Hostage No More

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/american.../why-does-heritage-become-_b6792...

Destruction at the Mosul Museum
Mosul, Iraq
nytimes.com

Hello Everyone:

The world is often a sad place.  It is sadder today because once again, because a piece of humanity has been destroyed.  Today we are going to take a look at what the latest round of iconoclasm means for humanity.  Iconoclasm is not something unique to contemporary times.  Throughout the history of humanity, both Western and Eastern cultures have destroyed venerated objects that represent cherished beliefs in the name of strengthening a particular dogma.  These objects are documents of a culture.  While cities and towns can be rebuilt, people sent into exile can establish a settlement elsewhere, artifacts are documents of who that culture is at any given moment in time.  Once the artifacts are destroyed, the history of a civilization is gone for good.  Therefore, in the battle against terrorism, if we are to truly win the hearts and minds of a people, we must do everything within our power to protect cultural property.

The taller of the Buddhas of Bamiyan
Left: 1963; Right: 2008
en.wikipedia.org

Chip Colwell's post, "Why Does Heritage Become Hostage?" published in the Huffington Post, laments, "...Although shocking, such destruction has routine.  Iraq's cultural heritage, along with the country's suffering citizens has become a constant victim in its tragic war." Shockingly routine.  The Buddhas of Bamiyan fell victim to systemic iconoclasm in the spring of 2001.  The perpetrator was a regime that referred to them as "...gods of infidels, who worshipped them and these are respected even now and perhaps may be turned into gods again."  In each case, the sledgehammer power tool wielding self-appointed guardians of the true word claimed these artifacts, representative of millennia-old culture, promoted idolatry.  The path of destruction crossed the Mosul library, the Mosques, and holy shrines reducing to ashes and smokes, monuments and literature contrary to the perpetrator's unyielding view of Islam. Mr. Colwell, declares, "We have entered a new age of iconoclasm in the Islamic world."

Mosul, Iraq
borgenmagazine.com

The destruction of monuments is not a phenomena unique to the modern era.  Mr. Colwell writes, "A bridge of history connects the ancient and contemporary destruction of images in the Middle East.  Most agree that Islamic theology is neutral on the question of artistic representation."  Iconoclasm is not unique to Islam.  Iconoclasm was a way to strengthen theology and draw a distinct line between Us and Them.  In the early centuries of Islam, some of its followers sought to dramatically break with Christianity.  Thus we can view the destruction in Mosul as part of this black continuum.  In modern times, iconoclasm is a signifier of radical Islam.

Byzantine-era iconoclasm
Chludov Psalter, 9th Century
en.wikipedia.com

However, history tells us that Islam does not have a monopoly on iconoclasm.  The word "iconoclast" was first used in the Byzantine Empire, during the eighth century when a rebellious faction within the Greek Orthodox Church launched a destructive campaign against religious imagery.  Then as now, the iconoclasts believed they were following the scriptures, "You shall make for yourself a graven image or any likeness which is in the heavens above, which is on earth below, or which is in the water beneath the earth." (Exodus 20:4 http://www.chabad.org) Mr. Colwell cites Historian Leslie W. Barnard who wrote, "God alone, not matter, is entitled to reverence."  A second wave of iconoclasm broke out in Western Europe, during the Protestant Reformation, which targeted figurative religious art.  In 1643, the English Commons went so far as to appoint a Committee for the Destruction of Monuments of Superstition and Idolatry.  During the Balkan Conflict in the nineties, the destruction of cultural monuments was part of a program of wholesale ethnic cleansing.

Destruction of religious images c.1524
Zurich, Switzerland
en.wikipedia.org

Chip Colwell writes, "...Perhaps because so many nations around the world have suffered iconoclasm, most have finally come to understand that the malicious destruction of heritage violates not just objects but people."  These are objects that signify an identity.  That identity is symbolic of a people.  That object stands for a cherished belief and venerated by a people.  Thus, "...an iconoclast is defined as a destroyer of images that are venerated and also a person who attacks cherished beliefs."  Yet, how to we apply this definition to an organization that may share cherished beliefs with a culture that it seeks to destroy?

Perhaps the strongest legal recourse nations have is The Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. (portal.unesco.org)  The Hague Convention was a response to the massive destruction of cultural property during World War II.  Adopted on May 14, 1954 and reaffirmed on March 26, 1999, The Hague Convention recognizes "that damage to cultural property belonging to any people whatsoever means damage to the cultural heritage of all mankind, since each people makes its contribution to culture of the world..." (Ibid)  The United States ratified The Hague Convention in 2009.  Yet, blogger wonders how an organization that does not even respect human life can respect international law?

Cultural property marker
portal.unesco.org

If the United States is to lead the charge against the latest terrorist organization, it must also take the lead in the battle to protect cultural property.  Like Chip Colwell, blogger believes that the United States must be a global leader in promulgating The Hague Convention.  We need to provide more funding via the convention for peacetime security measures.  During crises moments, the United States must become cultural properties's fiercest fighter.  While The Hague Convention cannot halt every act of cultural destruction but it should be an instrument of protection for the very things and places that we cherish for their beauty, history, and culture from those who seek to destroy this connection to human history.