Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2011-03-07]: A German archaeologist, claims that at least one of the giant statues of Buddha that were blown up years ago by the Taliban in Afghanistan, can be reconstructed [sources: 1, 2]. What is the meaning of rebuilding a monument that has been destroyed? All things make their cycle in time. How "authentic" is a rebuilt statue? Do we just want to satisfy a selfish desire to have something somewhere, against the will of that country's inhabitants? If the culture of the people there does not include the existence of giant statues of Buddha, then the Buddha himself would not want to rebuild those statues...
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