It has been observed that many museums and intellectual institutions,an example being Cornell University, are carrying artifacts obtained perhaps without the consent of their homelands. In Cornell's case, the Iraqi government claims that many rare cuneiform tablets in the university's possession were looted during conflicts like the Persian Gulf War. However, as an ardent history lover, I must ask myself, if the artifacts are returned, where would they be kept? In light of ISIS's recent destruction in Mosup and the Iraqi government's chronic weakness and instability,I believe that the artifacts, stolen or not, should be kept in the US until things change in the middle east. What are your opinions on this issue?
Returning artifacts has its pros and cons. In terms of advantages, it might improve diplomatic relations with the country, and there are moral arguments as well that favor returning the artifacts. On the other hand, instability in their home territories and regions as well as poverty might prevent artifacts from being preserved in the proper manner and from being shared with the public to the same extent.