Okay so I'm a day or two late getting to this one...
On 09 November 1989, travel restrictions for East German citizens were unexpectedly lifted, prompting a rush of thousands of Berliners to the barrier, where they were allowed to cross.
World leaders met on Monday to celebrate the 20 year anniversary of the fall. Interesting to note was that current German Chancellor Angela Merkel was among those who flooded across the wall to the West all those years ago.
I remember as a kid watching the news coverage. I remember my mom saying that she never thought she'd live to see the day when the wall would come down. I know I didn't fully appreciate what was happening. I think I came to better appreciate what it meant a few years later when I was a Mormon missionary in Romania.
The fall of the wall was the beginning of the end for the Eastern Block. And looking back, it is remarkable to think how fast it fell when it finally started to topple. In just a matter of months, a number of countries followed suit and began to open their borders. Europe has never been the same since.
In reading about the anniversary I found it ironic to learn that the German government has now put up protective fences and guards to protect the wall from curious tourists looking for souvenirs.
Actually, I can't think of a more suitible destruction of such a horrifying structure and all it represents than for it to be chipped away into oblivion.
Piece...by...piece.
