A gay Holocost Monument has just been unveiled in Berlin. Apparently it met with considerable opposition. Gay activist groups were disappointed that no very high ranking officials came to the opening ceremony. Some people questioned whether or not a separate monument was needed for gay victims and some lesbian groups lamented that it focused on men rather than women. While I’m sure there are valid arguments all around, I think it is a huge step in the right direction against hiding history’s truths. A gay holocost monument is not and will not be the final word on the subject, rather it will further the discussion. You can read more in this article.
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I agree. It’s too bad something like this will probably never appear in the United States. Not in our lifetime, at any rate.
Wonderful idea but what in tarnations is this? Can’t make heads or tails of the monument.
How have you been? Is everything OK?
This would not definitely be the last. It is just the beginning.
Cheers!
Metropolismom
It was the best picture I could find of it, I agree it is not too flattering. I have no idea what it is. It looks a little sad though.
Owen, the fault (if it can be called that) is not in finding a good picture of the monument but in what it fails to convey. Sad looking it is but if nobody told me what I was looking at, I could never imagine what it was supposed to stand for.
I found this description of what the monument is intended to portray: “The stone is 4 metres tall. The monument to the persecuted homosexuals is devoid of ornamentation, partly to deter vandalism and partly as a reference to the hundreds of plain, tomb-style stones making up the sprawling nearby Holocaust memorial.”
I find it sobering to look at, it also piques my curiousity to learn more so I’m sure that reaction will be provoked in others.
Owen-I stopped by cause I was thinking … haven’t heard any new France Tales recently! and then I remembered you were travelling to Biarritz. Hope you had an enjoyable trip!
I have been trying to catch up on my posts. We had a great time even though the weather was horrible. I am going to post about the places we went. I posted but I clicked save instead of publish and nothing published. That is good though because now I can edit everything a little more.
I was curious about the sculpture and think it is interesting but I need to look a little more closely at everything to understand it better.
It looks like an outhouse with a glory hole. Kidding aside, I understand the “sobering understatement” angle but a monument like this should also convey spirit, determination, and even triumph as we further emerge from this tragedy.This one doesnt; it’s just another dreary tribute to the idea of gays as victims.
Don’t forget that for some an outhouse with a glory hole does convey spirit and determination and quite possibly triumph. But seriously your point is well taken. A friend suggested it is because Germans are “dreary” themselves, which is not a point well taken. Possibly a photo with more context would help us see it better, or not. Thanks for stopping by.