghan art and
antiquities will be making a record of the destruction. But would it
be ethical for professionals in the area of culture history to
condemn actions of the Afghan rulers? We are not theologians. What
they are doing is a well-document process in the history of
extremism, and they are creating an archaeological record that can
later recover that record.
--
Ned Heite  ([log in to unmask])
**********************************************
*                                            *
*    Gardening season is upon us. We need    *
*    help from all our friends. Have you     *
*    hugged your compost pile lately?        *
*                                            *
**********************************************