Should Britain give back items accumulated from different countries?

[GGizmo]

On the news today is saying the Greek PM wants the Elgin Marbles back in Greek.

Sunak as seemingly snubbed him for a meeting and past him to another government minister. The Greek PM felt insulted and left.

Generally I think the only moral argument for keeping something this old is if we think there is a chance the items would be damaged or not protected.

But in cases like this with Greece those problems don't exist so I think we should hand them back to various countries. Keeping them is like clinging on to the past.

Greece denies promising not to raise Parthenon Sculptures on UK visit

No. 10 cancelled a meeting between the UK and Greek PMs after comments to the BBC about the sculptures.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[throwaway4372]

I don't see the point of this "news". Is there really no real news going on today? They're just trying to get people triggered about some sculpture they never even heard of.

 

[robfosters]

No, if it weren’t for Lord Elgin, they would have been dust on the ground now. I don’t object to loans of certain pieces, but I don’t agree with giving them back completely.

 

[Iraklis F.C.]

Wow, is the british PM so small minded? i didnt know this happened until i read it here, why did he cancel the meeting over the marbles, if the BBC asks the Greek pm if he wants the marbles back what should he said? like no keep them, oh heres some more artifacts just in case you are upset over this...i feel politicians turn a blind eye to the real problems and focus on stupid and nonsense issues for publicity. But you cant just call a foreign pm and then cancel the meeting over this the last minute, what happened to the british politicians, this is a joke.

 

[VincentHanna]

Give them back, we don't own them.

There was an argument that years ago we might have looked after them better than the countries of origins, but not anymore IMO

 

[robfosters]

Wow, is the british PM so small minded? i didnt know this happened until i read it here, why did he cancel the meeting over the marbles, if the BBC asks the Greek pm if he wants the marbles back what should he said? like no keep them, oh heres some more artifacts just in case you are upset over this...i feel politicians turn a blind eye to the real problems and focus on stupid and nonsense issues for publicity. But you cant just call a foreign pm and then cancel the meeting over this the last minute, what happened to the british politicians, this is a joke.

Do you think they should be returned?

 

[danlightbulb]

On the news today is saying the Greek PM wants the Elgin Marbles back in Greek.

Sunak as seemingly snubbed him for a meeting and past him to another government minister. The Greek PM felt insulted and left.

Generally I think the only moral argument for keeping something this old is if we think there is a chance the items would be damaged or not protected.

But in cases like this with Greece those problems don't exist so I think we should hand them back to various countries. Keeping them is like clinging on to the past.

Greece denies promising not to raise Parthenon Sculptures on UK visit

No. 10 cancelled a meeting between the UK and Greek PMs after comments to the BBC about the sculptures.

www.bbc.co.uk

Yeah I don't really see why we should keep them. They are just objects, they can't be sold on really so we should move on.

But, by the same token, Greece shouldn't really care about them either. Would / should we really be bothered if someone had nicked Stonehenge 100 years ago? Who cares.

 

[Roar87]

If we didn't steal the artifact we should keep it. As far as I'm aware Lord Elgin paid for these items, just as other artifacts were gifted to us. If we rode in there, killed a bunch of people, then stole something, then yes give it back, otherwise no.

 

[Begbie]

Want them back they can come get them.

 

[robfosters]

If we didn't steal the artifact we should keep it. As far as I'm aware Lord Elgin paid for these items, just as other artifacts were gifted to us. If we rode in there, killed a bunch of people, then stole something, then yes give it back, otherwise no.

Yes, he acquired them legally. If it went to court, the Greeks would lose.

 

[Stumble Bum]

Obligatory James Acaster clip

 

[Iraklis F.C.]

Do you think they should be returned?

Well, ancient Greek and Roman civilizations are imho global heritage and one can embrace it either in London, Rome, Paris or Athens. You dont have to have the marbles right under the Acropolis, but i have to admit they were actually stolen. I wouldnt cause a diplomatic row with a friendly country over this. I also believe Its a moral issue, if the British feel they have done their part in saving these artifacts and feel like returning them as a gesture of good will then fine, thank you very much, appreciated!. Furthermore the British museum or the Acropolis museum wont benefit more or less from this, i dont know much about the british musem but the one here is packed to the max everyday 24/7/365.

 

[Teknobry]

Maybe if we tell them they can have them back once they've paid all the money back the EU have lent them it'll get them to change the subject.

 

[StriderX]

Case-by-Case basis.

No reason whatsoever to hold onto the marbles from a safe country.

 

[robfosters]

Well, ancient Greek and Roman civilizations are imho global heritage and one can embrace it either in London, Rome, Paris or Athens. You dont have to have the marbles right under the Acropolis, but i have to admit they were actually stolen. I wouldnt cause a diplomatic row with a friendly country over this. I also believe Its a moral issue, if the British feel they have done their part in saving these artifacts and feel like returning them as a gesture of good will then fine, thank you very much, appreciated!. Furthermore the British museum or the Acropolis museum wont benefit more or less from this, i dont know much about the british musem but the one here is packed to the max everyday 24/7/365.

British Museum has far more visitors than the acropolis museum

 

[StriderX]

British Museum has far more visitors than the acropolis museum

That's a good reason to return them then isn't it?

 

[jpaul]

Thought the labour party should be worrying about other more consequential things than Keir meeting with their PM and his shadow Arts minister putting her ore in, on the debate.

 

[Iraklis F.C.]

British Museum has far more visitors than the acropolis museum

i didnt say the british museum has more or less visitors, i said the acropolis museum is full everyday. The museums wont go broke if the marbles leave for Greece or Egypt or whatever is in there, if i visit london i will visit the museum either it has the marbles or not.

 

[robfosters]

The British museum is more of a hub for visitors from around the world. Far more people visit London for the sights than Greece.

 

[Rroff]

I've always very mixed thoughts on stuff like this, especially when it isn't a case of outright theft. I don't really see there is a wrong or right answer and often not the grounds for some kind of amicable resolution.