I've been taking it as a given that 2017 would just basically be Snow Crash, and even I didn't see "Evangelical fundamentalists secretly acquiring ancient cuneiform tablets" coming.
Ancient Iraqi Artifacts Imported By Hobby Lobby to be Forfeited
41–50 of 168 posts
Re: Ancient Iraqi Artifacts Imported By Hobby Lobby to be Forfeited
#42Per Hobby Lobby statement: https://newsroom.hobbylobby.com/articles/artifact-import-set...
"At no time did Hobby Lobby ever purchase items from dealers in Iraq or from anyone who indicated that they acquired items from that country."
lol. Don't ask don't tell, amirite?
It's funny to see HL running through the motions defending themselves on this one. Surely nobody there is stupid enough to think that we actually buy their excuses.
Re: Ancient Iraqi Artifacts Imported By Hobby Lobby to be Forfeited
#43Earlier quoted context omitted.
If I recall, they made these purchases in 2010. So just AQ linked Iraqi warlords (who you could probably bet on having joined ISIS). Ironically, if these artifacts were from northern Iraq, where ISIS has had its main destructive presence, there's a good chance they would have been destroyed. Still, gross to see a "Christian" company wanting to get items from the 'holy land' that have been totally plundered to build a…
Except that many of the artifacts that ISIS "destroys" are in fact sold: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/islamic-sta...
I agree but I think this a more recent development. Specifically as ISIS has been driven out of a number of oil fields in the North of Iraq and lost that oil as a source of funding.
I think the "idolatry smashing" propaganda videos are more selective now as ISIS needs to rely more on the sales of those artifacts for funding due the loss of the oil.
Re: Ancient Iraqi Artifacts Imported By Hobby Lobby to be Forfeited
#44Saw on Twitter that someone called them the "Wahhabi Lobby". But actually, it seems ridiculous to me that this only warranted a $3m settlement. They've (almost certainly) been indirectly funding ISIS by robbing a country of its cultural artifacts. Not cool.
And perhaps equally infuriating and insulting is this Christian company not taking any responsibility for the theft or funding terrorists. From the BBC articles; >'Hobby Lobby said it "did not fully appreciate the complexities" of the import process when it began' and >'The company imprudently relied on dealers and shippers who, in hindsight, did not understand the correct way to document and ship these items," Hobby…
The 3rd (of the 10) commandments should loom large enough in the Evangelical faith that religion should just never be brought into business. No matter how good the intention at the outset, this seems an entirely predictable (and often repeated) result.
I think it's great to be a Christian in business and try to live out your faith, but I think it's trouble to try to be a "Christian business" and use it as part of your advertising/PR.
Re: Ancient Iraqi Artifacts Imported By Hobby Lobby to be Forfeited
#45So when will the artifacts be returned to Iraq?
Probably the day after the British give back the Elgin Marbles.
Re: Ancient Iraqi Artifacts Imported By Hobby Lobby to be Forfeited
#46Edit: disregard. Title is bad. There's a civil suit attempting to take the artifacts, but the government hasn't won yet.
From the article: "The government also filed a stipulation of settlement with Hobby Lobby, in which Hobby Lobby consented to the forfeiture of the artifacts in the complaint, approximately 144 cylinder seals and an additional sum of $3 million, resolving the civil action."
Whoops, never mind.
Re: Ancient Iraqi Artifacts Imported By Hobby Lobby to be Forfeited
#47The terrorists are really only killing other Muslims in the Middle East, so that's perfectly OK with "committed evangelical Christians".
This is really a distorted generalization of "committed evangelical Christians."
I'm not understanding you comment. The quotes are there because they a self-reference by a member of the group.
Re: Ancient Iraqi Artifacts Imported By Hobby Lobby to be Forfeited
#48Saw on Twitter that someone called them the "Wahhabi Lobby". But actually, it seems ridiculous to me that this only warranted a $3m settlement. They've (almost certainly) been indirectly funding ISIS by robbing a country of its cultural artifacts. Not cool.
> They've (almost certainly)
Is that true? More importantly, is there evidence that makes it more likely than not that (1) this is true; and (2) that Hobby Lobby knew about it, or was willfully blind about it?
Like, what percentage of unprovenanced antiquities sales are used to support terrorism? It's like saying buying drugs (or diamonds, or products containing certain metals) finances terrorism. Yeah, some does. But the percentage is not such that it would be reasonable to try and pin someone who bought a back of weed as being responsible for funding terrorism.
Re: Ancient Iraqi Artifacts Imported By Hobby Lobby to be Forfeited
#49Saw on Twitter that someone called them the "Wahhabi Lobby". But actually, it seems ridiculous to me that this only warranted a $3m settlement. They've (almost certainly) been indirectly funding ISIS by robbing a country of its cultural artifacts. Not cool.
> They've (almost certainly) Is that true? More importantly, is there evidence that makes it more likely than not that (1) this is true; and (2) that Hobby Lobby knew about it, or was willfully blind about it? Like, what percentage of unprovenanced antiquities sales are used to support terrorism? It's like saying buying drugs (or diamonds, or products containing certain metals) finances terrorism. Yeah, some does. Bu…
Any percentage above 0 makes it true.
Re: Ancient Iraqi Artifacts Imported By Hobby Lobby to be Forfeited
#50Saw on Twitter that someone called them the "Wahhabi Lobby". But actually, it seems ridiculous to me that this only warranted a $3m settlement. They've (almost certainly) been indirectly funding ISIS by robbing a country of its cultural artifacts. Not cool.
That's how the "justice" system works in America. Giant crime by a party with a lot of money? DOJ will just slap you with a relatively small fine. Bag of weed? You're going to jail, buddy!
The difference is that in drug cases, there is almost always overwhelming proof that someone committed a crime. Nobody has a kilo of cocaine shoved down their waistband and doesn't know about it. In a case like this, maybe it's a "giant crime," or maybe it's just a customs violation. Unless you have proof of the entity's state of mind, it's impossible to tell the difference.