20 years later

[htpcl]

Dear comrades friends, tomorrow Berliners will celebrate 20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall - a huge event which changed so much in the world. Now, 20 years later, lots of people, especially at this side of the former Iron Curtain, are looking back and contemplating on the past two decades. Drawing the line and checking the balance. What

Comments

[htpcl]

Yes, I remember. People were insecure back then (in a very different way from today's insecurity) because this was a unprecedented event in their life. Many of them turned back to religion in hope for counsel. What you're talking about were the candle vigils which were organized by a man called Christophor Sabev (Forry the Firefly, because of the candles).

The Soviets were too preoccupied with their own troubles, to send any tanks. Later, when the events lead the people on the streets to bring down the Socialist government which had come back to power after several years of Democrat government (long story), it occurred that the Parliament building was assaulted by the mob. The then president (a Socialist, former Communist) Petar Mladenov was heard saying in front of the TV cameras "I wish the tanks came". Later, he interpreted it as "Call for Stanko" (the internal minister). The two sentences sound very much the same in my language. But he remained as the "tankist" president. That government was brought down by the street (the

[underlankers]

A great post. ^.^

[htpcl]

I knew our history Major would appreciate it. :)

[underlankers]

I agree with all of it, too.

So there won't be much to argue unless somebody like Gillen tries to evangelize for Communism.

[htpcl]

Well it had both good sides and bad sides, like capitalism. But if you ask me whether I'd like to return to those times, and despite the temptation of re-lived childhood (which was a very cloudless childhood, I have to admit) - my answer would still be NO.

[dv8nation]

I was ten when all that happened. I remember reading about that in my "Weekly Reader" and thinking "Huh. Well, good for people in Germany, I guess. They seem happy about it. Maybe this will help things with the Russians."

[devil_ad_vocate]

I spent a cold winter in 1968 at Grafenwohr after the Russians invaded Czechoslavakia. Beautiful country. I wish I could have spent more time there. At the time, I was more concerned about the possibililty of Soviet tanks crossing into Germany. I always thought the saddest thing about the division was family members being separated from each other for so many years - in addition to the people trying to escape who were killed by the Stasi .

[htpcl]

Don't you wish to return there some day and see how things have gone since then?

[devil_ad_vocate]

I would like to; it's a little expensive for us right now.

[htpcl]

Don't tell me you never did? During all those years...

[kardashev]

More Drugs and prostitution? Hell yeah, that's sign of real progress! Germany sounds like Las Vegas with bratwurst and 40-weight beer. I might need to buy a summer house in your country.

A lot of us Americans have this notion that BDSM is currently almost a national passtime in ze Deutcheland. Care to comment?

[htpcl]

"I might need to buy a summer house in your country."
Here, be my guest. I'd gladly sell you one (sorry for the advertisement, it's where I work).

Porn was thriving even under communism. East Germany and Czechoslovakia were big porn producers. However access to porn was very limited. I remember my grandpa used to collect those playing cards with chicks on them LOL. And also those round-shaped photo projectors which you had to look like through oculars, where you switched between photos by pressing a button. And that was all I could say about porn at that time. :)

[kardashev]

Porn was thriving even under communism.

lol nothing can stop porn. NOTHING. It's practically a law of physics.

[htpcl]

So true! :))