Peace Monuments Related to Tolerance

Click here for Wikipedia article on toleration & tolerance. | Click here for GLBT monuments. | Click here for Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam [1466–1536].

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1190's AD - Minaret of Jam, Ghowr Province (Afghanistan). "A UNESCO world heritage site. Forgotten to the outside world until 1957." /// "One of the great wonders of the medieval world. A very tall, heavily ornamented minaret nestled in a green valley at the edge of the Jam River. Often called the Minaret of Jam, the monument was almost a millenium ago illuminated by a torch at its top, and surrounded by a thriving town with small industries & outlying farms. What's remarkable is that the writing on the minaret & archaeological remains nearby strongly suggest that the city harbored a population of Muslims, Christians & Jews. Writing on the minaret is a detailed transcription from the Koran that celebrates the life of Mary, mother of Jesus, highlighting the connections between Islam & other religions. Nearby there is a Jewish graveyard, which is another hint that people of different religions were living peacefully together. Was this lost city once a bastion of medieval tolerance?"

1790 - Toleranzblick / "Tolerance View," Wörlitz Garden Realm, Wörlitz, Wittenberg, Saxony-Anhalt, (Germany). "From here you see the Wörlitz Synagogue on the left for the Jewish religion & the Christian church on the right -- both should be equal in the eye of the visitor." /// "In the 18th century, a prince of Anhalt-Dessau made a park that was his vision of paradise. An Arcadian place of temples & grottoes & lovely lakes, a hymn to the Enlightenment, where a Toleranzblick, or "view of tolerance," offers the sight of a round synagogue built in the guise of a Roman temple and, behind it, a Gothic church tower. We know what happened to tolerance in this part of Germany between 1933 and 1989. Still the prince dreamed, which is important." /// "Since 2003 the synagogue has been restored & is now a small museum showcasing the history of the Jewish community of Wörlitz."

M U R A L

January 11, 1905 - "Religious Toleration," Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. Federal Courthouse, Courtroom 417, Baltimore, Maryland (USA). Painting by Edwin Howland Blashfield [1848-1936]. "The central figure in this painting is Cecil Calvert, Second Lord Baltimore [1605-1675]. Standing behind him are a Catholic priest and Protestant pastor together holding the Edict of Toleration. The winged boy in the center of the painting is holding the scales level to symbolize equality. The goddess Justice is depicted in red and next to her is a boy holding a shield with the date 1649, the year of the edict."

G A R D E N

1981 - Temple of Tolerance, 203 South Wood Street, Wapakoneta, Ohio (USA). "I've seen many amazing visionary art sites, but none quite like the one James R. (Jim) Bowsher has created. His home is an incredible museum -- a Grand Central Terminal for the Underground Railroad, an invisible library of unwritten books on Freemasons, Harry Houdini & and Neil Armstrong. Over several backyards are massive glacial boulders forming the central monument dedicated to tolerance, a stage for summer music performances, a Vietnam War memorial, and a Tree of Life. Throughout the grounds you'll also find the archeology of good and evil -- Boundary markers from a Shawnee Indian reservation, slab steps from a Klan meetinghouse, stone dragons from Ireland, fragments from the first baseball park in Cincinnati, even a marble countertop from a bank that John Dillinger robbed. Perhaps more than anything, the Temple stands to remind us, as well as future generations, to have compassion for others as we continue to explore our dreams, follow our spirit, and search for answers in the hope of scaling new heights." [Cathy J. Schreima, Wapakoneta Evening Ledger, April 7, 2001.] /// Bowsher's temple is further described & illustrated on NarrowLarry's World of the Outstanding & RareVisions Road Trip.com. For YouTube videos of the temple, click here for 11 minutes on a sunny day, and click here for 5 minutes in the snow. Also click to see Bowsher explaining why he believes in innate goodness and telling the story of rivets.

M U S E U M

1984 - Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education & Tolerance, Dallas, Texas (USA). "A memorial dedicated to the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust & a place of tribute to those non-Jewish people who saved the honor of mankind with their praiseworthy acts of rescue."

