Monday, November 26, 2012

No Sense of Humor or Balance, Just Useful Cover?

I guess on reflection it's not all that surprising that the archaeological blogosphere, what with its archaeology over all fanaticism, lacks a sense of humor.  Or that somehow an advertisement for the sale of a collection of Islamic coins becomes a springboard for a diatribe against the seller (the ACCG's founder), the collector (a man of the cloth), the Arab Spring (dislocation dethrones some of archaeology's friends in the region?), American Culture (grasping rather than free?), and U.S. Foreign Policy (US made tear gas and "political assasination drones" rather than support for democracy and vast amounts of foreign aid?). But if so, how can the State Department bureaucracy really take the rants of such archaeologists whether in the blogosphere or in comments to CPAC seriously?   Or do they just provide a useful cover for State's proclivity to trade the interests of US small businesses, collectors and museums for the fleeting good will of some foreign potentate? 
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1 comment:

  1. Cultural Property ObserverNovember 26, 2012 at 5:04 PM

    Arthur Houghton asked me to post this:

    Peter, this is simply hilarious. That Polish fellow fell for it hook line and sinker. The remarkable thing is that he seems unable to realize that he has become a laughing-stock, even for the archaeological community. Congratulations to Wayne Sales for baiting the trap so nicely. Tell Sayles to do another and then we can all watch him rise to the bait!!

    Arthur

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