History Memes

That doesn't explain why, in the 21st century, they can't give things back to countries that are now stable and safe.

For example, there's still lots of Irish artefacts in British museums that they refuse to return to Ireland. Greece has also been requesting the Elgin Marbles back but Britain continuously refuses.

Granted, there's also lots of artefacts in Irish museums that were put there when Ireland was a part of the British Empire. But the difference here is that Ireland seeks to repatriate them and Britain does not.

Britain taking care of those artefacts to protect them from looting is one thing, but when a country of origin requests their artefacts back, its the refusal that turns the caretaker into the thief.