Colonization or Not?

While in London my mind began just running wild. I began to think about all the things that we had talked about in class. On our trip to Highgate cemetery I don’t know if sitting on Herbert Spencer’s grave inspired me to start thinking about everything in a sociological way. However the second that I began to explore the British Museum and see items on display from every corner of the earth. I started to think about colonization and globalization again. The thing that struck me the most was that the British Museum held Cleopatra’s mummy. Although museums are an important part of our society I do believe that they are just a huge sign of colonization. If the United Kingdom, United States, and the majority of core countries would not have expanded and turned to divide and conquer, these things would still be in their rightful state. The things in museums, such as mummies, bodies, jewels, etc. although very interesting to look at and say that you have seen, should be left in their natural state. For the greater good of the sciences if these things were not discovered and studied we would know less about the past. However these things should stay and be kept on display in their original place of discovery. Just because an American and or Brit etc. found it does not give them rights to keeping it and bringing it back to the States or England. It should stay in its country off origin to be put on display. Like Cleopatra, who was a ruler of Egypt, but her final resting place is not Egypt it’s the British museum in London, England. Now is that right? For me I can’t say as a scientist I love to explore and view things from all over the world without ever leaving home but on the other hand I believe that Cleopatra should be resting in the country in which she once ruled. Along with all the other things that do not belong to us!

Brent