Clooney Flaps About Elgin Marbles
I’ve always had an especial interest in the Elgin marbles because my father’s name was Elgin. As a lad, I followed every twist and turn in Melina Mercouri’s adamant campaign to get Britain to return the sculptures, which were stolen from Greece in the early 19th century. So I should be thrilled that someone as preternaturally charming as George Clooney has thrown his support with the Greeks. But I’m not. In this instance, I kinda wish that George, whose new flop “The Monuments Men” won’t tarnish his image a whit, would wade into waters he knows more about. Related question: If Britain gave the marbles back to Greece, could Greece turn around and sell them back to Britain to help pay down a piece of Greece’s massive public debt?
