Going home -artifacts

Listen to NPR story

Artifacts have long been used for gathering knowledge and to search for information about ancient cultures.  The link above discus artifacts that had been researched by Yale and how the country of Peru wanted them returned after many years.  While many if not most of us would not ever consider taking another countries artifacts for keeping in our own home, we many times 'hijack' culture, music, or religious ideas for our own use.  While some would say repeating what others do should be taken as a complement, we must be careful that we do not cheapen the ideas behind these customs.  As we travel again to Peru and especially the Inca sites this year let us enjoy and admire their wisdom and grace without the need to take them home and attempt to adopt them as our own.