Plunder

yourmiddleeast,com

Pillage, loot, dirty money, ransack, spoil, violate, steal, violate and ruin all are identified with plunder but we'll use plunder because it seems to better identify the purpose of this article. The world has known plunder for ages so it is not a new thing. Enemies destroy both armies and plunder the victims home, businesses, schools, churches, and priceless a landmarks. This can be senseless and vindictive and malicious, not necessary to gain the peace.

Some things are sacred but need not be religious although plundering that which is sacred is often deemed more sacrilegious than other landmarks such as pyramids, towers, monuments, caves with ancient inscriptions and shrines that are more secular. Nonetheless, these are also malicious and vindictive. And unforgiving.

James Harkin penned an article in the March Smithsonian which triggered a reaction prompting me to dwell on the evil of plunder, ancient or contemporary. He calls this plunder cultural genocide which is what it is. And modern. And senseless. Unfortunately, both sides of a conflict can be guilty although often it is one-sided.

Harkin's article is well worth reading but since many do not subscribe to the Smithsonian I am inclined to share some of the graphic PILLAGED PAST he included about history that was willfully destroyed: two full pages of maps and pictures of plundering in modern times in Syria, Iraq, Libia, Egypt, Mali and Yemen. The loss is unforgivable is the sentiment of many including yours truly, especially the non-battle destruction although even though that is tragic.

Here are a few examples chronically: Abu Sir al-Maluk looted 2011 in Egypt; Mausoleum of Alpha Moya destroyed in 2012 in Mali; A shrine in Yemen destroyed in 2012; A Mosque destroyed in Libya 2012; Omari Mosque 2013 in Syria destroyed; Monastery of St. Elijah in Iraq destroyed in 2014; Nergel Gate at Nineveh, Oldest Assyrian city statues destroyed in 2015; Hatra destroyed in Iraq in 2015.

As you can tell, various objects as well as cities have been vandalized by inter-religious conflicts, ISIS, and this is far from all of the plundering going on in the Middle East and elsewhere. Fortunately, even though Biblical places have been victimized, the Bible itself is amazingly encyclopedic with recent discoveries adding to its integrity. The struggle to preserve history, architecture, precious landmarks is an ongoing challenge yet more than wishful thinking but hopefully with less hostility.