I was living and playing music, my romantic view of Berlin was that it was a city of tension and extremes, an island in the midst of two societies at odds with one another. A volatile city, a music center, an art center, a center for protest in Europe. When the wall came down we all sat in awe for not one of us had expected such an event in our lifetime….as we talked about it we all agreed that darkish volatile vibe and tension was to be lost forever (watch the Wim Wenders film “Wings of Desire”).
- Collin
The fall of the wall, though I shared in the triumph of the day, didn't really hit me until I visited Berlin, Germany and, specifically, Checkpoint Charlie in 1998, almost a decade later. The Checkpoint Charlie Museum was cold and reverently, but awkwardly, quiet, despite the number of visitors that day. I just remember trying to imagine what it must be like to want to escape the country of your birth so badly that you'd risk death to do it. Being from Texas, I immediately thought of the multitudes of Mexicans who do the same every day trying to find a better life across that line of hope. I felt humbled, and I felt guilty for feeling grateful that I was born into circumstances that spared me from making such decisions. I tried to find my journal from that trip so that I could share my feelings from that day in 1998, but I'll have to continue that search after this is already posted. However, I did find a photo of a section of wall still standing with part of what I believe to be the name "Yvonne" tagged over a section of a woman's face that had been painted on the wall previously. I always wondered who Yvonne was, and whether she made it to the other side. I hope so.- Janet
Photo credit: Janet
I was 19 and studying music in college. Given the political awareness and love of history I developed in my 20s, I’m afraid the event wasn’t quite as momentous in my life as it should have been, consumed as I was with school and touring in a band. I do remember the images vividly, though, none more so than Tom Brokaw choking back tears. History has proven that fences and walls have never served their purpose or lasted long – Jericho, the Great Wall, the US/Mexico border fence, Berlin. But 11/9 – as transformative as 9/11 – seemed to close the chapter on a huge swath of 20th-century history, where whole continents lived in fear of what could happen. The fall of the wall represented – and represents – not a win in a war of ideologies, but a confirmation that ideologies don’t matter at all. A shared brotherhood has elevated the lives of many and recognition of that will ensure a better world.
Though it might sound dated today, I’m reminded of the Sting song, “Russians”, sung to portions of Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kije at a funereal tempo, and which asks if our cold war enemies loved their children as well. Hard to believe that that song is that old. Harder still that anyone would have to ask that question.
- Sean
My memory is not about the actual fall, but rather about the reunification of Germany. When I was in high school, I went with my family to visit my aunt and uncle in Germany. We were in Kassel, which was a short drive to the former border between East and West Germany. My father, Aunt, and I drove across a bridge that went over a large stream: that bridge had been a border crossing checkpoint before the fall and reunification. There were still remnants of a chain link fence with barbed wire in the middle of the stream. My father had been stationed in Germany in the 60’s, while he was in the Army, and my Aunt had lived through WWII in Germany. It was incredible to watch them both experience what they thought would never be possible…having the freedom to walk across that bridge.
- Lea
I was 4 years old when the Wall came down, so my memories of it are mostly from text books and pictures. One of the most powerful speeches I have ever read has to be the one given by Ronald Reagan in 1987 about the wall:
We welcome change and openness; for we believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace. There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!
- "Remarks at the Brandenberg Gate. Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation.
Tearing down the wall represented a new era of openess, acceptance and freedom. Hopefully we only have to learn that lesson once!
- Taylor
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