and

a blog with cultural bulimia.

Sunday, June 27, 2004

The Ethicist

"My husband inherited a painting, almost definitely stolen, from an elderly relative who brought it back from Germany, where he served in World War II. (...) May we keep it? Anonymous, Chicago

So few people ask me if it's O.K. for them to hold on to stolen goods, and even fewer have the ethical sense, as you do, to feel guilty. I urge you to heed that feeling."