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| Art helps us ponder the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Here, hammers and sickles are buried in a slice of Berlin Wall concrete. Enlarge photo |
Thinking “Hitler” back in the 1930s, this little girl sings, “You really gotta hold on me.” Sadly, the hateful power of Nazism is not entirely dead. Enlarge photo |
The Berlin Wall fell twenty years ago. Tourists seem to care more than locals. I asked how the East Berliners have integrated into the Western ways of united Germany. Local friends told me the East Berliners were a people educated not to ask questions, not to control their destiny, and to pride themselves in manual labor.
While Westerners lived with non-Germans, Eastern Berlin didn’t live with foreigners. With freedom, the least trained among them found themselves competing at the low end of the workforce with Turks and other immigrants. Their fear of foreigners and their own lack of economic hope and opportunity make the less-educated, working-class Germans from the former East more skinheady–more prone to cling to racism and support far-right-wing political parties.
While neo-Nazis are a tiny fringe in Germany, there is a smoldering fascist element in German society. I was told it’s led (Lyndon LaRouche-style) by older men who spearhead young movements via websites and music. Neo-Nazis listen to hateful music with forbidden themes by forbidden bands. These jackbooted punk-style bands have nostalgic, patriotic names like “Rheingold” and sing patriotic themed tunes that evoke the 1930s.
In Germany, there is freedom of speech…except against Jews. Children can tell Norwegian jokes all they want. But if they say racist things against Jews, they can actually get their parents in legal trouble. Germans are dealing aggressively with their fascist ghosts. While there are rowdy skinhead gatherings on Hitler’s April 20 birthday, there are almost always much larger counter-demonstrations at the same time, effectively drowning out the neo-hate.
A friend told me that because they grew up not allowed to travel, former East Germans are the ones who “travel like hell.” While West Berliners holiday elsewhere in Germany or in the Netherlands, people from the DDR (East Germany) travel to places farther away, like Egypt.
The importance of being free to travel is a recurring theme in my travels this year. The citizens of the former Yugoslavia fondly remember how they were always free to travel. They were free to travel because they always came back, and they always came back because they were free to travel. Citizens of the DDR risked their lives to escape the country that wouldn’t let them leave. Now they “travel like hell.”
Rick………..travel is extremely important for all of us……….it shows us our neighbours near and far and helps build friendships by breaking down walls…real and imagined…..
I’ve been reading Frederick Taylors “Berlin Wall” which is a history of the wall. One of the interesting things I learned was that any East Berliner who prior to the wall had been sending their children to west for school found the children put into special schools when the wall went up . Students in high school or college who had been attending school in the west were barred from careers that took education. They were not allowed to finish school in the East, but were put into jobs that required physical labor. What a waste. Pam
Hello Rick I’m from Australia and recently stumbled upon your DVD box set which I’m slowly viewing every night. It’s a great way to pretend to be travelling just so that I can escape our dreary Melbourne winter. Let me just say that I love your shows and now, recently reading your blogs and website. Keep up the good work and come out to Australia one day. I’m sure I’d learn more about my country too as I have done for European countries. Keep up the good work, Helen
When it comes to war and Berlin alike, Sadly we have not gotten past the German Nazi wounds…war is war and he who has not sinned, cast the first stone is forgetten…there is too much emphasis on the old Testament of an eye for an eye. vs. learning that Forgiveness is the best way to Transcending Karma….taught so well by Jesus himself. Sadly few wish to listen. Love and laughter PETER SAMMARCO of Vancouver BC CANADA author of The Five Pillars of Relationships and The Power of the Present Moment. PS Keep Up the GREAT WORK RICK! thank you!
Dear Rick: I’ve enjoyed the freedom to travel since I was a kid and a Navy Brat. Went to UW and did the International Student Tour of Europe in 1969. I didn’t make it to Woodstock…but I was in Amsterdam… which was alright with me. I joined the Navy myself to satisfy my wanderlust. I now live on Camano and watch your show on HDTV…so I can pretend I’m there. All my assets are going towards eldercare now…so thanks for allowing me to “travel” with you. Kathleen
Rick, four years ago I visited nurenburg, spending a full day in and around the former nazi documentation center. It was located in the remains of a huge series of structures designed for the future needs of the third reich. Visitors followed a sloping building ramp, with sections detailing the history of those terrible days of persecution before and during WWII. This traveler soon found himself walking close behind a group of german high school age students. These young folks were quiet, and respectful, but very observant. as their teacher walked and talked to them along this ramp of terror. I decided to spend some moments listening and strolling just behind the group. After each section, the leader stood, and asked if they had questions or reactions. Most said nothing, yet two or three who did appeared truly involved. My german is rusty yet I could hear, and see how the exhibits had strongly struck the students. I eventually passed by the group moving deeper into the detailed, illuminating exhibits. Hours later, as I exited the center lobby, the same student group had gathered, getting ready to leave. As the young people quietly talked, I found a moment to speak with their teacher. Among other things,I asked him, if the students truely understood what they’d seen. His reply, in excellent english was, certainly they understood, because their history was consistenly part of their education from early chilhood days. Then he asked, did I understand? Yes, I replied, I’m learning. Watching and listening to him and his students, had helped expand my understanding. He said too he hoped it had, as lessons like these should help anyone, of any country understand, so it should never be repeated. Such experiences reinforce the view of how traveling can make us wiser, yet less happy (when we live in ignorance)but why chose ignorance?. Larry from springfield.
