Category Archives: Germany

The last chapter: Art and the preservation of memory

Posted on August 25, 2011 by

We’ve been to some memorable places and turned some dark pages in the history of the 20th century during this seminar. We ended it with a day emphasizing the role of artists in defining how that history is remembered. After … Continue reading →

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Victims and perpetrators

Posted on August 22, 2011 by

We spent much of our seminar examining the history of 20th century Poland and Germany from the point of view of the victims of repression by the Nazis and Communists. But what about the perpetrators of that repression and what … Continue reading →

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A city divided: Tales from the Wall

Posted on August 17, 2011 by

(NOTE: I had hoped to finish my chronicle of my trip to Germany and Poland by this point. But it has actually worked out fine, as I get to write about our visits to the Berlin Wall and related sites … Continue reading →

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Coffee with Comrade Honecker

Posted on August 7, 2011 by

BERLIN, July 4 — Breakfast, lunch and dinner are three of my favorite times of day and, not surprisingly, I believe that eating can be an educational experience. So our meals — from the elegant to the down-to-earth — were … Continue reading →

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The Humboldt Box and the future of the past

Posted on August 5, 2011 by

Our first excursion in Berlin began in a downpour that felt like buckets of water being poured over our heads. To say it was bracing would be an understatement. We started the day at a place called the Humboldt Box … Continue reading →

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Welcome to Berlin

Posted on August 1, 2011 by

Unlike Krakow, which is quaint and picturesque despite being a city of 750,000 people, everything about Berlin is big and imposing. Like Krakow, Berlin has had its experiences with “Ruin and Revival,” the theme of our seminar. As we will … Continue reading →

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A sense of who you are

Posted on July 18, 2011 by

Who am I? Individuals, and even nations, face such questions of identity at some point in their existence. And the answers help give purpose and meaning to that existence. Pretty deep stuff for an old sportswriter to be contemplating, but … Continue reading →

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