There's quite a bit to disagree with in this piece on
Berlin from Tablet, but it's a worthwhile backdrop against which to have your own experience of the city. Berlin is--above other characteristics--a city of contradictions as
this piece from
The Forward brings out.
Hi all- so here is my first attempt at a post. The article is interesting, predictably arguing that Berlin is multifaceted and struggles with its history. I was very interested in the line "History here has been co-opted, tamed, and harnessed by the ironic perspective that time can provide." It reminded me of the conversation about last year's trip and the Luther- themed restaurant. I wonder about what the real difference is between a Communist themed bar with a picture of Marx and the "deliberately disorienting" Garden of Diaspora at the Jewish museum. If history is pointed to and highlighted at a bar or a restaurant, does it somehow speak less to the community? Does the Museum's garden mean more? Both are purposeful decisions to bring modern attentions to historical realities. If one is co-opted to create emotion and the other cop-opted for humor- is there really a difference?
ReplyDeleteI think that's a wonderful question Sam. Do we allow history to tell its story, or do we use history to tell the story we want to tell? I would argue the latter. It is a question I often think about in terms of the Holocaust. Without sounding too heretical, I sometimes think that we use overuse the Holocaust in our telling of Jewish history. Obviously it plays a huge role, however I think we need to be careful not to solely define ourselves through it. We have to ensure that the Jewish people and Judaism has a solid identity and foundation that does not have to rely on the Holocaust as a basis for our current place in the ranks of the world. Getting off my soapbox now...thoughts?
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