Posted on 01/28/2013 5:28:24 PM PST by BenLurkin
Fleeing Islamist insurgents burnt two buildings containing priceless books as French-led troops approached
al-Qaida-allied fighters on Saturday torched two buildings that held the manuscripts, some of which dated back to the 13th century. They also burned down the town hall, the governor's office and an MP's residence, and shot dead a man who was celebrating the arrival of the French military.
French troops and the Malian army reached the gates of Timbuktu on Saturday and secured the town's airport. But they appear to have got there too late to rescue the leather-bound manuscripts that were a unique record of sub-Saharan Africa's rich medieval history. The rebels attacked the airport on Sunday, the mayor said.
The manuscripts were held in two separate locations: an ageing library and a new South African-funded research centre, the Ahmad Babu Institute, less than a mile away. Completed in 2009 and named after a 17th-century Timbuktu scholar, the centre used state-of-the-art techniques to study and conserve the crumbling scrolls.
Both buildings were burned down, according to the mayor, who said the information came from an informer who had just left the town. Asked whether any of the manuscripts might have survived, Cissé replied: "I don't know."
The manuscripts had survived for centuries in Timbuktu, on the remote south-west fringe of the Sahara desert. They were hidden in wooden trunks, buried in boxes under the sand and in caves. When French colonial rule ended in 1960, Timbuktu residents held preserved manuscripts in 60-80 private libraries.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
It's a religion of peace
It’s okay! They checked with Obama’s NASA first to make sure there were no records involved that would make a Muslim feel good about their achievements. No good Muslims achievements = burn baby, burn.
A priest and a shepherd from Australia participate in a TV game. After answering all the questions, there is a tie.
So both are given one final assignment. It is to write a poem in three minutes, using the word “Timbuktu”.
The priest returns with the fruit of his inspiration:
“I was a father all my life,
I had no children, had no wife,
I read the bible through and through
on my way to Timbuktu ... “
The poem makes a great impression, and the priest smells a sweet victory. But then comes the shepherd….:
“When Tim and I to Brisbane went
We met three ladies cheap to rent.
They were three and we were two,
So I booked one and Tim booked two ...
Remember all the Iraq stuff that was supposed to have been stolen...Surprise....The curators stole it and got caught.
Ok, here’s the deal, does anyone think these
fanatics WON’T do the same thing here, when
there are enough of them?
The library of Congress, Faneuil Hall, The Liberty bell,
all of our historic documents, all gone
torched by crazed Islamic zealots.
I sure don’t want to wait for that to happen.
Come visit Indiana County where I grew up. They have a four covered bridges still standing in just one county. Best viewed in the autumn or winter (JMHO):-)
How predictable. Anything that preserves knowledge, anything of cultural or historical significance, these islamos want to destroy.
Teach the children quietly
For some day sons and daughters
Will rise up and fight while we stood still
Our historic and national treasures need to be protected from the Barack Hussein Obama administration.
Yup. Mao allowed much of China’s heritage to be obliterated by the Cultural Revolution. ObaMao is envious.
Yet another thing they have in common with Progressives.
The Muslims have pretty much burned and destroyed any remnants of civilizations they have conquered. They have an adversion to admitting that other countries and cultures are more civilized than they are.
Especially in places like Africa. Timbuktu is an ancient center of civilization in the region—before the Muslims came into North Africa, enslaved the natives, and dragged things down.
That’s why they hated Kaddafi—because after he gave up trying to be a leader of the Arab Islamists after he was dissed at the Saudi summit meeting, he decided to break those ties and ally himself with black Africans. Intolerable.
YEs, it’s too bad they haven’t made that into
a full length movie....yet.
The current Librarian of Congress was appointed by Reagan in 1987. The next Librarian of Congress will likely be appointed by Obama. The Librarian of Congress serves at the pleasure of the president. They are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. LOC has the draft of the Declaration of Independence in Jefferson’s hand, Gettysburg Addresses, Washington’s diaries, L’enfant’s original plan for Washington, D.C., oh, and a perfect Gutenberg Bible. (perfect = no tears, stains, etc.)
Maybe if someone would torch Mecca and Medina the islamists would learn a little respect for other culture’s property.
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