Simviation Forums

Today, November 9th, 2009.....20 years since the Berlin Wall "officially" fell
Thoughts? Did any one here experience this event or pay attention to the news when it was happening in '89?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8349742.stm

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33784429/ns ... ars_later/

http://www.france24.com/en/20091109-wor ... ?autoplay=

http://www.dw-world.de/english

Link

"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!"

President Ronald Reagan, June 12, 1987

I was in a previous life that involved a blue suit stationed in Germany when the wall came down. I remember watching it live on TV. A while later we went to town and it was like New Year without he fireworks. The jubilation was soon to pass with the introduction of "solidarity tax" a tax on every earning person in West Germany. Kohl said it would only be for a year to get the East back on it's feet...............we are still paying it 20 years later.

Matt

Wow.  A 5.5% income tax increase for the last 20 years.  I'd be pissed off too.

Especially since like all taxes there is no indication that it's being used for its intended purpose, that it is actually accomplishing its intended purpose, and that it will ever end.

Did any one here experience this event or pay attention to the news when it was happening in '89?

Unless they were marooned on a desert island it would have been difficult for anyone alive at the time to avoid the constant news coverage.  I think it was obvious to anyone giving it some thought that it would create as many problems as it solved.

By no coincidence, PBS WPBT, Ch2 Miami, aired a most interesting documentary last night entitled "How the Beatles Rocked the Kremlin."

I had no idea.

[quote]By no coincidence, PBS WPBT, Ch2 Miami, aired a most interesting documentary last night entitled "How the Beatles Rocked the Kremlin."

I had no idea.

"The West" have a very annoying habit of trying to "Democratise" the rest of the World, often with predictably unfortunate (to some of us enlightened Folks) results!... ....!

Many East Germans, etc, yearn for the "Old" system, which guaranteed jobs, security, and stability for all... ...!

Much of the instability in various parts of the World can be blamed on the "West", for its interference in its internal affairs!.... ...!

Paul... ...!

Remember "Rhodesia", (in Africa) any one?

.... ....!

I'm a great advocate of; "Keeping our noses out of things which don't directly concern us".... ...!

Did any one here experience this event or pay attention to the news when it was happening in '89?

Unless they were marooned on a desert island it would have been difficult for anyone alive at the time to avoid the constant news coverage.

The Berlin Wall was Richard Burton and Claire Bloom and I still think, what a waste

I've seen the tv stuff with the digger hammering on the top of the wall...

Girlfriend claims she never saw it on tv...