Will Qatar, the Gulf state near Saudi Arabia, become one of the art capitals of the world? The oil-and gas-rich country has been buying pieces for its Museum of Islamic Art. There's even talk the country is thinking of buying Christie's auction house as part of its plans to become a cultural destination.
Christie's, founded in London in 1766, is one of the premier auction houses of the world. However, sales are down and hundreds of staff jobs have been cut. As noted in its Wikipedia entry, "Although the economic downturn has encouraged some collectors to sell art,others are unwilling to sell in a market which may yield only bargain prices."
Previously a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange, since 1999 Christie's has been privately owned by Francois Pinault. According to Wikipedia,
On 28 December 2008, the Sunday Times reported that Pinault's debts left him "considering" the sale of Christie's and that a number of "private equity groups" were thought to be interested in its acquisition.
I don't know what this means in strictly business and financial terms. But the very thought of an Islamic state acquiring ownership of Christie's leaves me with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Am I over-reacting here?
19 comments:
Revere Rides Again,
You are not over reacting. I'm not really even into auctions and this is really upsetting to me. This will be another source of income for terrorists, and the stealth jihad. People need to realize that the Saudis are not our friends.
The really upsetting thing is that there maybe little that could legally be done to stop this.
This would be reason enough for Hugh Fitzgerald to retire from JihadWatch. Hugh's been screaming (in the most erudite fashion possible) from the mountaintops about this possibility.
His unremittingly passionate calls to secure history's treasures must be heeded.
MUST BE HEEDED.
"In all the cultures where Islam has become ascendant, the Muslim authorities have attempted to rewrite the history of the conquered lands to obliterate the memory of anything that went before Islam. By this method the cultural contribution of civilizations that preceded Islam — during jahiliyah, “the days of ignorance” — is minimized, denigrated, and distorted.
The destruction of physical evidence is part of the revisionist task. To the average Western scholar, the Bamiyan Buddhas and the archeological artifacts buried in the ancient rubble under the Temple Mount are priceless treasures which must be preserved, restored, studied, and admired. But to a Muslim they are abominations and must be destroyed. If not actual idolatry, they are evidence of non-Muslim civilizations that preceded the introduction of Islam, and are thus an affront to the pride of the entire Ummah."
***
"What will make Infidels safer from a belief-system that is inimical to art, science, and all free inquiry, that stunts the mental growth, and that is based on a cruel Manichaean division of the world between Infidel and Believer? And the answer is: limiting the power –- military, political, diplomatic, economic power -- of all Muslim polities, and Muslim peoples, and diminishing, as much as possible, the Muslim presence, however amiable and plausible and seemingly untroubling a part of that presence may appear to be, in all the Lands of the Infidels. This is done not out of any spirit of enmity, but simply as an act of minimal self-protection -- and out of loyalty and gratitude to those who produced the civilization which, however it has been recently debased by its own inheritors, would disappear altogether were Muslims to succeed in islamizing Europe -- and then, possibly, other parts of the world as well." Hugh Fitzgerald: Ten Things to Think When Thinking of Muslim "Moderates"
HRW
This alone could stress Fitzgerald to retire from JW. His passionate call to protect all Western historic treasures must be heeded. It is not difficult to imagine he would liquidate every personal asset to secure any meager treasure his personal wealth could secure for posterity.
Hugh Fitzgerald has been screaming (in his most erudite voice) from the mountaintops this warning to secure all historic Western treasures.
Hugh Fitzgerald: Ten Things to Think When Thinking of Muslim "Moderates"
What will make Infidels safer from a belief-system that is inimical to art, science, and all free inquiry, that stunts the mental growth, and that is based on a cruel Manichaean division of the world between Infidel and Believer? And the answer is: limiting the power –- military, political, diplomatic, economic power -- of all Muslim polities, and Muslim peoples, and diminishing, as much as possible, the Muslim presence, however amiable and plausible and seemingly untroubling a part of that presence may appear to be, in all the Lands of the Infidels. This is done not out of any spirit of enmity, but simply as an act of minimal self-protection -- and out of loyalty and gratitude to those who produced the civilization which, however it has been recently debased by its own inheritors, would disappear altogether were Muslims to succeed in islamizing Europe -- and then, possibly, other parts of the world as well.
