The LuLac Edition #2771, November 9th, 2014
THE BERLIN WALL TAKE DOWN @ 25
The Berlin Wall was a major part of my life. As a young student we were taught the difference between Capitalism and Communism and the Berlin Wall was a huge talking point used by my teachers. Although I didn’t realize the significance of it then, President Kennedy’s closing line at his speech in Berlin in 1963 had huge ramifications for my Depression/World War II generation parents.
Our Christmas Eve Supper usually began at 430pm at the family homestead on Cliff Street in Pittston. By the time we got through the seven meatless courses, the arrival of Santa (my Uncle Mike) and then the mad tear of opening presents, the parents had their time with some adult beverages. I remember watching the 630 news and every year there would always be a story about the Christmas Eve truce that would allow East Germans the opportunity to visit their families in the West. After Christmas Day it was back to the usual denial of transport.
Every time I hear some right wing nut caterwaul that “our freedoms are being taken away”, I wish they knew or understood that even with the problems this nation faces, we are not barred from going anywhere.
With the fall of Communism in the late 1980s, (most give credit to Pope John II and Ronald Reagan, I’ll go along with that with the caveat that the Soviet Union political infrastructure was fraying,) down came the Berlin Wall. It was symbolic but it underscored the almost unnoticed work that President George H.W. Bush did in making sure there was an orderly international transition.
It happened 25 years ago today and here’s how it went:
posted by David Yonki @ 9:41 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Speaking of "take downs" the Pope just took down an American Cardinal
who thought he could speak directly against the Top Man in Rome. Good move, Pope Frank. I really like this guy...
Not a Catholic for a long time.
My favorite neo-con line is "I want my country back!!". These folk so willingly eat off the spoon of conservative mouthpieces like Limbaugh and Hannity one wonders how long they can hold it down without vomiting.
This rhetoric is nothing new. Viewing the Roosevelts documentary recently I came to realize that it would probably shock people to see the very accusations hurled against Obama ("Socialist,commie, dictator, etc.) were hurled against FDR. ONe thing I learned was FDR's sons were accused by the GOP of being coddled and having their military records doctored to display a fake heroism. One of FDR's sons even noted "I wish one of us were killed to shut the S.O.B.'s up".
JFK was also the recipient of crazy talk. Just google the Wanted for Treason poster that appeared in the Dallas Morning News the day of his death.
Nobody kicks a sleeping dog...FDR, JFK along with Obama have (had) activist Presidencies. The louder the right squeals the more I know that the Pres. is on the right track.
BTW, I find it funny when Tea Party activists protest socialism wearing clothes paid for by Social Security checks and in wheelchairs paid by Medicare. Hypocricy anyone????
Bless YOU>
We were taught the difference between capitalism and communism! On your travels
doing your blog ask a high school student,college student, or even a work
friend what is the difference. Would be interesting to hear what they said! Let us
know.
Interesting. Our country demanding that a wall keeping people out should come down. Interesting!
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