I went to the Cincinnati Art Museum tonight shortly before 7:00. Since I was going for a lecture I circled to the back parking lots, closer to the other entrance by the theater. But the parking was full! What is going on? It's Wednesday night (and not a One World Wednesday)! Are all these people here for the lecture? Yes! I tried to buy a ticket but it was sold out! Sold out! Who were we all there to hear? Matthew Bogdanos, a Marine Colonel who had served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Were we all patriots or anti-war protesters? Neither! Col. Bogdanos was a part of an anti-terrorism team sent to Afghanistan after 9/11 and then to Iraq after the US invasion. He also had a passion for ancient civilizations. When he heard about the looting of the Baghdad Museum, he went there right away.

Col. Bogdanos is a wonderful story-teller. Which makes him a great speaker. With a slide show and a sense of humor, Col. Bogdanos took the audience in the crowded theater along on his journey to recover the stolen artifacts. He made us adore and respect the friend he made, especially the Museum staff. But his good natured delivery did not diminish the seriousness of his mission. We also felt his frustration at the lack of response of the international community. Shockingly most of the malaise comes from organizations, such as UNESCO, that we would expect to be driving the charge. Oh, but UNESCO had five conferences about the looting. All of them were held in Europe and no one on the staff had actually gone to Baghdad to see the extent of the damage.

I suppose if you have no interest in the ancient world or appreciation for artifacts that have survived for thousands of years, Col. Bogdanos's story might not be so interesting. (Although he tells it so well, I think it still would be.) I can't even begin to recount all of the interesting facts he shared. He did point out that at least 3 of the missing pieces were firsts - the first mask made in the likeness of the human form, the first statute made from a particular method and other such firsts. He also shed some light on Iraqi lives. When asking the public to return looted articles, no questions asked, his team enlisted the help of the imams. Then they visited the teahouses, drinking gallons of tea and playing hundreds of games of backgammon with the locals while developing relationships. He explained some important facts which were often left out of news stories about the looting. I did not know that the Museum was Saddam Hussein's private museum. It was never open to the public. And it housed some of the oldest, most important, and most valuable archaelogical treasures in the world. But since the people weren't allowed, they had no connection, appreciation or interest in protecting the pieces. So most people thought nothing of looting.

I am so glad I hung around to hear him speak. The tickets were sold out, and I had not thought to purchase ahead of time, I mean, when do lectures at the Art Museum ever sell out? But one of the sponsors of the lecture was the Global Center of Cincinnati. I know Deb Kittner, the director of the center,, through my work on the World View radio program. Why hadn't I asked Deb if she needed any volunteers to help out? I hate to beg favors like this, I really do, but I found Deb and told her I'd been shut out! She said, "well, maybe I can get you in as a volunteer." So I collected tickets for 5 minutes and earned a standing room only spot in the back of the auditorium.

Standing in the back of the auditorium turned out to be advantageous because by the end of Col. Bogdanos's talk I had to buy a book. I rarely buy books from speakers, and I very rarely pay full price for a book, but this guy was that good! So I was one of the first to get to the book table - no waiting - and close to the beginning of the line for book signing.

If you ever get a chance to hear or talk to Col. Bogdanos, do it! He's a great speaker.
Now I just hope he writes as well as he talks.