Forum: Photography


Subject: "A detail in History"; - The Holocost museum

brittmccary opened this issue on Apr 22, 2002 ยท 13 posts


brittmccary posted Tue, 23 April 2002 at 9:54 PM

Rork1973... I'm not "too worried" :) it's just that after such a stong impression, it feels like somebody slapped me in the face.. hard... with the comment that "just a detail in history". Of course, comming from a small country in Europe that was occupied; most Norwegians in my generation have persons in the family that WERE sent to one of the infamous camps. The jewish population of NOrway before the war was lesst than 2,000. But only 11 came back. What still is imprented in Norwegians brains is "How come they didn't see it coming? Why is it that a free country could be free one wonderful spring evening, - and an occupied country the next? How could they have failed to protect our countrymen from the horrible Holocost?" I think, Antoonio, that there are millions of Russians asking themselves the same questions. What part can artists, journalists, photographers play in a totalitarian society. Frankly, I don't know. I know that we all still can enjoy Kate Kolwitch art. What happened to her during the war, I don't know. Some history has been written about the role of the press during the war in occupied countries. A lot of press employed had no choice, but to stay in their jobs, bite their tongues and do their jobs. However; the undercover press was made by people like that. In a sense; it's easy today. We (most of us) live in democracies. We have freedom of speech. For us; coming out from the Holocost Memorial and be met by thousands who demonstrated against Israels policy towards Palestine, was almost equally as strong an experience. Not necessarily because we agree with them; but because they HAVE the freedom to say what they did; where they did. I don't have to face any "concequences" for making the picture; posting it; or to make this comments. THAT was not the caseback in Hitlers Germany. THAT is not the case in Palestine; or in Israel. :) I am a lucky person. I am free to feel strongly about things; - and to express it. Any way I feel like. Britt grateful for all the thoughts this image created