The point is that history is full of these highly destructive forces as sometimes second rate vandals invaded, wreaked and destroyed leaving ground to be recovered later. There is evidence that even brain surgery was practised, millennia back, but if the ‘inferior’ natives of an area had a culture, it was always to be despoiled and replaced by the ‘superior’ version proffered by the invader. Africa had its cultural areas but they were ignored, destroyed or abandoned as were those of South America, in fact every continent has seen such events. Alexander the (not so) Great is was seen in a very unflattering light in Iran for his vandalising the great history structures of Persia. Every historical invader tried to expunge the culture they encounter lest it became a basis for future trouble. The liberation of Europe followed on from a far less savoury episode while Germany and much of Europe was under ‘alternative management’. Then it was the current philosophy that came under attack as history well retells. Currently, I am uncertain about the ruthless restriction of wartime mementos and records as though the Nazi era should be wiped from record. It is part of the historical fabric of Europe. A tainted, soiled and stained part, but one that caused consequences. We have to understand historical contexts, if you were a Vandal, Thuggee, Roman, Greek or whatever, invading a land you would wish to subjugate the native population, so what better ways than to destroy all they held dear. Sadly such mindsets still exist, from the cultural destroyers of DAESH, through Boko Haram with their love of illness and objection to decease prevention so it runs lower and lower. The South London OAP robbing business still takes some beating in my book. It is a great illustration of what is still wrong with chunks of what some want to think of as society. Sick and depraved barely does it justice – justice being something for which they have nothing but contempt.
.
