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Afghanistan
Remember the Buddha statues the Taliban destroyed in Afghanistan?
2011-03-03
I remember these ba$tards doing this. Driving out there with their little white pickups full of RPGs and having a grand ol' time blasting away at these ancient statues that ancient people labored with love for so long to create. And all in the name of Allan. Another example of their religion's tolerance. So impotent and insecure that all they can do is destroy and celebrate it.
The giant Buddhas of Bamiyan, once painted in bright colors, remained silent sentinels as they reacquired the hues of the sandstone cliffs from which they were carved.

The statues, which looked upon a visually stunning region of central Afghanistan for about 1,500 years, have been gone for 10 years, victims of the Taliban drones, who destroyed them as part of its campaign to destroy pre-Islamic artifacts considered an assault on the faith.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Wednesday will begin three days of meetings in Paris about a long-range plan for preserving the snow-capped valley's cultural heritage and the remains of the Buddhas, which overlooked a Buddhist monastery.

"They were destroyed in the context of the conflict devastating Afghanistan and to undermine the power of culture as a cohesive force for the Afghan people," said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova in a statement Monday.

A German professor believes reconstructing the smaller figure is possible.

UNESCO, which is nearing the completion of an effort to preserve the Buddha niches in Bamiyan and wall paintings, does not favor rebuilding the figures.
I notice they are part of the "UN".
But it does want to protect the 5,000 fragments of what were once among the world's great artistic and religious treasures.
Posted by:gorb

#5  Anonymoose,
The Wahhabis are even destroying relics left from Mohammed's time in order to sever any historical connection.

If people could compare the historical artifacts, quotes, etc. to Wahhabi doctrine, they would see that the Wahhabi "back to basics" doctrine is just a bunch of pagan superstition mascarading as holy scripture.
Posted by: Frozen Al   2011-03-03 15:50  

#4  And typically, the people most hurt by Muslim fanatics are other Muslims. The Wahhabi are so dead set against icons, color, art and music that when they take over a historical, decorated mosque, they destroy all artwork and tilework, and whitewash all walls.

Even in Saudi Arabia, they have systematically destroyed all historic artifacts from Mohammed's time, including what were alleged to be his personal artifacts, his mud brick home, rare and valuable early versions of the Koran, etc., etc., despite the best efforts of other Muslims to preserve them.

They truly deserve the label reserved for only one other group--the Philistines, likewise embracing barbarism, militarism, whimsical and violent cruelty and murder, and aggression against all others.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2011-03-03 14:43  

#3  I seem to recall that, after the Taliban were driven out, someone did a satellite survey and discovered two more Buddha statues lying under the soil nearby.
Posted by: trailing wife   2011-03-03 14:31  

#2  Yes, Irina, you really are full of shit. And you know it...Taliban Operation vs. Buddha
Posted by: tu3031   2011-03-03 12:48  

#1  
"They were destroyed in the context of the conflict devastating Afghanistan and to undermine the power of culture as a cohesive force for the Afghan people," said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova in a statement Monday.

BS. They were destroyed by the Taliban as a requirement of Islam. The Taliban proclaim "God is Great" as they did it.
Posted by: Lord Garth   2011-03-03 12:38  

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