M O S A I C

1985 - Golden Rule Mosaic, United Nations, New York City, New York (USA). Presented by first lady Nancy Reagan for the UN's 40th anniversary. A creation of Venetian artists based on a painting by American artist Norman Rockwell [1894-1978]. Depicts people of all races, religions, creeds & hues. Imparts the message of the Golden Rule ("Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"). Entry #750 in the "Peace Movement Directory" by James Richard Bennett (2001).

T E M P L E

1989 - Templo da Boa Vontade / Temple of Good Will, Brasilia (Brazil). "Shaped like a pyramid of seven faces, in which peak is maintained the biggest crystal ever found in Brazil. According to the maintainers, the best way to capture the energy of the crystal is to walk slowly, barefoot, meditating, following the spyral path inwards; at the center of the spyral [sic], right under the crystal, is the energy focus; then, walk back outwards, stopping before the altar for meditation. This temple is the national headquarter of the Legião da Boa Vontade, and attracts visitors from all religions." "Created by the Legion of Goodwill in 1989 as a symbol of universal solidarity. Incorporates seven pyramids, joined to form a cone that is topped with the biggest raw crystal you will ever see. Inside there's a meditative space." Image courtesy of Francineide Rodrigues, www.aboutbrasilia.com.

M O N

1989 - Verdraagzaamheid Monument / Tolerance Monument, Stationsplein / Station Square, Hilversum (Netherlands). "By Edo van Tetterode... Between 2006 & 2010 it was removed due to construction works. The sculpture is a monument for Michael Poyé who was killed in 1986 by an act of violence [because he had long hair]." "Stones hands folded in two glass dragonflies. Established following the murder of Michael Poyé from houses by right-wing extremists. The statue is an initiative of friends of Michael. The act of senseless violence took place at the station on 26.9.1986." Inscribed in four languages: English, Dutch, Russian & ?

M O N

April 1992 - Monument to Tolerance, Rio Guadalquivir, Seville (Spain). "Made for Expo' 92, this work by Eduardo Chillida [1924-2002] is a symbol for tolerance & friendship between earth's people." Inscription by Elie Wiesel: "Listen to the voice of Seville, a voice wounded and melodious... Here as in other places, they loved & hated for dark reasons & without any reason; they made prayers by sun & by rain; they interpreted life by giving death; they believed themselves to be strong by persecuting the weak, they affirmed the honor of God, but also the dishonor of men... Certainly all life ends in night, but to illuminate it is our mission. Through tolerance."

M U S E U M 1993 - Museum of Tolerance (MOT), Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC), 9786 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, California (USA). Entry #87 in the "Peace Movement Directory" by James Richard Bennett (2001).

M U S E U M January 2001 - Holocaust & Intolerance Museum of New Mexico, 616 Central Avenue SW, Albuquerque, New Mexico (USA). "We are unique: Our purpose is to educate people about the Holocaust as well as to teach them about other genocides and forms of bullying that have affected people around the world. We are not limited to one religion, culture, geographic area, or time." Co-founded by Holocaust survivor Werner Gellert. Click here for more information. Chick here for other monuments to tolerance. Right photo by EWL.

M U S E U M 2004 - Museum of Tolerance New York (MOTNY), Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC), New York City, New York (USA). Called New York Tolerance Center (NYTC) until October 2010. Has "an ambitious mission to help enlighten city residents & tourists on issues of discrimination, prejudice & social inequality."

2005 - Civil Rights Memorial Center (CRMC), Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Montgomery, Alabama (USA). "Adjacent to the Civil Rights Memorial (qv). In addition to exhibits about Civil Rights Movement martyrs, the Memorial Center houses a 56-seat theater, a classroom for educational activities & and the Wall of Tolerance." The names of more than half a million people who have pledged to take a stand against hate & work for justice & tolerance in their daily lives flow continuously down the 20-by-40 foot wall. Visitors have the opportunity to take the pledge & add their names to the Wall during their visit.

