Musings on History

Fed up with a restricted way of living, many of the East Berliners departed to the West. The Berlin Wall stopped that, and people lost their rights and freedom of movement.

When the head of the East German Communist Party announced that citizens could cross the border, jubilant crowds gathered on both sides.

People brought hammers and began to chip away the Wall, powered with the thought of finally being free. There were no longer physical boundaries between people, only freedom.

As a manifestation of the end of the Cold War, contributing to the spread of peace across Europe, and symbol of liberty, the fall of the Berlin Wall has become one of the most crucial events in history.

It put an end to the tyranny of the Soviet Union, contributed to the reunification of Germany, and helped spread democracy in Europe.

It implemented the feeling of being at peace and become a symbol of freedom among people. The Berlin Wall was a depiction of people’s intolerance to different views and ideas.

The physical boundaries may have been gone now, but there is a far greater challenge to overcome— the boundaries in people’s minds.

This so-called division is evident in our treatment and perception of another. We should overcome our prejudices and biases. We should strive to cultivate a more inclusive and tolerant culture. (*)