sanshee
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Edited Dec 19, 2009, 16:05
Re: When does a sick joke become a holy relic?
Dec 19, 2009, 16:00
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"The theft of such a symbolic object is an attack on the memory of the Holocaust, and an escalation from those elements that would like to return us to darker days," Yad Vashem Chairman Avner Shalev said in a statement from Jerusalem.
Not sure if this was taken in the spirit of 'denial'.
Not sure even if it's a 'sick joke'.
EDIT: I know you're referring to the 'phrasing' there.
Some people do seek out some peculiar trophies for sure. I think it's more along those lines.
I mean there were no malicious daubings left or anything, right?
Pretty sure if the theft of something so big can be achieved then they could have taken time to do something 'worse'.
Should not have happened though, hopefully it can be returned. It means too much to too many not to be. It is after all a piece of history, and as we know history ain't always that pleasant a place to visit.
x
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drewbhoy
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Re: When does a sick joke become a holy relic?
Dec 19, 2009, 19:23
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Some good comments, Sanshee!
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red paeony
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Re: When does a sick joke become a holy relic?
Dec 20, 2009, 03:06
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I should think I would be moved to tears if I were to visit such a place.
x
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ratcni01
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Re: When does a sick joke become a holy relic?
Dec 21, 2009, 08:41
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Like John Hersey - The Wall, a good read, based on diaries found after the war.
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a23
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Re: When does a sick joke become a holy relic?
Dec 21, 2009, 15:28
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I had a different experience visiting Auschwitz.
Have to say I found Auschwitz itself much more like a museum than something which connected powerfully with the past - full of tourists, displays in glass partitions, a "gift shop" doing a roaring trade - really didn't have the emotional impact i was expecting. In some ways I thought it sanitised the whole experience, repackaged as a grim theme park - but i appreciate others may have felt differently.
However, going along the road to Birkenau was the opposite experience - firstly the vastness of the site which left me stunned, and wandering through the huts - which are just left derelict - was much easier to imagine what had gone on in there - brought chapters of Primo Levi's "If this is a man" most chillingly to life. I found this experience much more emotionally traumatic.
I went in May, it was baking hot and the trees were in full leaf - a verdant peaceful place. The most disquieting and disconcerting moment was up by the destroyed ovens, in the ash pools, a multitude of frogs were merrily singing away.
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Jane
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Re: When does a sick joke become a holy relic?
Dec 21, 2009, 16:39
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I visited Bergen-Belsen a couple of years ago and it had that effect on me...
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handofdave
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Sign recovered, arrests made.
Dec 21, 2009, 17:29
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I appreciate all the thoughts presented here. And I do agree that history, ESPECIALLY the monstrous side of it, must never be forgotten.
I'm guessing the thing was ripped off in the first place in order to go into some scumbag Nazi memorabilia fiend's private collection. Can you imagine wanting an object for your own that's so steeped in evil? I can't.
I guess that's why my original post... I couldn't at first get my head around the contradiction of an object crafted in hatred being rebranded as a tombstone. (tho, the crucifix also shares that odd schismatic distinction, doesn't it?)
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Jim Tones
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Edited Dec 21, 2009, 18:17
Re: Sign recovered, arrests made.
Dec 21, 2009, 18:16
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handofdave wrote: I appreciate all the thoughts presented here. And I do agree that history, ESPECIALLY the monstrous side of it, must never be forgotten.
I'm guessing the thing was ripped off in the first place in order to go into some scumbag Nazi memorabilia fiend's private collection. Can you imagine wanting an object for your own that's so steeped in evil? I can't.
I guess that's why my original post... I couldn't at first get my head around the contradiction of an object crafted in hatred being rebranded as a tombstone. (tho, the crucifix also shares that odd schismatic distinction, doesn't it?)
I think the bizarre thing now, is that they (the thieves) weren't neo-nazis, but wanted to sell it "to make some money" (!??!)
Er..... maybe nicking a car/clothes/jewelry etc. would have been a bit more lucrative and somewhat 'easier' to get off your hands!
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/12/21/auschwitz.sign.found/
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drewbhoy
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Re: Sign recovered, arrests made.
Dec 21, 2009, 20:46
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Just come back in from a day in the hills and found myself smiling that no ultra right wing bampots had stolen it. Then I thought it's still a bit of an insult tho, they still broke it up and basically pissed on a lot of decent folks memories.
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handofdave
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Re: Sign recovered, arrests made.
Dec 22, 2009, 03:35
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Indeed... where the fuck do you fence such a thing? Idiots!
It's one thing if you have a buyer waiting in the wings (thefts of famous pieces of art are already spoken for in almost every case) but where did they think they were gonna sell the most infamous gate IN HISTORY!!????
It's strangely fitting, I guess... maximum evil meets maximum stupidity.
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