The Monuments Men

I am reading the book, The Monuments Men http://www.monumentsmen.com/books-movies/the-monuments-men by  Robert Edsel  with Brett Witter. This is the book upon which the movie was based. 

Earlier this year, I saw the movie, The Monuments Men http://www.monumentsmen.com/. It was a good story, but a little disjointed.  But, you got the message.

As is usually true, the book is better than the movie. But this book is dryer and even more disjointed than the movie.  In the movie, you got the sense that the efforts of the Monuments Men were disorganized and disjointed, and they really were not sure what they were doing. Well, in the book, this is so obvious.  It is a wonder that they accomplished anything. That they did is a tribute to the character of the men charged with the task of saving the art and cultural treasures of Europe.

It is so sad that the German Nazis tried to confiscate and destroy the culture of Europe.  It was understandable:  They wanted the best for themselves and they wanted to obliterate the rest that was not the best, and not German, or Aryan. It was their way of disrespecting the rest of Europe, denigrating Europe, and demeaning the identity of the peoples they "conquered."

There are important lessons in the book and movie. Lessons about respecting our history, our culture, and past histories and culture. Lessons about respecting the right of nations to have museums that safeguard and exhibit this history and culture. Lessons about the fact that private individuals have the right to amass treasures of art and culture that also pay tribute to our history and culture. Lessons about what can go amok when a government, or a faction puts itself above the law of civil rights and respect for human rights.

The book came out in 2009.  I am not really good about keeping up with what new books are coming out.  I happened to be at the movie theater and saw a trailer for the movie. If I had not seen the trailer, I am not sure I would have heard about the movie or the book. That is a lesson to me, I need to do better informed about what books are being written.