Stumbling isn't always indicative of something negative, irreparable, or clumsy.
Instead, it can signify a necessary and crucial moment for reflection, evaluation, and remembrance.
Stumbling stones, crafted for commemoration and as tangible objects for meditation, hold a unique and essential significance. In a world increasingly dominated by technology, where information and judgments appear to be in constant flux and where self-deception is common, the steadfastness of truth becomes imperative. Misinformation, fake news, and the misuse of media have long undermined truth and historical recollection. Nevertheless, the tangible presence of monuments, the role of art as a countermeasure against forgetfulness, and stumbling stones serving as places for contemplation, particularly to honor those deported to Nazi extermination camps, serve to counteract the haze of falsehoods.
We must strive to avoid the dystopian catastrophe depicted in Orwell's "1984," where entrenched power coerces individuals to "deliberately tell lies while simultaneously believing in them... deny the existence of an objective reality while acknowledging that very reality being denied."
Stumbling stones serve as poignant reminders of the horrors and pains of war, illustrating how those who perpetrate evil distance themselves more and more from beauty and humanity. "Stumbling" prompts us to recognize our presence and reminds us of our obligation to try and create a better world. The stones remind us that we are alive, human, and simply here.
Francesco Basso (Art historian, journalist, and author)