11/9/1989 signaled a new beginning for the world. The world had changed, and everyone knew it. After almost an entire century of non-stop war in the West, Gorbachev's Sinatra Doctrine finally paid off. I still find it hard to believe that after looking at the footage so many times, and having this discussion numerous times, it still leads me to tears every year. Harmony is a beautiful concept. To think that so many had been separated from family and friends for so many years, only to finally unite and hug and kiss and cry sweet tears of joy. I will always think of the man standing on top of the wall in a shadow, and you can see his gestures and you hear him say "Which side is which? I can't tell the difference?" Wouldn't it be beautiful to literally wake up to a day when we could all look at the world and say: "Which side is which? I can't tell the difference." Wouldn't a day when we put hatred, fear, paranoia, and prejudice aside and traded it in for appreciation for diversity, harmony, peace, and security be a wonderful day? One night in Berlin proved that, even if only for a few hours in time, we have it in us. We truly made the impossible possible! We entered a new world that night, a night when the West could breathe just a little bit easier, and we would breathe easier from 11/9 to 9/11. If you have enjoyed our discussion of these events, you will definitely enjoy the 2003 German film, Good Bye, Lenin! For my money, it's the best film I have ever seen in the German language, and it's one of the best films of the decade. You can check out the trailer below. Also below, you can check out one more time the 1989 music video for Nena's Wunder Geschehen (meaning in English "miracles happen"). To think that just six years before, the same band was predicting doom with the song 99 Luftballoons (which be can be viewed by pulling up my post from yesterday). Enjoy both the trailer and the video, and just remember that it is possible to be good again. Congratulations Germany! Welcome back! What are your thoughts on these events?Friday, March 27, 2009
Good Bye, Lenin! (Reflections on the Dawn of a New Era)
11/9/1989 signaled a new beginning for the world. The world had changed, and everyone knew it. After almost an entire century of non-stop war in the West, Gorbachev's Sinatra Doctrine finally paid off. I still find it hard to believe that after looking at the footage so many times, and having this discussion numerous times, it still leads me to tears every year. Harmony is a beautiful concept. To think that so many had been separated from family and friends for so many years, only to finally unite and hug and kiss and cry sweet tears of joy. I will always think of the man standing on top of the wall in a shadow, and you can see his gestures and you hear him say "Which side is which? I can't tell the difference?" Wouldn't it be beautiful to literally wake up to a day when we could all look at the world and say: "Which side is which? I can't tell the difference." Wouldn't a day when we put hatred, fear, paranoia, and prejudice aside and traded it in for appreciation for diversity, harmony, peace, and security be a wonderful day? One night in Berlin proved that, even if only for a few hours in time, we have it in us. We truly made the impossible possible! We entered a new world that night, a night when the West could breathe just a little bit easier, and we would breathe easier from 11/9 to 9/11. If you have enjoyed our discussion of these events, you will definitely enjoy the 2003 German film, Good Bye, Lenin! For my money, it's the best film I have ever seen in the German language, and it's one of the best films of the decade. You can check out the trailer below. Also below, you can check out one more time the 1989 music video for Nena's Wunder Geschehen (meaning in English "miracles happen"). To think that just six years before, the same band was predicting doom with the song 99 Luftballoons (which be can be viewed by pulling up my post from yesterday). Enjoy both the trailer and the video, and just remember that it is possible to be good again. Congratulations Germany! Welcome back! What are your thoughts on these events?
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7 comments:
It is terrible to watch a country divide in half regardless of the people's opinion. I have relatives who live in Germany (and actually are Germans). My cousin was born in 1986 so i guess she actually experienced the fall of the wall(although she was like 3). Next time i get a chance to talk to her, i really want to ask about her experience and the effects.
And for me, since Korea is divided i guess i also do have pretty good idea about a divided country. Every few years, (or maybe every yr. idk) there is a unification of separated families(not permanently), and it is broadcasted on public tv. Even though i was like 9, it made me cry , watching a grandmother on her death bed (literally on a bed with a respirator) finally reuniting with her children or her loved ones; or separated old sisters finally realizing that they were both alive an able to meet before they die. A race separated by government disagreement is truely sad, espacially looking at it first hand. My grandparents are from the Northern part of Korea(before it was divided) and my grandpa and his younger brother actually were separted from their family.
I certainly hope that I get to see Korea unify soon.
Looking at these divided countries, it really makes me angry how people are so contentious. Separation in any ways is just horrifying. I am very glad that Germany was able to be put together agian.
Oh yeah and i definitely want to watch that movie!!! It looks so fun!!!!!
(and sorry about the off-topic comment about Korea but i just wanted to talk about another still-existing divided country)
Mr.Prill,
just a question,
did the unification of Germany have any negative influence in its economy?
someone told me that it was bad for the western germany becuase eastern germany was behind all the economy. or is this a rumor?
The videos displayed in class were intense. Even though some were in German or had poor subtitles to where I was unable to understand what was being said, I was still about to feel the excitement of the people in being able to be reunited with their family and friends that they haven't seen in years because of the Berlin Wall. Even though it is technically just a wall, it symbolizes so much more than that. Bringing one of the strongest borders down could perhaps just be the beginning step to more borders being broken until we can finally say, "Which side is which? I can't tell the difference," when looking at the world as a whole.
I read over the Berlin section of "The World Is Flat". It makes more sense now. This footage made me feel happy Friday, especially the music video.
After so much the people of germany had gone through for only the benefit of goverment it was time for peace not only there but in the world. I'am sure that the fall of the berlin wall will be a great example for years to come that who is the goverment to separate families,friends and communities. the world will be great of with leaders like Gorbachev that work for only their people.
Woah! That 1st video, for the movie, is a very creative and historical idea for a film. I like it!
And ah, it would be a beautiful and glorious day, and I truly would love to believe it will happen; it happened once. But it seems as well that there is a balance. That day may well come, but then another would soon come as well to flip the harmony, and so on until it is broken down. We are here to say history repeats itself, and so lets not let it do it again. It seems though that things are just enough different that we don't always see how similar things are until after they happen. Then by that time we try something different anyway, but the just a tiny portion off the event was this next time has to be considered in the new way of dealing with the problem... and there is always someone new born who does different things. So I'd say no matter how much we seem to try to fix our previous mistakes, either it has to much power over us that we cannot change repeated mistakes, or we just do not realize, therefore learn and TRY to change for the better. It would not keep repeating unless we were meant to learn? Or else the fact that it is repeating, is that we have not.
im like in love with the song. i may not know exactly whats being said, but i just feel like its about being together again and being happy. the division of germany was a terrible thing from the start. i didnt agree with it and i felt like it was tearing apart a country when they were already on the weak side. im glad the berlin wall fell and im really glad it brought so much joy to the whole world.
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