Rantings of a New Yorker

In 2001, many people watched as the Taliban destroyed the gigantic statues of Buddha in Bamiyan, Afghanistan.  World leaders condemned the attacks and people offered their support.  This past week, however, militants in Pakistan attacked another important statue of Buddha.

In northwest Pakistan’s Swat valley, armed Islamist militants recently attacked one of the oldest and most important sculptures of Buddhist art. Dating from around the beginning of the Christian era, and carved into a 130-foot-high rock, the seated image of the Buddha was second in importance in South Asia only to the Bamiyan Buddhas.

Religion aside, the destruction of the sculptures are a huge blow to history.  An important piece of archaeological evidence is now gone.  Archaeologists practically begged the government for intervention, yet nothing was done.

In fact, militants were able to carry out their work — drilling holes in the rock, filling them with explosives, and detonating them — in broad daylight. They did this not once, but twice. The first time, the image escaped heavy damage because of the militants’ incompetence. The second time, they were more successful, destroying not only the sculpture’s face, but also its shoulders and feet. As if that were not enough, there are now reports of a third attack.

These statues are a connection to our past.  We stand in awe of its construction, architecture and beauty.  Destroying it takes away the chance for others to learn and understand the history of the world.  Now, a part of our global heritage is gone.

You can see before and after photos of the statues.