| 
|
Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
| Total Views: 4,939,543
|
Article: 16110
[Archaeology]
Date Posted:
8/26/2006
3:38:12 pm EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 7,405
RSS: 23,543
Comments: 18
|
Christian Zealots Destroy Ancient Arctic Petroglyphs
Author: Randy Boswell, Regina Leader Post Source: CanWest News Service
Title: CHRISTIAN ZEALOTS DESTROY ANCIENT ARCTIC PETROGLYPHS
Canada's only major Arctic petroglyph site -- a 1,500-year-old gallery of mysterious faces carved into a soapstone ridge on a tiny island off of Quebec's northern coast -- has been ransacked by vandals in what the region's top archeologist suspects was a religiously motivated attack by devout Christians from a nearby Inuit community.
For years, heritage advocates have sought special protection for the ancient etchings at Qajartalik Island, located about one hour by boat from the 500-resident village of Kangiqsujuaq. Experts believe they were created by the extinct Dorset culture, an artistically advanced civilization that occupied much of the eastern Arctic before they were killed or driven away by the Thule ancestors of modern Inuit.
More than 170 mask-like images, animal shapes and other symbols have been recorded on the island since the 1960s. Studies suggest Qajartalik was a sacred place, used for Dorset spiritual ceremonies and coming-of-age rituals.
Now, dreams of global renown for Qajartalik may be dashed after a visit to the island last month by Quebec cultural officials revealed extensive damage to the prehistoric drawings, including deep gouges across many of the faces.
| Options: [Read Full Story] [Comments Locked]
[Email to a Friend]
|
|
Community Thoughts: There are 18 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Sigh | Aug 28th. at 6:28:45 pm EDT
|
Finn (San Antonio, Pennsylvania) - Email Me
Nobody but nobody likes a zealot...
|
| So Sad. | Aug 28th. at 8:29:23 am EDT
|
NightLad (Toronto, Ontario) - Email Me
This is not the only such site of native petroglyphs in Canada, but it is one of the very few Artic ones. There are some more sites like this on the temperate mainland, which are (thankfully) protected under glass domes and surrounded by raised walks and railings. Hopefully they will be on guard after this desecration.
I am profoundly saddened by the harm that was wrought to this ancient place. If indeed spirits did dwell there, I pray that in the laws of their culture, they exact a thousand-fold justice against their transgressors.
Maybe they need a visit from their ancestral spirits to remind them why they need to respect their heritage... not destroy it.
|
| Oh No... | Aug 27th. at 6:48:14 pm EDT
|
Bloodlock (Morehead, Kentucky) - Email Me - Web
It's the resurrection of Constantine. Goddess help us all.
|
| I Read This, Then Wildhunt's Entry, And Thought... | Aug 27th. at 5:52:05 pm EDT
|
| Evil Spirits? | Aug 27th. at 4:28:16 pm EDT
|
Tim Grimalkin (Sandy, Utah) - Email Me
It's definately possible, but to destroy an historical treasure and think you're going to get rid of them is not very far-sighted. Activity like this embarrases me as a Christian Wiccan and breaks my heart as a human being.
|
| Vandals | Aug 27th. at 3:39:00 am EDT
|
karrie9 (Kenosha, Wisconsin) - Email Me - Web
What even small but well-bred children know not to do, some do without compunction and are but thieves who rob us of heritage, history, art, and a chance for further study.
Some smash or destroy their mate's or children's belongings in order to "keep them in line" too.
Power and control...so ugly and dull.
|
| This Reminds Me | Aug 27th. at 3:12:33 am EDT
|
Jenna (Cary, North Carolina) - Email Me
Of when the Taliban destroyed the beautiful, ancient Buddhist cliff carvings in Afganistan, even those there had been no practicing Buddhists there for 1,200 years so there coldn't be anything that they could had misconstrued as idol worship (not that should had given them any excuse) . Also, not too long ago I had read a story about how the Egyptian government must have guards stationed at the pyramids at night to make sure that Muslim extremists don't blow them up. And it's not only horribly religious intolerants that want to destroy precious history. Gandhi himself had wanted to tear down temples that depicted tantic sex on the basis that they were reminders of the strict caste system of the past (but the people and other members of the government convinced him to leave them alone as monuments of India's creative history) . Other monuments weren't so fortunate. Chairman Mao tore down a part of the Great Wall of China because, to him, it represented the antiquated notions of peasantry and complete subservience to the Emperor. All groups should respect and honour their proud past, even if the orginial intent behind such structures is no longer in practice.
