Pace on Earth

The Wall

20 years ago today the Berlin Wall fell. I watched this on the news at the time and wasn't quite old enough to understand the ramifications. I know, because Peter Mansbridge told me so, that it was a big deal. At the time, though, the biggest concern I had was how we were going to compete in the Olympics against a unified Germany. I did grow up in the Cold War but here in sleepy little Freddy Beach, despite CFB Gagetown being so close, never felt and tangible threat. I'm sure it was different for my parents and anyone who grew up doing nuclear attack exercises in grade school. But for me the only time I was actually concerned about the threat of communists coming to Canada was immediately after seeing Red Dawn for the first time (I can vividly remember, when I was in elementary school at St.Dunstan's mind you, having a nightmare about a Russian bomber, like the one in the movie, bombing Fredericton High School).

Shortly after the wall fell the ramifications spread across Europe and within a few years even Russia was giving up on communism. 20 years on those former communist countries have made the European Union the world's largest economy. A portion of their populations are reaping the rewards of that economy and capitalism. Some of them, though, might look back to the security of socialism/communism with envy, particularly since the global economy tanked.

No matter what, it did let Berliners host a great concert:

Pace out.

posted by Vitamin S @ 11:28 p.m.