Berlin: A Deeper Look

Berlin: the vision many imagination when the
topic of Germany comes up.

Berlin may seem all glitz and glamour on the outside, but just like everyone, one must take a deeper look to really get to know how something or who someone really is. As I grew up throughout my childhood and continue to now, yes I am still growing up (we all are), I have never experienced restriction on my freedom. I guess that is one of the perks of living in the United States of America. 

People climbing the Berlin Wall in protest
with guards on the lookout.

In Germany, the Berlin Wall was constructed to create a division between West Berlin and East Berlin. It prevented the emigration to West Berlin and anyone with a job in West Berlin was cut off and left unemployed. West Berlin was closed off to everyone of the East and the Berlin Wall made Berlin the most difficult city to navigate from East to West and vice versa. I find the Berlin Wall very interesting because we hear about different barriers and boundaries that unintentionally, or maybe intentionally, separate us from each other. Race, ethnicity, religion, etc are some examples of issues that create invisible boundaries throughout different areas of the world just like the completely visible Berlin Wall that physically separated the well-known city of Berlin. After years of the Berlin Wall dividing the city, the citizens of Germany started to get used to the wall that they thought was permanent, but still put up a fight. The East would never see the West and the West would never see the East. Jobs and opportunities were limited because of the restriction of the Berlin Wall. 

Demolition of the Berlin Wall

On November 9, 1989 the world of the people of Germany had changed. The Berlin Wall was coming down and their freedom was finally here. I think that with the experience of the falling of the Berlin Wall, the people of German have learned to appreciate the true meaning of freedom and to never take anything for granted. This event almost makes me wonder if it is what caused Germans to be so bitter. From an American point of view, I see Germans as being very sour with life and very serious. Now that is just an overall conclusion based on the interaction I have had with my grandparents. Both my grandparents, ironically, remarried 100 percent Germans and they match the description I mentioned above. Did the people of German just decide to give up and forget about all the experiences life has to offer? Did they feel helpless and powerless, so when they gained their freedom they take it out on anyone who ticks them off? These questions always run through my mind and maybe the answer has something to do with the Berlin Wall.

Boroughs of East Berlin (as of 1987)

With the falling of the Berlin Wall came the reunification of West and East Berlin. This goes into my next topic. These two areas were officially reunited on October 3, 1990, but there was never a smooth seam between the two. Until this day, East Berlin shows significant differences from West Berlin. I mean how can something ever really be put back together once it has been broken. I find it interesting how two sections of Berlin can become one again after they were separated for some time. If you were to compare the separation and the reunification of West and East Berlin to a relationship between two people, some may ask how something could go back together after it has already been broken with, what seemed like, a permanent wall. With some research, I do agree with the fact that there could still be a noticeable difference between the West Berliners and the East Berliners. The two different sets of people essentially lived completely different lives and then thrown back together, so of course there will be a noticeable difference between the two life styles and attitudes of the Berliners. Adjustments will have to be made, but everything gets better with time.

I am excited to see the sites of Berlin knowing its rich history it holds under its belt.

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