Artifacts

I’m confused. A maharajah has torn down his palace and a steamer is scheduled for demolition. Yet the wooden remnants of both are saved and restored to a place of honor within a Hollywood restaurant (“Out of the Blues,” Style, Aug. 14). A reader objects (Letters, Sept. 11) and views this as “pilfering artifacts.” The obvious alternative to saving these pieces would have been to reduce them to kindling. Would that have been a more acceptable outcome?

Then, a religious exclusivist, who believes that because Buddha and Ganesh are represented within the same establishment, the place somehow becomes an affront to two of the world’s religions (Letters, Sept. 11). He questions whether Christ or the Virgin Mary would be treated in such a manner. In fact, an exquisite statue of the Virgin Mary is right up on top of the stage, surrounded by other symbols representing many of the world’s major religions.

The sign above says it all: “Unity in Diversity . . . All Is One.” Certainly that is an attitude each of us must embrace if we are to solve the many problems facing our world today. The only divisions we have are those we have created in our minds.

Jan Lear

Los Angeles