The Baron @ Gates of Vienna added Historectomy
:
In all the cultures where Islam has become ascendant, the Muslim authorities have attempted to rewrite the history of the conquered lands to obliterate the memory of anything that went before Islam. By this method the cultural contribution of civilizations that preceded Islam — during jahiliyah, “the days of ignorance” — is minimized, denigrated, and distorted.
The destruction of physical evidence is part of the revisionist task. To the average Western scholar, the Bamiyan Buddhas and the archeological artifacts buried in the ancient rubble under the Temple Mount are priceless treasures which must be preserved, restored, studied, and admired. But to a Muslim they are abominations and must be destroyed. If not actual idolatry, they are evidence of non-Muslim civilizations that preceded the introduction of Islam, and are thus an affront to the pride of the entire Ummah.
This alone could stress Fitzgerald to retire from JW to secure his blood pressure. His passion to protect all Western historic treasures must be heeded. It is not difficult to imagine he would liquidate every personal asset to secure any meager treasure his personal wealth could secure for posterity.
Hugh Fitzgerald has been screaming (in his most erudite voice) from the mountaintops this warning to secure all historic Western treasures.
Hugh Fitzgerald: Ten Things to Think When Thinking of Muslim "Moderates"
What will make Infidels safer from a belief-system that is inimical to art, science, and all free inquiry, that stunts the mental growth, and that is based on a cruel Manichaean division of the world between Infidel and Believer? And the answer is: limiting the power –- military, political, diplomatic, economic power -- of all Muslim polities, and Muslim peoples, and diminishing, as much as possible, the Muslim presence, however amiable and plausible and seemingly untroubling a part of that presence may appear to be, in all the Lands of the Infidels. This is done not out of any spirit of enmity, but simply as an act of minimal self-protection -- and out of loyalty and gratitude to those who produced the civilization which, however it has been recently debased by its own inheritors, would disappear altogether were Muslims to succeed in islamizing Europe -- and then, possibly, other parts of the world as well.
The Baron @ Gates of Vienna added Historectomy
:
In all the cultures where Islam has become ascendant, the Muslim authorities have attempted to rewrite the history of the conquered lands to obliterate the memory of anything that went before Islam. By this method the cultural contribution of civilizations that preceded Islam — during jahiliyah, “the days of ignorance” — is minimized, denigrated, and distorted.
The destruction of physical evidence is part of the revisionist task. To the average Western scholar, the Bamiyan Buddhas and the archeological artifacts buried in the ancient rubble under the Temple Mount are priceless treasures which must be preserved, restored, studied, and admired. But to a Muslim they are abominations and must be destroyed. If not actual idolatry, they are evidence of non-Muslim civilizations that preceded the introduction of Islam, and are thus an affront to the pride of the entire Ummah.
This alone could stress Fitzgerald to retire from JW to secure his blood pressure. His passion to protect all Western historic treasures must be heeded. It is not difficult to imagine he would liquidate every personal asset to secure any meager treasure his personal wealth could secure for posterity.
Hugh Fitzgerald has been screaming (in his most erudite voice) from the mountaintops this warning to secure all historic Western treasures.
Hugh Fitzgerald: Ten Things to Think When Thinking of Muslim "Moderates"
What will make Infidels safer from a belief-system that is inimical to art, science, and all free inquiry, that stunts the mental growth, and that is based on a cruel Manichaean division of the world between Infidel and Believer? And the answer is: limiting the power –- military, political, diplomatic, economic power -- of all Muslim polities, and Muslim peoples, and diminishing, as much as possible, the Muslim presence, however amiable and plausible and seemingly untroubling a part of that presence may appear to be, in all the Lands of the Infidels. This is done not out of any spirit of enmity, but simply as an act of minimal self-protection -- and out of loyalty and gratitude to those who produced the civilization which, however it has been recently debased by its own inheritors, would disappear altogether were Muslims to succeed in islamizing Europe -- and then, possibly, other parts of the world as well.
