*Photographs of the Auschwitz Memorial in Amsterdam
While on our walking your of the historical Jewish Quarter in Amsterdam, we paused at the Noot Meer Auschwitz - Never Again Auschwitz - memorial. The six panels of glass represent broken, shattered mirrors. Our tour guide for the duration of the day asked our group the following question: "What do you see when you peer into the glass?" and "What do you think is this memorial's message?" Several of the students within our groups shared compelling interpretations. Ultimately, the meaning was simple; it can happen today. As you look into the broken glass you can see both your own reflection and the reflection of nature surrounding the memorial. Additionally, a small urn with ashes from Auschwitz has been relocated and buried underneath the panels of glass. This is a strong reminder regarding why we study this topic and have decided to participate on this study tour.
Wow. The meaning is "It could happen again." How frightening but true. I hope someday to visit this memorial as well as others that I've read about on this blog. someday it can happen.
ReplyDeleteThese memorials serve as reminders that what has happened before can happen again. Their effectiveness lies in their simplicity.
ReplyDeleteThis memorial is very incredible. The tour guide's reminder of it can happen again is very scary. Such a moving memorial, I hope to visit it one day.
ReplyDeleteThis memorial parallel's a Skype call I had with Dr. Spatz, in that she warned the class that our current political climate strongly resembles her memories of 1933. "It can happen again" is something that I have be told is something that not many people believe and that goes for some survivors. Which during another class one girl brought up that there is a genocide occurring in the present day, which makes this memorial completely true. I think that the fact they relocated some of the ashes from Auschwitz heightens the viewer's awareness that the Holocaust took so many lives.
ReplyDeleteThis memorial reminds me of the Vietnam War Memorial. Slightly different with the Vietnam memorial consisting of all the names of soldiers who were lost in Vietnam, it bears a similar meaning, to me at least. They both are for remembering. Remembering what happened, why these events happened, and the friends and family we lost due to these events happening.
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ReplyDeleteThis is a remarkable, eye-catching memorial. It's quite frightening that this could happen again.
ReplyDeleteI've never been to a memorial like this before but it seems very interesting. To understand the meaning that this can happen today is so eye opening and makes you appreciate the world that we live in for sure. I bet this was such a moving experience.
ReplyDeleteI hope to one day be able to visit a memorial like this one. I love the simple meaning behind the glass which really shows why we continue to study the Holocaust and similar events.
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