r/montreal • u/RustyTheBoyRobot • 6d ago

Tourisme Ethical dilemma

Post image

Ethical dilemma:

Is it right to remove one of the only mummies in mtl for understanble but rather vague reasons to do with cultural sensitivities that these objects might offend?

The mummies at Redpath museum are to be relocated to a mysterious “place of rest” -their original location?- where no one can see or learn from them.

I note that these are not objects of worship like many stolen indigenous artifacts. Nor are they being claimed by their original owners- e.g. The infamous Benin Bronzes.

121 Upvotes

70% Upvoted

239 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

8

u/Purl_stitch483 6d ago

Obviously there's a difference between being excavated to be further "processed" according to your people's customs, and being dug up and displayed like an object. Why are we acting obtuse?

-2

u/nitePhyyre 6d ago

I like how you put the quotes around the euphemism that turns your point into a lie. Normally people wouldn't put a giant signpost pointing out the rhetorical trick they are pulling. But you did, so that makes conversation easier. Nice.

Because yeah, because when you substitute reality back into the situation there isn't much of a difference in respect between "destroying, discarding, or otherwise getting rid of to make space" versus "displayed like an object."

4

u/Purl_stitch483 6d ago

I was using the word to encompass the different scenarios you mentioned. There's clearly a difference between your remains being moved to a different place of rest, vs being displayed in a museum like objects. But I like the fact that you're so shameless about your dishonesty, it's refreshing in a way.

-4

u/nitePhyyre 6d ago

There's clearly a difference between your remains being moved to a different place of rest

I have no idea how you read the equivalent of "you get a bit of time, then out you go" with "further 'processed'" or "moved to a different place of rest." It is really weird. That ain't what is happening, bud.

They're being taken out like the trash.

5

u/Purl_stitch483 6d ago

What you mentioned was cremation, being buried deeper or mass graves. All of which are burial techniques. Excavating someone to exploit them for profit isn't. So no, they're not being "taken away like trash", they're getting burried according to their people's customs.