20 years ago today…
the Berlin Wall came down.
While, Bush 41 was there and helped facilitate the dismantling of the Wall, it was Ronald Reagan’s speech nearly 18 months earlier at the Brandenburg Gate that started the process. Reagan was called a cowboy, an instigator, a rebel, and countless other names; because of his stance, he was ridiculed and maligned. His opponents were sure he’d ignited WW III when he referred to the USSR as the “evil empire,” and yet, now the world is better place for it.
General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and eastern Europe, if you seek liberation: come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!
I was only six years old when the Wall came down, but I still remember very well the unbelievable and dramatic events of fall 1989 that fortunately ended the infamous division of my country. My own background, originating from a large family of seven in East Germany – the second dictatorship on German soil in the 20th century – and the close study of oppressive systems provided me with an understanding of what freedom, inter alia freedom of speech, religious freedom, free movement, free trade, and academic freedom really means. I am more than convinced that oppression never works and that no such system can survive in the long run.
Conrad Rein
Visit the Reagan Library for more information.
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People come to this country for a better life in 99% of the cases. They are even willing to do the work no one else will. Without them our production as a nation and economic output would even (if possible) be more pathetic.
I guess I’m gonna have to read up some more, but this is a pretty good spring board.
I never would have imagined I would have to be familiar with this thank goodness for the internet
This is an epic post, I will definitely be adding your site to my blogroll