The more things change the more they stay the same

One of the most amazing things about Berlin is how much in your face are the troubles of the past. As acknowledgment of past wrongs confront ordinary Germans every day. Two particular art installations show us that. Perhaps we can learn something from all this as more and more right wing governments take over countries that seemed to be moving in a more open direction.

"West to Life and East to Death" is a bronze sculpture by Frank Meisler commemorating the Kinder Transport which allowed parents to send their children to England by train knowing they would probably never see them again. This took place during WWII as things got harder and more dangerous for Jews in Germany. Sound familiar? If you were one of those parents from Central America who could save your child by leaving them in the US what would you do? The figures you see are facing East towards the concentration camps and death.

The luggage behind them is open and you can see a broken doll and broken musical instruments. Pay attention to the train tracks, you'll see them again.

These children are facing West towards England. The doll is whole and the suitcase is closed.

A self portrait of the artist, Frank Meisler who himself was fortunate to be on the Kinder Transport and now lives and works in Jaffa, Israel.

They are having their take out lunch on the "West" side. Do you think they know they are on the right side?

In a neighborhood, The Bavarian neighborhood, a little outside the center of Berlin where Albert Einstein and Billy Wilder lived is a most amazing art installation. It's very subtle but consider that if you lived in this neighborhood you'd be confronted with these signs every day and your children would for sure be asking, why is there a picture of a bench? Why does it say on the other side, "Jews are not allowed to sit on benches in the park or enter the park" and gives the date of the law when it was enacted early in the Nazi rule.

The file box sign is next to the city hall.

The back of the sign indicates that all records of what has been done to the Jews should be destroyed. Does this sound familiar?

The large U sign is the same symbol used today for the U Bahn, the subway and appears right next to the station. Jews were not permitted to ride the subway.

The clock is next to the watch repair shop, Jews were required to turn in all clocks.

In this street scape you can see two signs, one a loaf of bread (Jews not permitted to shop for food until the end of the day) and the second orange sign is musical notes (Jews not permitted to take music lessons). There are 80 of these signs throughout the neighborhood.