20 years ago the animosities in eastern Berlin was almost at an end. Close to three decades of harassments from Stasi was ending with the opening of “Der Mauer” Ever since the Soviet dictatorship decided to build an "anti fascistic protection wall" in 1961, families had been torn apart and one of the most influential countries in Europe’s history began its healing towards its unification lead by brave men like Mr. Gorbatsjov, Mr. Kohl & President Bush. Communism did crumble and a free capitalistic market did emerge and Berlin is on the fast track to – yet again – become one of the leading cultural cities in Europe.
A lot of grim things have been said about capitalism over the last 12-18 months, but ultimately capitalism ‘just’ need to be tethered a bit and this have been deeply missing in the last few years.
I’d much rather have a kind laissez-faire economics environment, free press & freedom of speech, the possibility to travel when and where one sees fit, rather than a post-communistic plan economy where growth is zero or negative, a secret police within the state continuously spying on the citizens, no freedom of speech and with no places to go – other than where the state thought it were appropriate that you went…Gulag for instance.
Please take a moment to remember what was won 20 years ago. This day is every bit as important as the 7th may 1945 where Nazi-Germany signed the unconditional surrender to the allied forces, just a shame it should be another 45 years before thriving countries like Poland, Hungary, Czech republic etc. could taste freedom from oppression.
Happy E-Day.
/C
