Now here's a monument that has served a very important purpose, for a very long time.
No one knows who placed the monument, apparently sometime after 1933 — though it has now saved countless lives in two tsunamis. All of this is rather reminiscent of Ralph Waldo Emerson's statement in "American Scholar" about the philosophical tendency — seen even in insect culture — to provide for future generations, even those whom we shall never know. " We should suppose some preestablished harmony, some foresight of souls that were to be, and some preparation of stores for their future wants, like the fact observed in insects, who lay up food before death for the young grub they shall never see." A rather touching episode of some nameless people whose foresight has benefited people born long after they have gone.
Who says monuments are unimportant?!