Here in Europe, history really is more alive. It is reflected in the old buildings (and when I say old, I mean since before the US was a country and more). It is reflected in the traditions. And sometimes it comes home in the news.
Yesterday was such an example. A neighborhood in the middle of Munich was being renovated, and a building had been torn down to make way for something new. During the construction, an unexploded WWII bomb was discovered. This bomb was likely dropped in 1944 or 1945, but it didn't blow up. Instead it just stuck in the sand, ended up buried, and was forgotten. Last night a radio station cancelled its events, hundreds of families were evacuated for the night, and businesses closed. As of early this morning, the bomb squad had not yet been able to defuse it and families had not been allowed into their homes. We don't know yet if any of our students are affected.
This all sounds very dramatic, but the discovery of unexploded bombs here in Germany is a regular occurrence. The fact is that Germany's history, like that of any place, has left physical evidence. Most of the time we think of the pretty side of life--the lovely castles, the quiet villages, the traditional festivals--when we think of living history. However, Germany, like any country, has an ugly side to its past that cannot and should not be forgotten. Reminders like this, which affect people generations later, are important and help us keep in mind the value of learning about the past and the world around us.
I hope the school year gets off to a wonderful start. Study hard!
UPDATE: The bomb could not be safely removed and was instead blown up (as safely as possible). No injuries were reported, but there were a few fires, lots of broken glass, and some damaged buildings. The subway line is still closed and families are not able to go home yet.