|
| Spirits And Spiritual Poison | Aug 27th. at 12:12:28 am EDT
|
Mysteries Child (Garfield, Arkansas) - Email Me
"Experts believe they were created by the extinct Dorset culture, an artistically advanced civilization that occupied much of the eastern Arctic before they were killed or driven away by the Thule ancestors of modern Inuit."
Hmmm. If spirits hold a grudge, they might have something legitimate to fear in their concerns about "evil"-- make that malevolent-- spirits.
The last time someone exterminated my people, I felt pretty malevolent towards them.
Perpetrated by conservative Christians?? Well, I don't know...
...but I will say that I wouldn't put it past 'em.
Not even for a minute.
Not even in the most sugar-saturated corner of my tolerance- and cooperation-oriented mind.
|
| This Is What Happens | Aug 26th. at 11:27:59 pm EDT
|
Sea Raven (New Haven, Connecticut) - Email Me
when you destroy a people's native religion.
Those who committed the vandalism need to be punished... but those who brought them this zealous, fundamentalist point of view should be horse-whipped.
Destroying cultures is what religious zealots have always been best at.
Ah well... hopefully the gods will forgive them.
C
|
| It Is Sad | Aug 26th. at 10:38:35 pm EDT
|
LD Wolverine (Edmonton, Ontario) - Email Me
that in this day and age, "Man" has not forgone "his" primal urge to destroy all that does not fit into "his" understanding. See, it is not just Christianity that does this, it is ignorance and fear. If something we see causes us fear, it is "Man's" first instinct to destroy it.
Destroy it, destroy all traces of it, then "Man" can pretend that "it" never exsisted.
It is very primal. (it also doesnt work worth SH@T in the long run) Those that allow it to cause them to take violent action (which is how I see this defacing of art) have no self control, nor do they any will power. I hope one of them reads this someday. I would love to have a word with one of the perpetrators of this crime. It is utterly bewildering to me, as a Canadian, to have this happen here.
It is my understanding that the northern Inuit communities in Quebec are SCREAMING for funding, SCREAMING for acknowlegment, and SCREAMING for attention. Well they had the chance to have all of that in a very positive light. Well they just screwed it up so I really hope their screaming stops, because I am done listening to it and my government better be done too. Like a spoiled child, I hope they can be punished.
Peace.
Linda
|
| Bible-based Insanity Strikes Again... | Aug 26th. at 9:49:27 pm EDT
|
Karl (Detroit Metro, Michigan) - Email Me
This mindless destruction of priceless archaeological treasures is yet another example of fundamentalist moronism.
Deranged “Abraham”ic extremist filth have been destroying and killing for centuries, as elucidated on in part by Carl Sagan in his 1980 work, ‘Cosmos’, where he describes the death of Pagan Philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria in what is surely one of the most brutal and savage murders in all history:
[QUOTE]
The last scientist who worked in the Alexandrian Library was a Mathematician, Astronomer, Physicist, and the head of the Neoplatonic school of Philosophy--an extraordinary range of accomplishments for any individual in any age.
Her name was Hypatia. She was born in Alexandria in 370. At a time in which women had few options and were treated as property, Hypatia moved freely and unselfconsciously through traditional male domains. By all accounts she was a great beauty. She had many suitors, but rejected all offers of marriage.
The Alexandria of Hypatia's time--by then long under Roman rule--was a city under grave strain. Slavery had sapped classical civilization of its vitality. The growing Christian Church was consolidating its power and attempting to eradicate Pagan influence and culture.
Hypatia stood at the epicenter of these mighty social forces. Cyril, the Archbishop of Alexandria, despised her because of her close friendship with the Roman governor, and because she was a symbol of learning and science, which were largely identified by the early Church with Paganism.
