The Government of Afghanistan at that time was very Pro-Soviet, and invited the Soviets to come, so they didnt mind their business afterall, and thats what started the mess. You need to study the history of Afghanistan at that time. They had strong relations with the Soviets and India.
It is apparent that youre supporting the destruction of the statues simply because the Taliban were later bombed by the US, which obviously you dont like. Does this mean we go and destroy the buddha statues in Pakistan, that are found in Moenjodaro, Harappa, Taxila? Trust me, there are alot. Goto Jolian, you will find such statues too, only smaller in size. Should we take rocket launchers and destroy them, following the footsteps of the Talibz? I hope you say no, because the US has nothing to do with it.
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Very true!
Destruction never brings progress, whether it's the Babri or Bamiyan. Heaven forbid if one day some asses decide that the Taj is un-hindu and start breaking it. Heritage does not belong to one country or community, it belongs to the world.
Okay another quick question when the Saudi's were bulldozing graves of the Sabah Ikram left right and centre no one said a thing. Yet when a few statues get blown to bits in spectacular fashion the whole world's a boodist.
I'm not saying what was right or wrong but just wondering if this is less about the statues and more about the people who did it. Hence my earlier attempt at dragging spock and the rest into a different direction...which incidentally failed miserably....spock was just too well educated and karina was just too well...well lets leave it at that.
As I stated earlier, there is a difference between a structure and human life. Yes, it sure does give them the right to do as they please in their country, as long as it doesn't effect human life.
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I am not talking about human life here.
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If Pakistan destroyed those statues and monuments at their own will, then that is up to them, whether one would disagree or agree with it. however, if an outside country were to bomb those same monuments, then that is a different story, since they have no right to do so.
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Lets leave the outside country out for a moment please. When these statues were destroyed, there was no outside country invading Afghanistan. The entire world, including some peace loving buddhist countries requested them not to destroy them. The Taliban at that time should have taken to the annuls of diplomacy and proved to the world they were more to just religious zealots. According to some experts, they didnt destroy these statues because it was a threat to their religion, they did it to attract attention of the world, out of sheer frustration on a failing governance. Sure, they had the guns to keep the country under their toes, but they couldnt revitilize the country. They knew they werent living in the early times when these statues could have been viewed as a threat to the spread of the religion.
Tell me, were you as a Muslim hurt when a mosque was destroyed? I am sure you would have been, the same would hold true for Buddhists in case of these statues, which has a sizable population in the world, and they had nothing to do with this war against terrorim either. Now if you bring into the picture the bombing of Afghanistan, you will be talking about a totally different angle.
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Heaven forbid if one day some asses decide that the Taj is un-hindu and start breaking it. Heritage does not belong to one country or community, it belongs to the world.
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Easy for you to say. The Taj Mahal is one of, if not THE only place in India that generates the most amount of tourism revenue. So thank the muslims for making it in the first place. India couldn't destroy this gorgeous architecture even in it wanted to based solely on the money it brings. Otherwise, God only knows what they would do...perhaps the same scenario as the masjids in Gujrat?
The buddhist statues in Afghanistan are archeological wonders. They should absolutely not be destroyed but preserved for future generations to study them. They're great works of historic art as far as I'm concerned.
Easy for you to say. The Taj Mahal is one of, if not THE only place in India that generates the most amount of tourism revenue. So thank the muslims for making it. India couldn't destroy this gorgeous architecture even in it wanted to based solely on the money it brings. Otherwise, God only knows what they would do...perhaps the same scenario as the masjids in Gujrat?
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Sweetpie, trust me, the Taj is not the only example of Mughal architecture in India. There is a lot there, and quite frankly, they have preserved everything well, after 1947. And the zealots do not care if something generates revenues or not, its destruction is more to just revenues for them.
The team is now working on a replica one-tenth of the original, or about 17 1/2 feet high. That model should be completed by next spring and will go on display at the Kabul Museum, which is being rebuilt.
We have to wait until there is at least a roof on the museum before putting in the Buddha," Gruen said.
Glad they're thinking about putting the model at the museum once it's reconstructed. History is always worth preservation.
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*Originally posted by Spock: *
The entire world, including some peace loving buddhist countries requested them not to destroy them. The Taliban at that time should have taken to the annuls of diplomacy and proved to the world they were more to just religious zealots.
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Tell me, how many countries recognized the Taliban as a legitimate government? 2? All of a sudden, when the statues were threatened, all these countries came forth and wanted to do "business". Things don't work that way.
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Tell me, were you as a Muslim hurt when a mosque was destroyed? I am sure you would have been, the same would hold true for Buddhists in case of these statues, which has a sizable population in the world, and they had nothing to do with this war against terrorim either.
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Yes, it's horrible when a mosque is destroyed because usually, when a mosque is destroyed, it's done so by terrorists, and as a result, many people perish. How many buddhists died during the destruction of the statues? In fact, how many buddhists actually visited those statues?
Yes, it's horrible when a mosque is destroyed because usually, when a mosque is destroyed, it's done so by terrorists, and as a result, many people perish. How many buddhists died during the destruction of the statues? In fact, how many buddhists actually visited those statues?
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Whoa, so a mosque is usually destroyed by terrorists and Buddha statues by...??
Care to explain how you came about that conclusion? In my opinion anyone who destroys anything under the name of religion is a terrorist.