The Baron @ Gates of Vienna added Historectomy
:
In all the cultures where Islam has become ascendant, the Muslim authorities have attempted to rewrite the history of the conquered lands to obliterate the memory of anything that went before Islam. By this method the cultural contribution of civilizations that preceded Islam — during jahiliyah, “the days of ignorance” — is minimized, denigrated, and distorted.
The destruction of physical evidence is part of the revisionist task. To the average Western scholar, the Bamiyan Buddhas and the archeological artifacts buried in the ancient rubble under the Temple Mount are priceless treasures which must be preserved, restored, studied, and admired. But to a Muslim they are abominations and must be destroyed. If not actual idolatry, they are evidence of non-Muslim civilizations that preceded the introduction of Islam, and are thus an affront to the pride of the entire Ummah.
This alone could stress Fitzgerald to retire from JW to secure his blood pressure. His passion to protect all Western historic treasures must be heeded. It is not difficult to imagine he would liquidate every personal asset to secure any meager treasure his personal wealth could secure for posterity.
Hugh Fitzgerald has been screaming (in his most erudite voice) from the mountaintops this warning to secure all historic Western treasures.
Hugh Fitzgerald: Ten Things to Think When Thinking of Muslim "Moderates"
What will make Infidels safer from a belief-system that is inimical to art, science, and all free inquiry, that stunts the mental growth, and that is based on a cruel Manichaean division of the world between Infidel and Believer? And the answer is: limiting the power –- military, political, diplomatic, economic power -- of all Muslim polities, and Muslim peoples, and diminishing, as much as possible, the Muslim presence, however amiable and plausible and seemingly untroubling a part of that presence may appear to be, in all the Lands of the Infidels. This is done not out of any spirit of enmity, but simply as an act of minimal self-protection -- and out of loyalty and gratitude to those who produced the civilization which, however it has been recently debased by its own inheritors, would disappear altogether were Muslims to succeed in islamizing Europe -- and then, possibly, other parts of the world as well.
The Baron @ Gates of Vienna added Historectomy
:
In all the cultures where Islam has become ascendant, the Muslim authorities have attempted to rewrite the history of the conquered lands to obliterate the memory of anything that went before Islam. By this method the cultural contribution of civilizations that preceded Islam — during jahiliyah, “the days of ignorance” — is minimized, denigrated, and distorted.
The destruction of physical evidence is part of the revisionist task. To the average Western scholar, the Bamiyan Buddhas and the archeological artifacts buried in the ancient rubble under the Temple Mount are priceless treasures which must be preserved, restored, studied, and admired. But to a Muslim they are abominations and must be destroyed. If not actual idolatry, they are evidence of non-Muslim civilizations that preceded the introduction of Islam, and are thus an affront to the pride of the entire Ummah.
Anonymous,
I see that you have posted that comment about Hugh Fitzgerald three or four times now. I just want you to know, I am not deleting it.
I do not know why the comment keeps disappearing. I have a feeling, tomorrow we'll see it up four times or more.
Sometimes Bloggers has comments glitches like this.
Sorry about that.
Pastorius, you will also note that I tried to sign in as "Her" to post it. I did try to post it four times. The first time I didn't save the comment. After re-writing the entire comment again, I attempted three additional times until it finally took. Or so I thought. It's gone again, as I write this. I think this comment box is allergic to the name Fitzgerald.
Well, here's your comment:
This alone could stress Fitzgerald to retire from JW to secure his blood pressure. His passion to protect all Western historic treasures must be heeded. It is not difficult to imagine he would liquidate every personal asset to secure any meager treasure his personal wealth could secure for posterity.
