Seeing the Past in Present Tense by Paula Levine

I enjoyed the article and what stood out most to me is that monuments really can defy physics by allowing your past to occupy the same space as your present. Monuments, in their best light, reeducate the present dwellers of time of their past and remind us of our values today. In the article, monuments are described as cultural mnemonic devices that are commemorated by local and at times by national festivities and ceremonies. Monuments such as the one in Harburg erected to fight against Fascism and racism is all but forgotten in the present town. It stood 40-feet tall with a three-foot rectangular base and was covered with signatures of those pledging to fight against Fascism. It was lowered into the ground and only the top of the monument remained visible. The signage had been covered with graffiti and bird droppings and there was neglect to the grass area nearby.