The Berlin Wall

From Noir on Wikipedia

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There are three basic moments I remember from my childhood- the release of Nelson Mandela, the election of Bill Clinton, and the fall of the Berlin Wall. No, I don't remember every detail of them, but I remember watching the news, seeing the events, and being interested in what they meant.

I was six on November 9th, 1989. George H.W. Bush was in his first year as President. The San Francisco Earthquake had just happened. The term "80s Music" just meant current music. The world was a lot different. I was far too young to understand Cold War divisions and politics, however the event was fascinating. I didn't quite get it, but I knew it was important.

The idea of a wall to keep people apart is foreign to me today. Walls are a symbol of oppression, whether they be a fence along our southern border, or a fence to keep Israelis and Palestinians apart. Walls signify fear and ignorance towards those on the other side. Walls stop discussion between people on both sides of the fence- something that rarely yields good results.

I'm 31 now, and 25 years have passed since the Berlin Wall fell. I've basically lived in a world where people view walls with scorn. That's a good thing. To think that Germany of all places would have a wall, seems silly today. For people under 40, Europe has basically been a calm and prosperous place in our lifetimes, something that has certainly not always been a given. We should all be thankful today.