C I T Y Various Dates - "City of Tolerance," Amsterdam (Netherdam). "For visiting Amsterdam you must be prepared, especially if you come from a traditional environment, as I do. Now I understand why it call a city of tolerance & the most liberal city in the world. This is the beautiful city of canals, bridges, museums, churches with interesting architecture. Also it is a modern city, city of free spirit, which has legalized almost everything. It has about 180 nations of the world, & everything works perfectly. In one place you will find prostitutes, kindergarten, doctors, churches & drugs. It exists only in Amsterdam & nowhere else."

M O N

M U R A L

2006 - Inquisition Memorial, Lisbon (Portugal). Inscription: "In memory of the thousands of Jews victims of intolerance & religious fanaticism, murdered in the massacre started on this square on the 19th of April 1506." "Lisbon is promoting itself as the Cidade da Tolerância / City of Tolerance. Of course it was the first European capital to get African slaves, & its central square [was] the site of the murder of thousands of Jews during the Inquisition, but it’s also been a welcoming haven for all cultures & ethnicities in more recent times. Africans & other ethnic minorities gather in São Domingos Square (directly behind the central Rossio), and that’s exactly where a monument reminding of the horrors of the Inquisition has been placed together with a mural with the phrase 'Lisbon, City of Tolerance' in several languages."

T R E E

September 15, 2008 - Tolerance Park & Monument, Alar Street (an extension of Haas Promenade), Jerusalem (Israel). "Designed by Polish sculptor Czeslaw Dzwigaj (known for his religious art) in collaboration with Michal Kubiak. Funded [for $4 million] by Polish businessman Aleksander Gudzowaty to promote peace & tolerance in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Etched on a stone at the entrance to the park are the following words: 'The monument is in the form of two halves of a broken column, which stand divided but still linked, on the ruins of a nameless & ageless temple. An olive tree grows in the middle of the split column & with its leaves seeks to encompass & shade both halves. The tree enables the two parts of the column to link together in symbolic coexistence. It cannot be known when the break will heal, when the two sides will grow back together but it can be seen that between the branches of the olive tree a new seed is sprouting, a golden grain of tolerance." On a hill marking the divide between Jewish Armon HaNetziv & Arab Jabel Mukaber, just outside UN headquarters." "Besides the High Commissioner's Palace." Near Goldman Promenade. "Features a 'Tolerance Wall,' inscribed with the names of cities who have expressed their support for the idea of tolerance & have dedicated a plaque on the wall." /// From Brit in Jerusalem: "Near my house is the UN headquarters, and close to there is a monument with some inscriptions in English, Hebrew & Arabic, probably say people need to give each other a hug or something." Click here for video. Seen 24Jun11.

M O N

December 6, 2009 - "Gratitude to America. America is the victory of peace," along The Baywalk (between Miami Circle & Brickell Park), Miami, Florida (USA). Borders the Related Group’s Icon Brickell. "A 15-foot bronze monument by Russian sculptor Gregory Pototsky." "Conveys the ideas of democracy, freedom & tolerance." "Erected by Universal Artistik (founded in 2008 to represent artists from all over the world) together with Related group (one of the largest global development companies that built the Time Warner towers in New York)."

M U S E U M

October 2010 - Museo Memoria y Tolerancia / Museum of Memory & Tolerance, Plaza Juarez, Centro Historico | Frente al Hemiciclo a Juárez de la Alameda central, Mexico City (Mexico). "Dedicated to two topics. The first 'Memory' part tells horrible story of Nazi Hollocaust. This is followed by stories of genocides in Rwanda, Bosnia, Armenia & others. The second section on 'Tolearance' makes you think about current issues and encourages more tolerance."

