Guatemalan Artifacts

            "The Republic of Guatemala has demanded that Boston's Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) return a number of Maya antiquities, claiming they were looted from archaeological sites within its borders. The ceramics were given to the museum in 1988 by businessman Landon T. Clay and went on display in a new gallery last December. Guatemala asked for their return, and the U.S. Customs Service began an investigation into how they entered the country. Guatemalan officials have promised they will take the MFA to court if their request is not met". (Boston Globe, Farragher) Should we give these antiquities back or have they adopted a home at the MFA?.
             Upon researching the looted antiquities from Mali, the MFA seems confident about keeping the artifacts. In an article in the Boston Globe the MFA states that it does not require collectors to disclose how they were acquired. From the articles the MFA clearly does not agree what so ever that the items from Mali should be returned. I believe that the artifacts are indeed now a part of the museum. They have been there almost 20 years now and are under the best care. The artifacts may belong to Mali but with the looting going on there the artifacts would be in danger. "We certainly wouldn't want them destroyed in a revolution they"re fabulous items that should be preserved in a museum," said Elliot Stone of Boston. "Art gets stolen from on civilization to another. I don't think it's new or surprising," said Steve Kauffman of Centerville. He is absolutely right no one really knows how artifacts end up where they do. If all countries requested their artifacts sent back to their country then there wouldn't really be anything left in the museums. I"m sure the United States has missing art all over the world, and although it belonged to the U.S. at one time is it fair to ask for it now. Suppose we do give the art back to Mali, and then Egypt would probably want their art back and so on.