Consider the Cultural battle waged across North America. Urban planners, in their informed 'correct' wisdom, routinely ravage historical buildings and settings for the sake of progress. Sometimes, an area or part of an area can be saved, but only after an intense period of public education and lobbying (petitions) presented to the proper officials.
In Canada, we have destroyed most of our architectural heritage, and replaced it with tall 'scrapers', profitable, but not historically significant. If we are lucky, a plaque is placed at the base of our buildings which states what once stood there. The ghosts that passed by, and contributed to our culture, are no longer heard, and no longer appreciated.
In Alberta, one room school houses once dotted the rural landscape. Strategically placed within riding distance of the many homesteads, each held priceless memories. After the creation of larger school districts and the arrival of the bus, many small centres were closed or amalgamated into larger structures. The local farmer, often turned the school into a granary, or garage. Others lived in the school where they met (as youngsters), married, and raised their families. Today, all that remains are stone cairns that say with a deep hollow voice "Rocky Mountain District #7, Emma School 1907-1947".
We have often destroyed historical landscapes, and replaced history with houses. If we remember the Lone Ranger television series, Clayton Moore and Silver raised in triumph near Ranger Rock. Today, the site still exists, but it has been encroached upon with urban sprawl, and thousands of people live within a stones throw of Ranger Rock. Thankfully, the local historical society is attempting to preserve the area, and has made significant strides to that end.
Historical items are lost everyday. Natural forces, economics, and boredom (complacency) contribute to the loss of our 'heritage'. In South and Central America, the loss of Aztec, Mayan, and Toltec artifacts is a major concern. For over 150 years now, grave robbers have threatened the preservation the Indian culture. It has been for decades been an international industry, and frowned upon by major museums, but never stopped. The black market thrives, at the eternal cost of culture drain. In North America, the major studios (until the mid 70's), considered their prop rooms and scripts to be a 'waste' of space. Millions of pages of paper hit the garbage along with costumes, props, and priceless artifacts. Irreplaceable, MGM destroyed their backlog in the 1970's (it is now landfill), and now wishes they could turn back time.
