VISITING BERLIN FELT LIKE STEPPING INTO THE ECHOES OF THE PAST. THIS CITY CARRIES ITS HISTORY ON THE SURFACE. YOU CAN FEEL IT IN THE ARCHITECTURE, IN THE MEMORIALS, IN THE SILENCE THAT SITS BETWEEN OLD AND NEW BUILDINGS. THE REMINDERS OF WHAT HAPPENED ARE CONSTANT AND UNAVOIDABLE.

WALKING THROUGH THE CITY FELT LIKE BEEING CAUGHT BETWEEN ERAS: TRACES OF POST-WAR HEAVINESS IS STILL PRESENT BENEATH ITS MODERN RHYTHM. THERE’S AN ONGOING SENSE OF RECKONING, OF TRYING TO MAKE PEACE WITH SOMETHING THAT CAN NEVER BE UNDONE.

I FOUND IT UNSETTLING, BUT MAYBE THAT’S THE POINT: THE PAST SHOULDN’T FEEL COMFORTABLE. ESPECIALLY NOW, WHEN ECHOES OF OLD IDEOLOGIES RESURFACE, WE CAN’T ALLOW OURSELVES TO EVER FORGET: WHAT HAPPENED THEN CAN NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN – TO ANYONE, ANYWHERE. REGARDLESS OF WHO THEY ARE, WHERE THEY COME FROM AND THEIR BELIEFS.