Historical objects should be brought back to their country of origin. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Many today are calling for historical objects currently residing in, largely Western, museums to be returned to their nation of origin. In my opinion, though these items were typically acquired fairly, repatriating them would go a long way to easing international resentment against past colonial powers. The argument of the institutions currently displaying these items is that they have a legal right. Some objects were unlawfully stolen, but the majority of those have already been sent back. The artefacts now in exhibitions have proofs of sale. The prices appear to modern observers as scandalously low but they were agreed upon in another era and there is no legal basis to revoke these sales. The British Museum in England,

for example

, has produced unequivocal evidence that all the items they preserve were fairly bargained for and obtained. In any other situation, demanding a product that has been sold be returned would not even be broached and items of historical and cultural importance should be no different. Regardless of the just case museums can make, there is a practical argument for returning these objects that do not exist for keeping them. A good example of

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is in many African countries where their historic artefacts were pillaged during colonialism. The powers that, in effect, stole their history tended to be predominately white, European nations like The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, and Spain. Since many of these wealthy countries now charge expensive fees to view artefacts from poorer African countries, a natural resentment festers. By returning the property, some of the pain of colonialism could abate. Countries subjected to colonial rule will be able to move past feelings of hostility if there is an attempt made to rectify and sanction the offenders. In conclusion, though many of these cultural relics were bought legally, there is

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ritical value in giving them back as they can repair historically fraught relations. Every country must balance these an abstract respect for justice against these more utilitarian concerns.