Great post Rick. I was wondering if the Germans from the former East German yearn for Communism. Do they just go to the extreme right? How about the extreme left? To me both extremes seem to practice the same domination and contol of people.
Interesting read about the dynamics of the country today.
I find it interesting that US interest in the East/West German history concentrates so heavily on Berlin. It seems that feelings there might be stronger and/or more negative because the Wall separated families living in the same city. I’m more interested in the way the change affected those throughout the rest of both countries. From what I’ve learned, things aren’t so black and white (West/Democratic/Good-East/Socialist/Bad) as we in the US have been told and would like to believe. Perhaps this could be a new socio-political arena for you to explore, Steve; you excel at speaking to people and extrapolating the general attitude of the public. I’d love to hear what you find!
Another writer said “travel is extremely important for all of us.” But it’s not getting any easier. August 15 the TSA rolls out another measure which ratchets up security by further scrutinizing match-ups between names on tickets with your government issued i.d. Those who travel frequently have developed thick skins learning to tolerate discomfort, delays, poor service and increasing bureaucracy because the view is worth the climb. I just wish TSA would take as much time and effort screening the cargo which gets about 10% scrutiny.
Just a comment about the former Yugoslavia…my husband is from Croatia (Istria) which was part of Yugoslavia. Until 1957 – 58, citizens were not allowed to leave. My husband escaped in 1956 (he and two other friends “went fishing” and escaped to Italy). Tito started to allow people to come and go a while later. My husband believes this is because Tito realized that Yugoslavia was losing alot of young people.
I was a German major in college and spent a year at Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich. To really know the Germans is to understand how deeply World War II and their treatment of Jews in that era has so deeply scarred their national psyche. There is truly an unparralled national shame attached to it all, and it has permeated Germany’s art and literature since that time. While I understand this well, I wonder whether laws banning hate speech against Jews is “aggressively dealing with their fascist ghosts,” or if it is merely sticking their heads in the sand. By banning such speech (and books like Mein Kampf), they’re banishing it as if it doesn’t exist, and not addressing the root causes that led to the country’s near destruction. Anyway, these Nazi bands and skinheads have been around since the unification, and were a concern when I studied there 15 years ago. Sad to see they’re still alive and well. Maybe as the new generation that has grown up without the wall matures, these ridiculous people will go the way of the original Nazis.
Off Tpic – why do some posters use so many ……. when posting? I’m new to posting so maybe it indicates something I’m not aware of.
And out of curiosity, why do some people address Rick as “Steve”? For clarification for those who need it: first name = Rick, last name = Steves.
If you are a writer (or a blogger), if you are a cook (or just like to eat), if you are a tourist or a traveler (or just on a journey from your armchair), if you have ever had a fight with your significant other (or spouse), if you like politics (or don’t), it seems to me RS followers would enjoy the new film just out in theaters: JULIE AND JULIA.
Hi I am student and doing ccna training program. I love traveling and berlin is my favorite city. When the wall fell down my father was used to live there. He tolled me the stories of that. When i was free I’ll go there too.
Great post, Rick. I’ve got friends here in the U.S. who come from the DDR (they’re in their late 20s and early 30s). They grew up at the time the wall came down and are very aware of how life on either side of it, even as teenagers, was vastly different. Today this handful of friends of mine enjoy fast cars, travel, and conspicuous artifacts of capitalist freedom. meanwhile my “west German” friends just aren’t turned on by driving a Harley Davidson or Jaguar and are perfectly happy with a Renault or Fiat with over 150,000 kilometers on the odometer.
Hi Rick – I was stationed in Berlin when it was West Berlin. Did make a few trips over to East Berlin, not many as it was not that easy for us to go because of our security clearance, but it always seemed so drab and lifeless whenever we went. Unfortunately I never made it back to Berlin after the wall came down even though I was living in Bamberg, Germany at the time. I would have loved to drive thru Brandenburg Gate just once.