These trees line the border of Upper Austria with the Czech Republic. This frontier was kept under close guard by the Czech side, with watchtowers and barbed wire fences. It was called the "Iron Curtain". Many people (civilians and deserting soldiers) died between 1948 and 1989 in an escape attempt to Austria. Continuation of killing after the nameless horror of a war, in which dark shadows also fell from my country.
Today the border can be easily passed - no watchtowers, no armed soldiers, no control. Just the trees bear the memory...
And I look into the sky... and get into one of these white as cotton clouds and travel to a wondrous world:
nowhere a barbed wire fence...
no separating wall...
no injustice...
no violence... neither by words nor physical attacks...
and no blood on the earth...
It's up to us...
Yes We Can.
____________________________________________________
It's a great honour for me to be put on TT by so many kind people! Such a nice attention. Thank you very much!
inspiring words as well as an inspiring image.
The trees stand like sentinels. the textures of the trees and the brooding sky impart a real sense of atmosphere..
Admirable sentiment Jerome, wouldn't it be wonderful if we had an outbreak of peace and good will? This is a powerful shot, especially when understood in the context you have described so well.
I always look forward to your daily photo. This lives up to all expectations. And the background you have provided really adds to the picture, providing an historical story. Wonderful!!
And viewing this on black just adds to its beauty. You've explained the history of this special place so well with hope for our future - all over the world. Timely for us in the US.
Powerful and most illuminating-Mother Nature is often the least listened to but is the strongest witness. Those trees have seen so much and yet remained true. Fav!
Thanks Jeremy for writing those words. I spent my youth behind that "Iron Curtain" and yes, I pray for the better world without violence and walls between people.
Beautiful thoughts Jerome expressed with hope. Trees are witnesses of history. There is a myth that within tree rings is recorded all the joy and pain of the world. I hope your trees know only joy now.
You're nature images have been so beautiful this month. Today is inauguration day in the u.s....i can only hope for the best but am bracing for the worst four years ahead
Sometimes I wait when I see your photos Jerome. Because I cant think of anything to say that will do justice to what I am seeing. I just look quietly, out of respect and admiration. This was one of those times. Picture and words. Particularly touched, because in April, we go to a place with watch towers, armed soldiers, barbed wire, separation and conflict. All these things are still with us. But we go, to build friendship and to build a home, in the hope that one by one, at grass roots level, we can make a difference. Yes - it is up to us.
I think we are all responsible for the world in which we live. We can not influence everything. But I think what we say and what we do, in every word, in every act, even in daily dealings, causes somewhere and somehow something. And in sum, this can very well affect, make noticeable, change something. I believe this is our mission: to make the world better.
@alophoto Thank you, Amanda, for your nice coment!
Yes, the watchtowers have disappeared, even the "Iron Curtain". But I can not say that everything is all right now. The dividing walls still exist in the minds. There are still injustices in society. And the sound has become rougher. There is still much to do.
@blueberry1222 Thanks, Krista!
I listened to the speech held at the Capitol in Washington yesterday. I admit I have a feeling of anxiety. Will this world become more peaceful? Fairer? More human?
@gosia You spent your youth behind the "Iron Curtain" ... So you know what that means, even better than me.
Yes, we want a world without violence and without separate walls. Let us do that.
@chillen Thanks, Chillen!
It would be nice if there were only pleasant and joyful. But there are still injustice and inhumanity. And the tone of voice has become rougher.
@helenhall Thanks, Helen. Your words touch me a lot. As you can see, likewise I sometimes need a good while for answering you. And my English is so limited.
@dkbarnett Thank you, Delwyn, for your compassionate words. There is much sadness, when I see these trees. But we must be hopeful and look to the future. Also for our children...
The trees stand like sentinels. the textures of the trees and the brooding sky impart a real sense of atmosphere..
Thank you very much for this overwhelming resonance!
It really touches me very much.
I think we are all responsible for the world in which we live. We can not influence everything. But I think what we say and what we do, in every word, in every act, even in daily dealings, causes somewhere and somehow something. And in sum, this can very well affect, make noticeable, change something. I believe this is our mission: to make the world better.
Yes, the watchtowers have disappeared, even the "Iron Curtain". But I can not say that everything is all right now. The dividing walls still exist in the minds. There are still injustices in society. And the sound has become rougher. There is still much to do.
I listened to the speech held at the Capitol in Washington yesterday. I admit I have a feeling of anxiety. Will this world become more peaceful? Fairer? More human?
Yes, we want a world without violence and without separate walls. Let us do that.
It would be nice if there were only pleasant and joyful. But there are still injustice and inhumanity. And the tone of voice has become rougher.
Thank you for so many favs. What a nice attention.
Difficult times are that. I hope you are fine.