I was reading an article on the REUTERS website regarding a planned German Reunification Monument. If you have not seen the concept drawings or the scale model, it is a very interesting and unique design. It looks like a cross between a long serving bowl and a seesaw. Apparently, the "bowl" is designed to "teeter-totter" just like an actual child's seesaw as people climb in. This design makes so much sense.
A new, young nation (it is only 21 years old, after all) and the struggles continue between the eastern and western parts of the country. Assimilation while on paper has taken place the reality is that there will be long difficulties for many years to come, more realistically like for generations to come. I firmly believe that the German nation will continue to grow, move past its former histories and continue to be a world leader. However, on the inside just like any and every nation on the planet, there will be troubles.
Then again, isn't that what freedom is all about? The ability to publicly disagree and show that one side is no better than the other and that ALL people are valued and respected. That they can protest and agree to disagree without fear of being sent to some far off forgotten gulag or being imprisoned because some friend or family member turned their name in to the Internal Security Police.
There it is a child's seesaw that teeters and totters, gives and takes, goes forward and backward. Thus the giving and the taking, the ups and downs of a re-unified nation, a new country is exactly represented in this monument to the new spirit of a 21st century Germany. It should also be noted that this is a great testament to the commitment and determination of the ALLIES that helped rebuild a post-war Germany, with plenty of difficulties, ups and downs, giving and a lot of taking. In the end, they all knew the day would come when both East and West Germany would be one nation again.
Of course, there are those that say, "we don't need another monument," "we must not spend the money it takes to build it," and so on. So not taking a political stand on whether it is politically right or wrong, I do say, if and when it comes into being the understanding and realization of what the monument is to the German Re-unification will be crystal clear.
-David
image of monument model used without permission from AP.
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here are some technorati tags:
Berlin German Reunification Germany East Germany West Germany Cold War USA Berlin Brigade American Sector British Sector French Sector Soviet Sector Reichstag German Reunification Monument The Berlin Wall Die Berlin Mauer
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