And which Budhists were supposed to die during the destruction? There are none in Afghanistan. Millions of Budhists visit Bodh Gaya in Bihar among other Budhist sites in India, spare a moment to think WHY none went to Afghanistan - it was not a lack of interest for sure.
Tell me, how many countries recognized the Taliban as a legitimate government? 2? All of a sudden, when the statues were threatened, all these countries came forth and wanted to do "business". Things don't work that way.
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Fret, the fact that only two ror three countries recognized them does prove a point right? Even your country, which you say is a peace loving nation, did not recognize them. Had the Taliban struggled and used diplomacy, they would have had more acceptance.
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Yes, it's horrible when a mosque is destroyed because usually, when a mosque is destroyed, it's done so by terrorists, and as a result, many people perish. How many buddhists died during the destruction of the statues? In fact, how many buddhists actually visited those statues?
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Well, Muslims didnt die when that mosque was destroyed, and that mosque too was not operational for a few years.
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*Originally posted by Spock: *
Fret, the fact that only two ror three countries recognized them does prove a point right? Even your country, which you say is a peace loving nation, did not recognize them. Had the Taliban struggled and used diplomacy, they would have had more acceptance.
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I'm not saying why they should or shouldn't be recognized as a legitimate government, that's not the point. The fact is that they were not recognized by the majority. Outsiders shouldn't choose to recognize them whenever they see fit, in this case during the statue destruction. Either, remove all ties with the Country and keep your mouth shut, or recognize the government and have your say. They can't have it both ways.
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Well, Muslims didnt die when that mosque was destroyed, and that mosque too was not operational for a few years.
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How many deaths were there as a result of destruction of the Babri mosque throughout the riots? 2000?
I'm not saying why they should or shouldn't be recognized as a legitimate government, that's not the point. The fact is that they were not recognized by the majority. Outsiders shouldn't choose to recognize them whenever they see fit, in this case during the statue destruction. Either, remove all ties with the Country and keep your mouth shut, or recognize the government and have your say. They can't have it both ways.
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Well, you are still straying from the topic. We are discussing whether or not the historic statues should have been demolished or not. You said you supported it, because the Taliban could do anything they want inside their country. Yet, when a mosque was destroyed, you said its not alright. The people that died, that was after the mosque was destroyed, and eventhough the number 2000 is a bit exaggerated, and these people died because of the riots that insued in the protests. I am talking about the Governments decision to go ahead and allow the destruction of the mosque, that is the thing under question.
In the aftermath, what happened to the Taliban? They lost more credibility, and even their relationship with Pakistan, which was very instrumental crumbled. You said all these countries that requested Taliban not to destroy the statues didnt recognize them, maybe you forgot Pakistan made the request too, and Pakistan recognized them, but they still said no. It was obvious they were failed leaders, and in a desperate bid to attract world attention, they started doing such idiotic things. Banning music, shooting women etc obviously werent enough for them was it?
Since this discussion pertains to the destruction of the old Buddha Statues, summing up, everyone knows that destroying those statues was the wrong and foolish thing to do, and that is the bottom line, and they met their fate. Someone here mentioned they are going to remake models 1/10th of those statues now, that still does not bring back the aesthatic and artistic value of the towering ones that stood a few years back.
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*Originally posted by Madhanee: *
Fret, ever heard of the International Heritage Fund of the Unicef to which 98% of the world is a signatory? Obviously not, and stop talking thru your ass. Historic Monuments don't belong just to the place where they are located.
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Right, and why haven't we seen "Operation Save Buddha Statues" from the international community?
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*Originally posted by Madhanee: *Historic Monuments don't belong just to the place where they are located.
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Exactly, and despite the extremely unfair treatment the US has doled out to innocent, helpless Afghanis on their own land, and notwithstanding the Taliban influence (good or bad...everyone will have a different opinion), the historic statues belong to no one person, people, or place but to TIME (as in history). The Taliban are free to do as they please with the statues since the statues are on their land but it was downright stupid for them to attempt to destroy them while they could've been targeting say the American forces, etc. and putting their weaponry to some better use.
There is no darned reason why the statues should’ve been blown up for some twisted reason by the Taliban that the Afghanis would start worshipping these statues all over again like prehistoric times. Sheesh! God help us all.
I'm not saying why they should or shouldn't be recognized as a legitimate government, that's not the point. The fact is that they were not recognized by the majority. Outsiders shouldn't choose to recognize them whenever they see fit, in this case during the statue destruction. Either, remove all ties with the Country and keep your mouth shut, or recognize the government and have your say. They can't have it both ways.
How many deaths were there as a result of destruction of the Babri mosque throughout the riots? 2000?
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the issue as such is not hou many have died bcoz of somethng.the mere fact that a historical symbol has been destroyed is bad. can u imagine history with selective retentions. then it is not history but a authored story. afghanistan's history is interlinked with them n destroying them is equal to destroying ur history.
can u change ur parents r grand parents jus bcoz u have changed status r been adapted by somebody else.
But also, are the Afghanis...correction: the Taliban!...that paranoid that their countryfolk will start worshipping these age old statues?! I wonder where the strong faith in Islam figures into all this for these Taliban. Good to know that they're out there defending their land as they should be doing but let's face it, on the other side of the coin, paranoia is never the answer to start doing away with historic objects d'art.
