But the thing about remembering is that you don't forget.
― Tim O'Brien, The Things They Carried
Day 1: Stereotypes
It was known for darkness, for people trapped because of their government, who took absolute advantage of everything they had.
And what I'm saying doesn't even cover a glimpse of the desolation.
With the little I knew, I expected Germany to be harsh, dark and mean.
I would look at apartment buildings and wonder if there are still hiding places there.
I would look at old parks wondering whether the children played there.
I was walking in history, and didn't realize until Doug reminded me - that this place remembers their history... so that it never happens again.
*side note: Remembering is one thing I wish the United States was better at...
the murder of Native Americans, Japanese Americans and African Americans definitely demands remembering... so that it never happens again.*
Day 2: Stories
The Holocaust affected all of Europe, even North Africa. There were deportation areas everywhere (Helsinki, Finland was no exception, to my amazement).
It was most brutal because those who were killing defined what a human was... and those they killed were not human to them. That dark history, beautifully laid out for us to understand through stories was amazing. And deep and dark, like I expected.
The artist who designed the structures gave no interpretation so that those viewing it could let it (and the Holocaust) mean to them what it may but here's the interpretation I like the best.
It's easier to look at it than to go through it.
- Joy Travis, fellow Cru member on Berlin 2014 trip