Should We Memorialize Violence?

Guest: Kenneth Foote, PhD, Professor of Historical Geography, University of Connecticut, Author, “Shadowed Ground: America’s Landscapes of Violence and Tragedy” The sanctuary of the church in Sutherland Springs, Texas has been painted white and turned into a memorial to the 26 victims of the shooting that took place. White chairs and red roses have been placed in each spot where a victim fell. The pastor has said he may ultimately demolish the building.  In the aftermath of a tragedy, there is always a tension between remembering and forgetting. University of Connecticut historical geographer Ken Foote studies the way communities memorialize traumatic events. He says they can be an important part of the grieving and healing. They can also help us ask tough questions about what caused the violence – but Foote says we don’t often use memorials in that way, and it’s a missed opportunity.