Learning from History

Just because the past has been atrocious, one does not destroy all its evidences. History can never be erased and should never be forgotten. Its there as a reminder of what should not happen again in the future. Monuments and parks like these just preserve that part of history. I see nothing wrong in the park being there for that very reason.

Weird

Im really surprised that no Lithuanian has taken a hacksaw or blowtorch to those monuments on the bridge.keeping them would be like Germany keeping the giant swastika that used to sit over the Reichstag in Berlin. Its like a victim of rape lovingly keeping a picture of her rapist.The theme park on the other had is not in your face every time you cross the citys main bridge.It didn't seem to be about glorifying communism it seemed just to be a curiosity for tourists.

Grutas Park, Theme Park

As a strong hater and despiser of the USSR, Soviet Russia and the Communist regime, I believe that Grutas Park should not be termed "Theme Park" rather Devil's Display Park" because Lenin and Stalin were the agents of the Devil and the Soviet regime and Communist regime were like the nazi regime, one of the most evil, brutal, sadistic and bad regimes ever imaginable. Two great politicians of the 20th century, namely Winston Churchill and Ronald Reagan both hated communism and had every right to.

Grutas Park

I agree with Jack that the interview should have been conducted in Lithuanian language. I am surprised those who despised the Soviets so much would even speak Russian.

Context

History, horrible or not, should be preserved for the enlightenment of future generations, I agree. However, I don't think that is the case here. It's seems to be basically a millionaire's next business venture. Where are the displays of the horrors of the Gulag? What he has instead are Soviet kitschy souvenirs for sale, huge statues of the oppressors, your-face-thru-the-hole-in-wall photos, etc. It does seem more like a theme park than a legitimate museum.

Grutas Park

I am also annoyed that SBS chose to conduct the interviews in Russian, presumably because they were using a Russian interpreter. There is nothing wrong per se with the Russian language, but in this context it is completely inappropriate. Imagine the outcry if you went to East Timor and did interviews with freedom fighters in Indonesian! SBS and perhaps ABC have been guilty of this offence in the past. Next time hire a Lithuanian interpreter - there are plenty of good ones around.

Not a theme park

Like commenter Lucy, I have been to Grutas Parkas and I do not think of it as theme park. Each of the statues has a board explaining who the person being represented was, what they did, and how many deaths they were responsible for. Believe me, the park does not glorify those represented nor does it celebrate the Soviet regime. In fact, if anything it mocks the regime and those preposterous statues. The train carriage is a serious and chilling reminder of the deportation of whole populations.

history

l have the very large collection of Lenin and soviet and ww2 medals and painting in Australia why ,its history and the usa copy alot of it, to make money out of it. we should not forget the pass we should lean from it, and not make money from it. Alot of people send me alot thing for years and lt will take me many years to do the history on it, for people to lean from. copy law for the usa but not for the russian,