25 years ago today, bovember 9, 1989, the berlin wall was torn down by the berliners separated by it. five years ago, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall i wrote:
twenty years ago today, november 9, 1989, the infamous symbol of soviet oppression, the berlin wall, finally crumbled at the hands of free people! that historic event paved the way for the subsequent reunification of germany - and, ultimately, the collapse of the soviet union and end of the cold war. the world hasn't be the same since!
while nothing will take away from the greatness of that moment, in the five years since i wrote that in 2009, it seems as if the cold war is about to return - thanks, singled handedly, to the efforts of president putin and his efforts to dismember and reclaim the ukraine.
but i won't dwell on the negatives - because in those five years i managed a trip back to berlin the following year - in november, 2010! that closed the circle of my pre-fall of the wall visit back in the summer of 1984 and the post-wall city, 26 years later. that visit even included a fantastic reunion with my old friend from high school, phil - who's lived there since there the early 1980's.
check out this coverage of the city's celebration - which includes 8,000 glowing balloons to recreate the wall!
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