Zukunft der Erinnerung

Zukunft der Erinnerung, "future of remembrance" is the title of a recent book reviewed in the TLS. The compound word Vergangenheitsbewaltigung,"the burden of the past" actually sounds like road directions, “Ausfahrt” or “exit “ a word you are likely to see on highways in Germany or Austria is onomatopoeic. Contrary to Merleau-Ponty words themselves which, by definition, lack the consciousness of their own being, are reeking with intention. Memory and the past are loaded issues anywhere but their significance is underscored by the rise of Germany’s Alternative fur Democracy (AfD), the movement embraced by JD Vance. As in the old Western Union Telegrams STOP! “Say no more, nudge, nudge “ to quote Monty Python.