- Published: October 1, 2022
- Updated: October 1, 2022
- University / College: The University of Sydney
- Level: Secondary School
- Language: English
- Downloads: 35
I. The Memorial: What I like and dislike The memorial underwent a lot process and debate before its final construction and as such, it is a product of thoughtful sensitivity to remember those who perish in the holocaust. As we can glean on James Young explanation how the memorial came about (Young, 2008), there were serious effort made to commemorate the victims. Beyond the aesthetic of the memorial, it is the process and the sensitivity brought into it that I like.
What I l do not like about the memorial though is what it represents. It represents the collective guilt of the Germans for the atrocities done during the Second World War in its name.
II. The necessity of the exclusivity of commemorating Jewish victims only
The terrible loss and atrocity that happened during the Nazi period is such a horrible period. The deaths and mutilation that happened then cannot be compensated by erecting monuments of whatever size. But still, it has to be remembered. And to stress the sensitivity of the narrative and its sensitivity for being remorseful of what it has done, the memorial should not be placed together with other commemorative monuments.
III. Eisenman would have preferred no Ort (the subterranean museum) as part of the
memorial. Where do you stand?
The atrocity should be remembered in its proper perspective where it should impress a narrative that people should not forget. The proposal of having a subterranean museum was just a reaction of the Germans not to create something bombastic and authoritarian with a big rock telling them what to think. But even if a monument will be a bombastic rock telling them what to think, it should still be erected to ever remember their crimes and never to forget its lesson.
IV. Norman Finkelstein questions the use of US taxpayers money to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust in Washington, DC because the Holocaust was not committed here but in Europe.
I agree with Norman Finkelstein that U. S. taxpayer’s money should not be used to fund to commemorate the victims of the holocaust. This is not to show insensitivity and disrespect for what happened to the Jews but it is the Jews and Germans who should dispense their resources for its commemoration because they are the protagonists of the holocaust.
