IS Systematically Destroying Historic Sites

[CapnAwesome]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-31760656

One of several ancient excavations and monuments in IS controlled Iraq and Syria that have been damaged beyond repair by these barbaric delinquents.

Who'd have thought that in the 21st century there would be (large) elements of our species that still prefer living in the 1st.

I think it's just a sign that things haven't changed as much as we think they have. Caesar burned the library of Alexandra, The Mongols destroyed the Libraries of Baghdad, The Spanish burned and destroyed as much of the Mayan and Incan writings as they could, Hitler tried to destroy all the Jewish writings he could and now we have this. At little bit I wonder if people have always said "I can't believe that this is happening in the 'so and so' century. It might always be part of humanity.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

True, but that doesnt negate my disbelief.

The point was to create a real divide between the enlightened world and the unenlightened one.

[mralstoner]

In 629 Muhammad conquered Mecca & smashed 360 idols in the Kaaba stone.

Why? Because Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:M...et_BNF.jpg


Monkey see, monkey do.

[abaris]

Who'd have thought that in the 21st century there would be (large) elements of our species that still prefer living in the 1st.

Like Alex K I cringe at my own feelings considering the carnage going on gor months. But being a historian these news hit a nerve with me. And that's their goal. Many commentators on European tv are in agreement that it's a deliberate move to provoke the West.

It's always good to keep in mind that they are fanatics, but they also have a strategy. And that strategy is the wish for another boots on the ground movement to gather more followers.

[Minimalist]

Funny that when the muslims first overran Syria in 636 that they didn't feel the need to destroy ancient monuments. Could it be that these dickheads are simply making this shit up as they go?

[Wyrd of Gawd]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-31760656

One of several ancient excavations and monuments in IS controlled Iraq and Syria that have been damaged beyond repair by these barbaric delinquents.

Who'd have thought that in the 21st century there would be (large) elements of our species that still prefer living in the 1st.

Well, the "good news" is that if IS takes over Saudi Arabia they will also bulldoze the Islamic sites as well.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/01...47635.html

[downbeatplumb]

I have such a queasy feeling when thinking about these things. Somehow, them destroying these cultural relics makes me so very angry, and in the same second I think, what is that against the lives they took so brutally.

Although every murder they do is atrocious and tragic, people to an extent are replaceable, but they are wilfully destroying the history of the entire world forever because they want there never to have been a time before Islam.

To IS or whatever they are called this week, traces of the pre-Islamic world must be removed.

The Taliban did it in Afghanistan with the buddhas they destroyed and these cretins are doing it an the cradle of civilisation.

[Wyrd of Gawd]

I have such a queasy feeling when thinking about these things. Somehow, them destroying these cultural relics makes me so very angry, and in the same second I think, what is that against the lives they took so brutally.

Although every murder they do is atrocious and tragic, people to an extent are replaceable, but they are wilfully destroying the history of the entire world forever because they want there never to have been a time before Islam.

To IS or whatever they are called this week, traces of the pre-Islamic world must be removed.

The Taliban did it in Afghanistan with the buddhas they destroyed and these cretins are doing it an the cradle of civilisation.

The Israelites were commanded to do the same thing in the First Commandment in Exodus 34:12-16 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?se...EV;MSG;NLT

[dyresand]

History.....those idiots are doomed to repeat it unless you know a random freedoms comes dropping out of the sky finally stopping them

[Metis]

I suspect this isn't too different from the mentality behind the final solution; "shit the world is after us, we've got a few weeks left, what can we do to make an impact?"

Symbols are powerful things, and they want to erase the memory that at one time Islam didn't even exist. Since there's few around there aside from the now mostly deceased Zorastrian groups who could remember any facts to say otherwise (education standards generally being low) this could have a considerable impact for generations to come even after ISIS gets crushed.

It's actually quite worrying.