What does this symbolize? What has transpired since this event? Have situations legitimately improved in Germany since the event? (vs. other countries in the region). Is democracy the best political system for all nations?
Today was the 25th anniversary of the fall of The Berlin Wall. The Wall was in place from 1961 to 1990 and was created by the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). It cut off West Berlin from East Berlin. It was built to separate what they thought was the Fascists West Germany and NATO form East Germany and their Communist ideas. (1) If it was just a wall it would not have been such a big issue. But it was not just a wall. It contained guard towers and restricted all attempts to cross over. At least 138 people were killed trying to flee communism and many others were captured and put in jail. (2) What was worse was that the wall became a symbol for the German people. It was a symbol of suppression of human rights and the strong grip that was still on their lives after the two World Wars. (3) During the Cold War it split the two opposing sides of Cold War States, the West and East. The Iron Curtain became a symbol for the world as well, of the Cold War and its power. (4) After the collapse of the wall, many families were reunited and the tangible symbol of separation was destroyed. From news paper reports and pictures it looks to be a perfect overcoming of bondage. But I can only imagine the confusion and struggle that Berlin faced after that victory. Because of the different governments of the two sides, a lot had to change in order for things to work. Germany had to fight very hard to bring the, previously communist, East up and stable with the rest of the country. They spent over 2 trillion eros to help those that were in that area and even to this day there are still differences in many things including, voting patterns, incomes, unemployment rates and the wealth gap. (2) Although the symbol was torn down and the visual was gone, the pain and strife carried on. What, I feel, is very powerful is the message that those in Germany are promoting after this anniversary. Despite the struggles, they are trying to show the world that, “nothing has to stay the way it is, no matter how high the hurdles might seem to be” (Chancellor Merkel). (5)The Pope even joined in by saying that this should spur people to try and topple other walls. This is a great message to be spreading especially with the many issues people might consider to be walls in our world today. (5) I think this whole situation is very important to show that overcoming tyranny or opposition is not easy. That it takes time and a lot of support. That even after you have won, life is not smooth and things are not perfect. But, as shown by the people of Germany, it is worth it all. On a more somber note, while the world is celebrating with the German people this victory, we are on the brink of a new Cold War. (5) Tension between the West and East (Russia) has risen again and bloodshed and fear has already begun. It seems that history is, once again, repeating itself.
Today was the 25th anniversary of the fall of The Berlin Wall. The Wall was in place from 1961 to 1990 and was created by the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). It cut off West Berlin from East Berlin. It was built to separate what they thought was the Fascists West Germany and NATO form East Germany and their Communist ideas. (1) If it was just a wall it would not have been such a big issue. But it was not just a wall. It contained guard towers and restricted all attempts to cross over. At least 138 people were killed trying to flee communism and many others were captured and put in jail. (2) What was worse was that the wall became a symbol for the German people. It was a symbol of suppression of human rights and the strong grip that was still on their lives after the two World Wars. (3) During the Cold War it split the two opposing sides of Cold War States, the West and East. The Iron Curtain became a symbol for the world as well, of the Cold War and its power. (4)
ReplyDeleteAfter the collapse of the wall, many families were reunited and the tangible symbol of separation was destroyed. From news paper reports and pictures it looks to be a perfect overcoming of bondage. But I can only imagine the confusion and struggle that Berlin faced after that victory. Because of the different governments of the two sides, a lot had to change in order for things to work. Germany had to fight very hard to bring the, previously communist, East up and stable with the rest of the country. They spent over 2 trillion eros to help those that were in that area and even to this day there are still differences in many things including, voting patterns, incomes, unemployment rates and the wealth gap. (2) Although the symbol was torn down and the visual was gone, the pain and strife carried on.
What, I feel, is very powerful is the message that those in Germany are promoting after this anniversary. Despite the struggles, they are trying to show the world that, “nothing has to stay the way it is, no matter how high the hurdles might seem to be” (Chancellor Merkel). (5)The Pope even joined in by saying that this should spur people to try and topple other walls. This is a great message to be spreading especially with the many issues people might consider to be walls in our world today. (5)
I think this whole situation is very important to show that overcoming tyranny or opposition is not easy. That it takes time and a lot of support. That even after you have won, life is not smooth and things are not perfect. But, as shown by the people of Germany, it is worth it all.
On a more somber note, while the world is celebrating with the German people this victory, we are on the brink of a new Cold War. (5) Tension between the West and East (Russia) has risen again and bloodshed and fear has already begun. It seems that history is, once again, repeating itself.
https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/2014-featured-story-archive/a-look-back-25-years-since-the-fall-of-the-berlin-wall.html
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/berlin-wall-anniversary-germany-marks-25-years-since-fall-1.2829057
http://www.historytoday.com/frederick-taylor/berlin-wall-secret-history
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/world-history/fall-of-the-berlin-wall-goodbye-to-all-that--the-lost-world-beyond-the-iron-curtain-9824247.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29966852
Other: http://www.visitberlin.de/en/event/11-09-2014/25-years-fall-of-the-berlin-wall