February 2011 - "Tolerance," Harmony Walk (corner of Allen Parkway & Montrose Boulevard), Houston, Texas (USA). "A septuplet of sculptures (seven kneeling human figures, composed of multi-lingual melded metal letters resting on Spanish boulders) by Barcelona-based artist Jaume Plensa. Dedication included addresses by Mayor Annise Parker, former Mayor Bill White, Mica Mosbacher, a representative of the Aga Khan Foundation [AKF] & the artist himself. Mica Mosbacher, widow of former US Secretary of Commerce Robert Mosbacher, detailed her involvement with the project, which was sparked by a vicious 2006 hate crime attack against then 16-year-old Latino student, David Ritcheson, who later committed suicide. Mosbacker quoted the United Nations definition of tolerance and how it relates to the city: 'Tolerance is harmony in our differences. Tolerance is not a concession, it's not a condensation, or indulgence.' At the dedication, White expressed thanks to His Highness the Aga Khan, who was pivotal in making 'Tolerance' happen and has spearheaded plans for an Aga Khan Foundation Center on a lot across Allen Parkway."

M U S E U M

Future - Center for Human Dignity-Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem, Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC), Mamilla Jerusalem Cemetery, Jerusalem (Israel). Now under construction. "Replaces a four-story underground parking structure next to Independence Park. The park is on the grounds of a Muslim cemetery. The project aims to promote tolerance amongst Jewish populations within Israel, including Ashkenazim, Mizrahim, Ethiopians, Russians, and others. The new museum complex has been designed by Frank Gehry to resemble a fruit bowl. See Video & Website.

M U S E U M

Future - Russian-Jewish Museum of Tolerance, Moscow? (Russia). "Finalized the German-based Graft Architects‘ design for the new museum. Grafts’ renovation and expansion of the 1927 Konstantin Melnikov’s bus depot will transform the space into the world’s largest Jewish museum. The existing Jewish community center in Moscow contains several Jewish institutions, such as a yeshiva & a university, yet the addition of Grafts’ museum will be the final piece in completing this cultural space. The museum, which will include a library, a center for Judaic studies & conference rooms, will commemorate Russian-Jewish history and include galleries of Jewish art. Graft Architects will preserve the landmark garage building while making the interior compatible for contemporary museum expositions. The exterior of the structure will remain untouched, making it a visible monument of Russian heritage, yet the building will be enlarged with the addition of underground floors covering 15,000 square meters. The new interior will include undulating floors & surfaces that create an organic landscape. This dynamic interior offers a highly versatile setting for various events and enhances the original shell of the building. The renovation and expansion is a perfect blend of history mixing with the present."

P A R K

Future - Tolerance Park, Governors Island, New York City, New York (USA). Part of National Heritage Triangle. "Our proposed education & history project will unleash the island's currently concealed historic symbolism for the nation. It will provide our children with an opportunity to understand the twin notions of tolerance (dynamic) & liberty (static) of American freedom and imbue them with a deeper appreciation of the meaning of freedom in a pluralist society through broad awareness & conscious vigilance."

M O N S

Future - 12 Monuments for Tolerance, Puerto Vallarta (Mexico). "This is a solemn challenge to the world leaders & to the WORLD, as a whole, to make the 'Day of Tolerance' become a reality, considering the understanding between people as another weapon against violence & terrorism. Inspired by a Pre-Columbian concept, now under development by the Presidency of Mexico and the "Mexican Commission for Cooperation with the UNESCO" with the support of Puerto Vallarta City Hall & the University of Guadalajara: TLANEXIAHUEYCITLALLI / The splendour of Venus / "MONUMENT FOR TOLERANCE." This man size bronze sculpture will be made in a 12 piece edition dedicated to people who did & still suffer from persecution & discrimination. 'The wound that reinforces' or the 'Monument for Tolerance' is dedicated to the entire human family. The world is invited through the United Nations to enact 'Day of Tolerance' erecting the 12 statues in most sensitive places around the world, called 'Tolerance Space' & celebrating it once a year; exchanging groups of artists of different countries, ethnics religions. Art & Culture is the antidote against ignorance, hatred, war & terror & will break frontiers for improvement of the human condition."

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