The Past and the Present

Walking into the Newseum... Newspaper headlines and journalist memorials and historical films and interactive maps. The entire history of the new media swirling around us with the touch of a button.

Boring.

At least, that’s what I thought. For me, this was nothing more than one of those museums that you think you visited maybe a few years back when you were at that trip with those people probably.

Until I saw it. It. That. It changed everything. That was my wake up call. One step closer. Standing before you, 3 pieces of the Berlin wall, looming over like giants, carrying on their graffiti-covered shoulders the history of a nation, the history of humanity.

And suddenly the Newseum transforms, shapeshifting into an ultramarine time-machine. Around you, the story of the German nation unravels itself slowly, piece-by-piece with every step you take; The story of a wall, the story of the division, the pain and the suffering. The story of the people, the story of the struggle for peace, the happiness and the unity as the wall fell apart. “Act Up” it reads. “You are power.” “Step by Step”. Words written in bold against a background of crimson red in a pale yellow hue. A yellow that reminds you of the Cyprus flag. Of home. Of the division, the barricades, the hate... and the possibility of peace.

They did it. And so can we. Turning around, the rest of the group slowly approaches. Laughing, smiling. Greek-Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots-above all Cypriots- together as one.

This is what I take with me back home. How we worked together for our social venture projects, how we bonded, how we became better people. And how, at the sight of the remains of the past, we gained hope for the future and the present.

Andri