Hugh Fitzgerald has been screaming (in his most erudite voice) from the mountaintops this warning to secure all historic Western treasures.
Hugh Fitzgerald: Ten Things to Think When Thinking of Muslim "Moderates"
What will make Infidels safer from a belief-system that is inimical to art, science, and all free inquiry, that stunts the mental growth, and that is based on a cruel Manichaean division of the world between Infidel and Believer? And the answer is: limiting the power –- military, political, diplomatic, economic power -- of all Muslim polities, and Muslim peoples, and diminishing, as much as possible, the Muslim presence, however amiable and plausible and seemingly untroubling a part of that presence may appear to be, in all the Lands of the Infidels. This is done not out of any spirit of enmity, but simply as an act of minimal self-protection -- and out of loyalty and gratitude to those who produced the civilization which, however it has been recently debased by its own inheritors, would disappear altogether were Muslims to succeed in islamizing Europe -- and then, possibly, other parts of the world as well.
The Baron @ Gates of Vienna added Historectomy
:
In all the cultures where Islam has become ascendant, the Muslim authorities have attempted to rewrite the history of the conquered lands to obliterate the memory of anything that went before Islam. By this method the cultural contribution of civilizations that preceded Islam — during jahiliyah, “the days of ignorance” — is minimized, denigrated, and distorted.
The destruction of physical evidence is part of the revisionist task. To the average Western scholar, the Bamiyan Buddhas and the archeological artifacts buried in the ancient rubble under the Temple Mount are priceless treasures which must be preserved, restored, studied, and admired. But to a Muslim they are abominations and must be destroyed. If not actual idolatry, they are evidence of non-Muslim civilizations that preceded the introduction of Islam, and are thus an affront to the pride of the entire Ummah.
My version did not include the links.
I don't know how to include links.
I think your comment may have been too large.
Try posting it in two comments.
This alone could stress Fitzgerald to retire from JW to secure his blood pressure. His passion to protect all Western historic treasures must be heeded. It is not difficult to imagine he would liquidate every personal asset to secure any meager treasure his personal wealth could secure for posterity.
Hugh Fitzgerald has been screaming (in his most erudite voice) from the mountaintops this warning to secure all historic Western treasures.
Hugh Fitzgerald: Ten Things to Think When Thinking of Muslim "Moderates"
What will make Infidels safer from a belief-system that is inimical to art, science, and all free inquiry, that stunts the mental growth, and that is based on a cruel Manichaean division of the world between Infidel and Believer? And the answer is: limiting the power –- military, political, diplomatic, economic power -- of all Muslim polities, and Muslim peoples, and diminishing, as much as possible, the Muslim presence, however amiable and plausible and seemingly untroubling a part of that presence may appear to be, in all the Lands of the Infidels. This is done not out of any spirit of enmity, but simply as an act of minimal self-protection -- and out of loyalty and gratitude to those who produced the civilization which, however it has been recently debased by its own inheritors, would disappear altogether were Muslims to succeed in islamizing Europe -- and then, possibly, other parts of the world as well. (Part one of two)
Part 2 of 2
The Baron @ Gates of Vienna added Historectomy
"In all the cultures where Islam has become ascendant, the Muslim authorities have attempted to rewrite the history of the conquered lands to obliterate the memory of anything that went before Islam. By this method the cultural contribution of civilizations that preceded Islam — during jahiliyah, “the days of ignorance” — is minimized, denigrated, and distorted.
The destruction of physical evidence is part of the revisionist task. To the average Western scholar, the Bamiyan Buddhas and the archeological artifacts buried in the ancient rubble under the Temple Mount are priceless treasures which must be preserved, restored, studied, and admired. But to a Muslim they are abominations and must be destroyed. If not actual idolatry, they are evidence of non-Muslim civilizations that preceded the introduction of Islam, and are thus an affront to the pride of the entire Ummah."
