Robert Edsel's Blog

Photo Courtesy of CNN

As they say in westerns, “where’s the sheriff when you need one?”

I previously wrote about the damage to Haiti’s great national cathedral (blog dated February 9) and pointed out the hope that restoring it can bring to the citizens of this devastated country.  These cultural symbols with which they have lived for decades bring hope and inspiration; they’re destruction conveys the opposite message.  But in Haiti, like in war torn Europe at the end of World War II, the damage to culture went far beyond buildings and structures to include paintings, sculpture…in fact, most every form art takes.  This was the overwhelming challenge faced by the Monuments Men and women in the days after the war.

Christiane Amanpour, one of the truly gifted journalists of our time, due in no small part to her years of travel and fascinating family of origin, “gets it” in my view on this and so many other subjects.  Art matters; culture matters.  They are priceless parts of our existence; when they are damaged or our ability to enjoy them restricted as was the case in Nazi Germany, our lives are greatly diminished in ways few appreciate until those horrible moments are presented.  Christiane has prepared a great piece about the cost to Haiti in terms of its loss of cultural heritage due to the damage of works of art from the earthquake. The link is http://www.cnn.com/haitilostart.html

We must always state how much we mourn those who are no longer in Haiti, the tragic victims of this epic natural disaster.  But our focus must now shift to those who have survived, and those who have a chance to recover.  As time passes, these symbols of hope—the cultural heritage of a nation—will become increasingly important to the people of Haiti, perhaps less due to a desire to enjoy them initially and more so knowing that until the day when the rebuilding has begun, their cultural patrimony is safe.  Compliments to Christiane Amanpour for her insights and program.

Imagine for a moment the unimaginable:  your family, generations of loved ones who carried the same last name and with it the history of your lineage, killed during a horrific and lengthy war.  All their property was stolen.  You somehow survived.  Years later, while busy building a career, perhaps a family, struggling to make ends meet, you discover a painting that once belonged to your family hanging on someone else’s wall…perhaps a private collector, a museum, or an art gallery.  You may even have a photo of it hanging in your family’s living room before the war, perhaps some documents evidencing their ownership.

When you contact the current owner, you are stonewalled and eventually told – it’s too late.  The statute of limitations has run its course.  You should have filed a claim sooner.  “But I didn’t know where it was…I couldn’t afford an attorney…I didn’t have time to search these databases – I”m trying to raise a family and hold down a job”.  How does that scenario make you feel?

Some today believe, in fact argue strenuously, that enough time has passed.  “After all, the war has been over for almost 65 years”.  They comment that this “thing” can’t continue to drag on and on…it isn’t “fair”.

The truth is this debate is playing out today in this country and others.  Vocal opponents – very influential people – argue enough is enough….bring an end to these claims.

I want to know what you think, how you feel about this debate.  Please send me your comments.  I’ll share them with you in a future blog along with my thoughts on the debate.