Stop Spike TV from looting our collective past!

The Issue

This show, as advertised by Spike TV

 http://www.spike.com/press/2012/02/15/spike-tv-hunts-for-buried-historical-treasures-in-new-original-series-american-digger/ 

http://aroundthenetworks.com/spike-tv-announces-unscripted-show-american-digger/

 will follow a team "led by former professional wrestler-turned-modern- day relic hunter Ric Savage as they scour ... battlefields and historic sites, in hopes of striking it rich by unearthing and selling rare pieces of American history."

"American Diggers," as described, encourages and glorifies looting and the antiquities trade at the expense of American history. Although the items pilfered by the team are acknowledged to have "great historical and cultural significance," these items are sold for individual profit.

Simply plucking valuable historical items from the ground removes these items from their context. If excavated systematically by a team of trained archaeologists these sites could prove invaluable to our cultural history. The team and Spike TV are clearly more interested in turning a quick profit than in history and education, but by glorifying these irresposible actions they are encouraging the public to follow suit.

This petition had 19,453 supporters

The Issue

This show, as advertised by Spike TV

 http://www.spike.com/press/2012/02/15/spike-tv-hunts-for-buried-historical-treasures-in-new-original-series-american-digger/ 

http://aroundthenetworks.com/spike-tv-announces-unscripted-show-american-digger/

 will follow a team "led by former professional wrestler-turned-modern- day relic hunter Ric Savage as they scour ... battlefields and historic sites, in hopes of striking it rich by unearthing and selling rare pieces of American history."

"American Diggers," as described, encourages and glorifies looting and the antiquities trade at the expense of American history. Although the items pilfered by the team are acknowledged to have "great historical and cultural significance," these items are sold for individual profit.

Simply plucking valuable historical items from the ground removes these items from their context. If excavated systematically by a team of trained archaeologists these sites could prove invaluable to our cultural history. The team and Spike TV are clearly more interested in turning a quick profit than in history and education, but by glorifying these irresposible actions they are encouraging the public to follow suit.

Petition Closed

This petition had 19,453 supporters

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Spike TV
Spike TV
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Petition created on February 24, 2012