Wednesday 4 June 2014

A wose by Any Other Name Still Smells the Same


Coineys get their instructions
You can almost picture the lobbyist, like Squealer, hopping from foot to foot as he speaks and gestures, his voice raising to a crescendo at the bidding of his yellow highlighter pen:
The archaeological lobby portrays import restrictions as a necessary expedient to protect Egypt's cultural patrimony. But, from whom or what? “Cultural racketeers?" No! Actually, poor stewardship, corruption and an absolutely Pharaonic view of state ownership devalues artifacts so thoroughly within Egypt itself that they are either destroyed or smuggled from the country, presumably more often than not with "inside help".
So, cultural racketeers then.

2 comments:

David Knell said...

Haha, brilliant! Peter Tompa rejects a term in disgust and then proceeds to precisely define it.

"No no, it wasn't burglary, your honour! It was just breaking into a house and stealing its contents. Not the same thing at all!"

The audience at the CPAC session must have been cracking up! :)

Paul Barford said...

It's quite notable how the US news reports quite specifically are singling out "coin collectors" now as the only group opposed to preservationist moves. The ACCG is having an effect totally the opposite of what it was set up (ostensibly) to do, but is doing nothing but discredit numismatists in the public eye. Good.

 
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