Can you picture Greece without ownership of the ancient Parthenon?
Photo from stock.xchng
Greece sunk into debt in recent years. We hope to see a vicious Spartan fight against bankruptcy, but German politicians suggested a curt solution: sell the Parthenon, Acropolis and Aegean islands. Should the Greeks continue preserving the reminder of their history, or should they be smart to let go of the ancient sites for the sake of their economy?
Cling to the past or focus on the present? This is a countrywide scale of past-present dilemma.
Unstable economy is a peril to the historical sites of Greece. There are other factors that endanger historical sites.
In just one hour, Mali Islamists has destroyed three Mausolea in Timbuktu. All of it are U.N. World heritage sites and served as religious and historical landmarks. Rebellion seems to be a fast way to eradicate historic sites.
Visiting can harm too. Over a million tourists came to Machu Picchu in 2011. The ancient city that survives centuries of calamities and invasion is now an “endangered architectural site” (TravelVivi); the influx of tourists contributing to its springing demise.
But Ecuador is on track of people coming to Galapagos Island. They are limiting the number of visitors and the length of stays. Fuel consumption and pollution are also regulated to maintain the pristine of the island. Many countries may find it hard to follow Ecuador’s steps since tourism is an industry that feeds economy. Historical sites are competing against money.
Political decisions can also affect the duration of historical sites. U.S. cuts funding for UNESCO, an organization that protects world’s heritage sites.Without the priority, historical sites won’t be secured.
If they do vanish, how long will the memory remain?
Sources:Mali Islamists destroy tombs in Timbuktu; CNN
Ecuador to limit number of visitors to Galapagos Islands; Travel Weekly
8 Places Almost Destroyed by Tourists; TravelVivi
Moment Matters 
Perhaps the Greeks have already spent and mortgaged their heritage. At least if these were privately owned there would be incentive to keep them up.
True, but private ownership has its own disadvantages.
It seems criminal to destroy historic buildings as old as these, and as central to western culture.
Germany could erase the debt. It would look better than a default, which is what they will get otherwise. There would have to be conditions to the removal of the (or part of the) debt – along the lines of structures that would prevent it happening again. In a past more recent than the working Parthenon, Germany experienced difficult economic times. How were these times turned around? Their current situation is a credit to them, bit if the lessons of history are unlearned……. In the meantime there is true pain and suffering. Telling a person in a sinking boat that they should bail faster is never really appreciated.
Like London bridge, sell them …. let them go to Texas? Or Kuwait? While they’re at it; get the artwork stolen, back. See ….. British Museum, for one.
The reason for most of the greek debt, is likely pork-barreling and thievery of public asset. In Greece, to build a house; the ordinary person buys some land and put’s in a basement. Live in that until you can afford the next level, etc. They are built out of cinder block and rendered concrete. Most of Greece lives in abject poverty. Unless, you are in the tourist trade.
Athens is full of air-pollution, people crammed together. Northern Greece is mainly barren, except along valley bottoms and even that is sparse. The army that ruled in Greece until 1970’s exploited the country. Since then, the IMF threw money at it. Knowing full well, who was siphoning the funds off meant for those people.
Who can blame the ordinary citizen, from wanting to avoid paying taxes. When all it’s doing is keeping some wealthy well-heeled politician in clover.
Cling to the past or focus on the present?
It should be a case of a bit of both. Monuments like the Parthenon should never be sold to get a country out of debt. Once those monuments are gone, the identity and history of that country dies with it, especially since Greece was the mother of all things interesting, like the birth of democracy, psychology, medicine, law etc. You cannot sell worldwide patrimonial art, architecture etc at all. It would deny the world to learn about things they would never understand if it weren’t there.
It would be a tragedy for the Greeks to lose ownership of their heritage. I doubt that it could be looked after merely by being in private hands. Perhaps a joint venture, whereby the Greek people retain a 51% interest?
Just imagine a Pepsi, Nike or MacDonald’s logo on these buildings.
If they do sell I hope they sell to someone who will protect the sites and history. It would probably feel like one more loss to the people.