Balg Eun Song's response
Historical sites attracts people because it connects the past and the current moments. Whether right or wrong, the bigger the historical event was the more it attracts people. In respect of tourist attraction, assaulter and victim is not a matter of consequence. Then isn’t it unfair for the wrongdoer country to earn income from the site as a tourist attraction? Along with the apologies, Berlin is gaining two; the benefits from the site, and the image of the global moral community because of the acknowledgement of the violent national past.
But, we cannot just live in the memories and always bring back the past into this world. From the pile of the long history, there are too many moments to judge and apply it back to this current moment. In addition, some events are not clear about who started the conflict. Even there is a contradiction of the income, I would say it is up to personal opinions.
However, regardless of the tourist attraction, I consider the fact that German acknowledged the crime is important. There are still many countries that have tragic memories by an aggressor nation and living without any apologies. Korea and China had a tragic experience from Japan. The tragedy was almost concealed by the hidden effort of Japan but little by little the truth started to reveal. However, Japanese are still justifying and distorting the history. Instead of reflecting their atrocious behavior, they worship the generals who conducted the event in their temple. It is like German putting Hitler bronze statue in the biggest chapel and worshiping him. Even the prime minister of Japan, Koizumi, went to the temple to worship. The only thing we are asking to Japan is them to acknowledge the truth about what they have done, just like how Germans are doing.