On 6/20/11 I visited Hammerfest, Norway, purportedly the northernmost city in the world. There the Museum of Reconstruction documents the almost total destruction of the town by the retreating Germans in 1944. Only the small funeral chapel remained. It strikes me that back in the USA I was worrying about studying and proms. Question: What is the advantage of ignorance of the suffering of others?
It was relaxing on the Holland America Line’s cruise of the Norwegian fjords to hear so little news – only the basics in the daily New York Times summary. In fact, I find that I’m choosing music over news on public radio now that I’m home. But in Hammerfest in 1944 the focus was on working together to restructure their town and lives. In fact, it’s interesting to note that it’s the Museum of Reconstruction, not the Museum of Destruction – emphasis on the positive -- cooperation.
What if we all allowed ourselves to be aware of the events of the world: slavery, poverty, unjustified imprisonment and torture, mass murder of populations, prejudicial treatment, pollution of our world, enforced ignorance? Would we find it intolerable? Or would we be more cooperative in working to reconstruct?
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