Where Were You When the Wall Finally Came Tumbling Down?
“Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall.”
~ President Ronald Regan ~
Do you remember where you were twenty-five years ago, when the Berlin Wall began to crumble? I do. I was living on Ocean Boulevard, in Long Beach California, and was most assuredly glued to the television; as one of the most iconic symbols of repression was brought into submission, by the power of people determined to control their own destiny.
On November 9, 1989, the Wall, which had been constructed in 1961, separating East from West, families from friends, and democratic ideology from communist dogma, finally gave way to freedom. It was certainly quite a moment in history; and anniversary which should be marked, remembering all of those who lost their lives trying to traverse the wall, as well as those who were not allowed to celebrate a birthday or attend a wedding, or mourn with their family because of the iron and concrete restraint dictated by those who sought to control them.
To read my reflections on having visited Berlin: http://thatisallfornow.com/?page_id=1291
There are several interesting articles, on the Internet, which you may want to take a look at:
A copy of the first story reported by the AP regarding what was transpiring:
Great video, scroll down: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/11/06/the-fall-of-the-berlin-wall-stunning-before-and-after-pictures-on-the-25th-anniversary/
The before and after pictures melded together: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/11/06/berlin-wall-25th-anniversary_n_6113268.html?flv=1
How the moment will be marked in Berlin: http://www.visitberlin.de/en/event/11-09-2014/25-years-fall-of-the-berlin-wall
Great pictures: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/amazing-rare-photographs-berlin-wall-coming-down-180953278/
One man’s journey to freedom: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29966227
