Tuesday, August 16, 2011

The Berlin Wall

In case you missed it, this past Saturday, August 13th, marked the 50th anniversary of the building of what became the harshest symbol of the Cold War and the Iron Curtain dividing the West from the East. The Berlin Wall was put up quickly, catching many by surprise.

The Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989 and, while most Berliners rejoiced, they also tried to quickly remove and forget about what was called their Schandmauer, Wall of Shame.  For the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the wall, Germany is for the first time, throwing the full weight of federal state approval and ceremony behind an official remembrance to mark the anniversary. Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Christian Wullf will mark all the victims, not only those killed or imprisoned trying to cross the wall, but also the Berlin families separated for a generation by the wall.  I'm not sure if the old saying, "Time heals all wounds" strictly applies but the passage of time does tend to make people look at things in a different light.

Times have changed yet have they really?

 

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12 comments:

  1. Initiative StainAugust 16, 2011 at 7:23 PM

    Just something to think about ...:)

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  2. elenor czubykAugust 16, 2011 at 7:38 PM

    I totaly agree. Great blog

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  3. Malcolm HuttonAugust 16, 2011 at 11:45 PM

    We have a piece of the Wall here in our house. Ilse is from Berlin but has been in Australia since 1957. She got the piece of the Wall on one of her visits back to Berlin.

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  4. doug noakesAugust 17, 2011 at 1:54 AM

    What a miracle that the old satellite nations of the Soviet Eastern Bloc can now elect their own leaders and travel as they please.


    Well done Jack.

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  5. Grammy Blick TexasAugust 17, 2011 at 6:18 AM

    Yes, things have changed. Some people continue not to learn from those changes.

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  6. Initiative StainAugust 17, 2011 at 6:37 AM

    This would be something to see Malcolm....

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  7. Initiative StainAugust 17, 2011 at 6:40 AM

    I remember it well Doug. I had three friends that went there as accountants and the first year was all too hard for the people.
    But it happened and it was a time in our history - if not where would we be now?

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  8. Initiative StainAugust 17, 2011 at 6:41 AM

    Grammy history has always been a service as one can look at things from a different vantage years later and there is something which can be learned.

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  9. Initiative StainAugust 17, 2011 at 6:42 AM

    Thanks Elenor...

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  10. caroline magicAugust 17, 2011 at 8:15 AM

    times have changed ..a lot...thank goodness:)

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  11. Initiative StainAugust 17, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    They have.........and then within some areas they have not. :)
    But the important thing Carol is that of living life.

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  12. maritess* estrellaAugust 18, 2011 at 4:44 AM

    Time changed. Some we forget some instilled in us. A great piece of History many will never forget.

    Great.

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