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RT Times reports that Alexanderplatz square in Berlin has become the stage for a provocative art piece which celebrates whistleblowers and encourages ordinary citizens to speak out. "They have lost their freedom for the truth, so they remind us how important it is to know the truth,” says sculptor Davide Dormino. The life-sized statues of the three whistleblowers stand upon three chairs, as if speaking in an impromptu public meeting. Next to them is a fourth, empty chair. "The fourth chair is open to anyone here in Berlin who wants to get up and say anything they want," says the artist. Dormino, who came up with the idea together with the US journalist Charles Glass, specifically chose a classical bronze statue for his depiction – and not an installation or abstract piece – since statues are usually made of establishment figures. According to Domino while men who order others to their deaths get immortalized, those who resist are often forgotten, so “the statue pays homage to three who said no to war, to the lies that lead to war and to the intrusion into private life that helps to perpetuate war.” Activists and members of Germany’s Green party unveiled the life-size bronze statues on May Day.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 03 2015, @06:36PM
All humans need something to make them do something... to keep them going.
It could be money, admiration, loyalty to one's race,... and so on.
What was important to those three, and what got them to act is unimportant. Everyone has to have their reasons, and the only reason anyone (the corrupt government/corrupt press/misguided citizens/special interest groups/...) goes into their personal/professional lives is when they wish to throw dirt at them, undermine their heroism, and put doubt in the public's mind.
These are just three who are getting statues. There must be many others who tried, failed, and were murdered. Many others who thought about acting, planned it, got the data, then out of fear did nothing; perhaps they had too much to lose. Humans are lazy creatures, and want to stay in comfort for as long as possible; they do not like taking chances for fear of losing what they have, etc.
Then there are those who overcome their fear, stop caring about what their government/boss/organization thinks, and act. They find someone who listens (who isn't sold out), and gets the public's attention. Without them, we're lost. And yes, they deserve admiration.