In great personal danger, she continued to teach and publish, until, in the year 415, on her way to work, she was set upon by a fanatical mob of Cyril's parishioners. They dragged her from her chariot, tore off her clothes, and, armed with abalone shells, flayed her flesh from her bones.
Her remains were burned, her works obliterated, her name forgotten. Cyril was made a saint.
The glory of the Alexandrian Library is a dim memory. Its last remnants were destroyed soon after Hypatia's death. It was as if the entire civilization had undergone some self-inflicted brain surgery, and most of its memories, discoveries, ideas and passions were extinguished irrevocably. The loss was incalculable.
[/QUOTE]
Of course, the Xtian mob, having no empirical foundation whatsoever upon which to base their "only true" doctrinal concoctions, have no problem fabricating “archaeological” “relics” in an effort to prop up their dogmatic BS, but which they enslave untold millions of sheeple.
Fraud, forgery, lies and dupery have been mainstays of Xtianity for centuries. Humphreys goes into this at his site, jesusneverexisted.com:
( [Web LINK] ) and
( [Web LINK] ) , etc., etc.....
Then there’s the total destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas by the equally insane Taliban:
( [Web LINK] )
You can track the actions of fundamentalist lunatics here in the U.S. at the Theocracywatch web site:
( [Web LINK] )
And here:
( [Web LINK] )
The dark ages were a product of the ignorance, superstition, corruption, violence and societally stultifying influence of bible-based religionism. At present, we once again stand at the precipice of that same abyss…….
K
|
| Wow, Inuit Christian Fanatics Achieve World Status | Aug 26th. at 8:50:25 pm EDT
|
Stormsinger (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) - Email Me
Right up there with the Taliban. Welcome to the Destroyers of History Club.
Aren't you proud?
|
| It Is Personal | Aug 26th. at 7:32:31 pm EDT
|
bigcat (peoria, Illinois) - Email Me
For the destruction of the petroglyphs I am truly sorry, but it is the aim of certain factions of xtianity to change or destroy whatever they can in order to enhance and force their own religion onto others by destroying the histories, temples and artifacts of those they target. The same can also be said of that other religion as well.
I feel it is a hateful bigoted practice and says far more about the perpetrators than the things destroyed.
I hope that they can repair whatever they can. The artists that created them deserve whatever can be done.
|
| Brings Something To Mind... | Aug 26th. at 6:11:21 pm EDT
|
Rayna (Hurricane, West Virginia) - Email Me
I really would have loved to see pictures, but it's a shame that this kind of thing has happened. I do hope that preservationists are able to restore what remains.
The first thought I had was something my mom would say when we broke something...
"... and you wonder why we can't have nice things..."
|
Disclaimer: The Witches' Voice inc does not verify the accuracy of the details stated in this listing, nor do we vouch for the value of the goods or services presented here... As with all contacts and financial dealings in cyberspace, we encourage you to use caution and wisdom in your dealings with strangers.
Political Statements: Any and all personal political opinions expressed in the public listing sections (including, but not restricted to, personals, events, groups, shops, Wren's Nest, etc.) are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinion of The Witches' Voice, Inc. TWV is a non-profit, non-partisan educational organization.
|
State/Country flags created by 3dflags.com and are used with permission
Web Site Content (including: text - graphics - html - look & feel)
Copyright 1997-2009 The Witches' Voice Inc. All rights reserved
Note: Authors & Artists retain the copyright for their work(s) on this website.
Unauthorized reproduction without prior permission is a violation of copyright laws.
Website structure, evolution and php coding by Fritz Jung on a Macintosh G5.
Any and all personal political opinions expressed in the public listing sections (including, but not restricted to, personals, events, groups, shops, Wren’s Nest, etc.) are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinion of The Witches’ Voice, Inc. TWV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization.
Sponsorship: Visit the Witches' Voice Sponsor Page for info on how you
can help support this Community Resource. Donations ARE Tax Deductible.
The Witches' Voice carries a 501(c)(3) certificate and a Federal Tax ID.
Mail Us: The Witches' Voice Inc., P.O. Box 341018, Tampa, Florida 33694-1018 U.S.A.
| |