Ha! After posting the first half and appearing to accept it, it's gone again.
The second half is still up as I write this. Must be allergic to the name Fitzgerald.
Wow, that's weird.
This would be reason enough for Hugh Fitzgerald to retire from JihadWatch
. Hugh's been screaming (in the most erudite fashion possible) from the mountaintops about this possibility.
His unremittingly passionate calls to secure history's treasures must be heeded.
MUST BE HEEDED.
"In all the cultures where Islam has become ascendant, the Muslim authorities have attempted to rewrite the history of the conquered lands to obliterate the memory of anything that went before Islam. By this method the cultural contribution of civilizations that preceded Islam — during jahiliyah, “the days of ignorance” — is minimized, denigrated, and distorted.
The destruction of physical evidence is part of the revisionist task. To the average Western scholar, the Bamiyan Buddhas and the archeological artifacts buried in the ancient rubble under the Temple Mount are priceless treasures which must be preserved, restored, studied, and admired. But to a Muslim they are abominations and must be destroyed. If not actual idolatry, they are evidence of non-Muslim civilizations that preceded the introduction of Islam, and are thus an affront to the pride of the entire Ummah."
***
"What will make Infidels safer from a belief-system that is inimical to art, science, and all free inquiry, that stunts the mental growth, and that is based on a cruel Manichaean division of the world between Infidel and Believer? And the answer is: limiting the power –- military, political, diplomatic, economic power -- of all Muslim polities, and Muslim peoples, and diminishing, as much as possible, the Muslim presence, however amiable and plausible and seemingly untroubling a part of that presence may appear to be, in all the Lands of the Infidels. This is done not out of any spirit of enmity, but simply as an act of minimal self-protection -- and out of loyalty and gratitude to those who produced the civilization which, however it has been recently debased by its own inheritors, would disappear altogether were Muslims to succeed in islamizing Europe -- and then, possibly, other parts of the world as well." Hugh Fitzgerald: Ten Things to Think When Thinking of Muslim "Moderates"
The Baron @ Gates of Vienna added Historectomy
:
In all the cultures where Islam has become ascendant, the Muslim authorities have attempted to rewrite the history of the conquered lands to obliterate the memory of anything that went before Islam. By this method the cultural contribution of civilizations that preceded Islam — during jahiliyah, “the days of ignorance” — is minimized, denigrated, and distorted.
The destruction of physical evidence is part of the revisionist task. To the average Western scholar, the Bamiyan Buddhas and the archeological artifacts buried in the ancient rubble under the Temple Mount are priceless treasures which must be preserved, restored, studied, and admired. But to a Muslim they are abominations and must be destroyed. If not actual idolatry, they are evidence of non-Muslim civilizations that preceded the introduction of Islam, and are thus an affront to the pride of the entire Ummah.
HRW
her/HRW I managed to post it with the links. Maybe either something is not quite right when you do your html for the links or it could be blogger being freaky but there it is now, anyway, with the links.
(as for freaking out it did tell me that I was navigating away from a page and would lose what was there, then took me to a cannot open page, but the post still showed up. Twice, in fact. So methinks it may be blogger)
Thanks MR & Pas . . .much appreciated! Although I did get the redirection warning with each attempt, the comment appeared to post. On occassion, I'd notice the comment doesn't appear to post despite the window indicating "comment saved". When I hit the back button a few times, the comment suddenly appears. I won't pretend to understand the workings of blogger.
As a kid, I'd smack the lid of any stubborn gizmo hard and see if it 'changed it mind' and decided to function again. Sometimes this method worked, other times I covered my backside with a thick book while explaining to dear old dad why the gizmo no longer worked.
Now if blogger had a lid, why I'd . . .
I still do that.
My concern would be that Dubai doesn't take certain items (Christian/religious art, 'offensive' items) and maybe does but buys/destroys them.
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