Hello Darklings,
25 years ago today (allowing for time difference) the Wall that divided East and West Berlin came crashing down and for the first time since the end of World War 2 Berlin became a united city once more.
Gorbachov did the right thing to not call in the troops to stop the people from destroying that Wall. Perhaps the wisest move any politician ever made. He's still alive at 83, amazing.
I remember the news broadcasts, Sis was visiting me when I had my apartment, and she and I shared my queen size bed, this was long before I inherited my Great-Aunts home. We watched the news sitting on my old couch that sagged so bad in the middle that I had to put a wooden board under the cushions so we could get out of it without floundering, we were in our sleeper pajama's and robes and slippers, mesmerized by what we were seeing, nibbling slowly at popcorn of all things.
No this was not a movie to watch and be entertained this was something else that we were trying to absorbed and take in much like how we'd slowly allow the popcorn to become soft in our mouths, we were devouring this event, marveling at it, remembering the dismay our parents voiced when they read and saw on the news this hideous wall going up, that divided families, friends, parents from children, young from old.
All to keep out the so called evils of western civilization, into creating one huge concentration camp of slaves to communism. Over 100 people died trying to escape, now we were seeing a city made free.
Sis turned to me and said slowly "We're seeing history happening right now." and I could only agree.
Some weeks later we listened and watched the performance of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" but the word Joy was changed to Freedom, never had such a profound piece of music have greater meaning.
That last movement of it stands right up there with Handel's "Hallelujah" Chorus from "The Messiah".
And now the joy of this moment is being celebrated again, but with the fears of another "cold war" looming in the background because of Putin's Policies.
With that in mind I wonder what other walls will eventually be torn down, not physical walls but mental and spiritual ones.
I don't know, and I may not live to see it, but I can hope that my nieces and nephews will.
Later Darklings
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I remember watching the broadcasts of the wall coming down. It was a moment you could feel the history happening. I also remember the "souvenir" pieces of the wall that could be bought. That I thought was a bit odd but I know a lot of people enjoyed the thought of owning a bit of that wall.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, I hope that more walls come down...both mental and physical.