During My study aboard, we explored the history of Berlin, especially the memorization, we
explored museums, and the everyday city site. When we were discussing our class reading we
brought up this topic, in Berlin there plenty of memorization, our professor possessed the
question, “should there be this many memorials?” I couldn’t help but compare Berlin to the States,
and how there is a lack of memorization because of the negative context it carries, as a country,
there would have to be self-reflection and rebuilding.
And when it comes to Berlin, despite the horrific and generational trauma that is within the history, the most important part is that there was a recognition of that history and paying a tribute to those hurt. It’s important to remember our past, yes, but to be constantly reminded of that past in an everyday context places these questions of “Should I even be proud of my country?” as Kai (our professor) mentioned in our last meeting.
A country like America can sit with its history similar to Berlin, I would like to think that there
wouldn’t be this proud patriotism, especially Political parties, as well, are rooted in being proud
of the party’s characteristics, and identities, that are all rooted in slavery. There isn’t an
awareness of what it means to support these parties, especially when it comes to the republican
party; there is a loud ignorance following. I think that if there were more memorization in the
States, there wouldn’t be this uneducated pride following of parties that harbor the worst of the
country.
One of the things that I felt heavily when I came to Berlin was something as simple as
the railroad in the train, with the little I knew about the history of Germany, I couldn’t help but feel
the weight of what my own eyes were seeing, and thats something textbook can’t teach. When
it comes to memorization, it doesn’t have to be something overcomplicated, or heavy. It can be
something as simple as walking through the remains of what was. What we can learn is that there is
an importance to understanding the past, dissecting it from all parts, and keeping its lesson
alive.
