because 1989 wasn't that long ago

[somedaybitch]

wishkey linked to striking images of the Berlin Wall. if you haven't seen them, go here.

the Brandenburg Gate is truly stunning without a wall in front of it.

an unfortunate side effect of relative peace is the human tendency to forget. we shouldn't, though. not ever. we should never forget that there existed a time when a city was physically divided in two, when Communism held sway, and when people were murdered by their governments simply for trying to live free.

Comments

[arthurfrdent.livejournal.com]

I was most gratified to find that for the domino toppling celebration they had Lech Walesa push the first one. It's too bad I don't have any of the pictures I shot back then digitized... I went through Checkpoint Charlie several times.

The thing about time passage and remebrance, is not just about forgetting... seeing a picture isn't like being there. Knowing that there was a cold war is different than running into a Soviet Armored column in a tour bus, and having to back up a mile down a one lane dirt road to let them pass. When they could have easily just gone right around you. Having your minder tell you in a deadly serious way that you shouldn't make eye contact or smile while crossing the boarder...

I suppose it is the best outcome, that people are happy and free, and with time the bitter memories subside. It won't prepare us for any next time, but I suppose if we were in a constant state of preparedness like that always, it would bring it's own level of disinterest. Like listening to loud things eventually becomes it's own silence.

great analogy

[somedaybitch.livejournal.com]

it absolutely brought its own level of disinterest, as i'm sure you remember. everything does. but there are segments of society that don't seem to *want* our children to know the struggles that came before because the "wrong" side won, politically speaking. and i think that's a shame.

every side makes errors, every side wants to forget things it wishes it never did, but the only way our children will learn to truly think for themselves is to let them see all sides and then allow them to reach their own conclusions.

[spiderbaggins.livejournal.com]

Hey 1989 was the year Ali and I got married.