20th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall

[JoeJC]

Long live democracy and small, decentralised govenrment!

[THRASHFKINFILLETS]

When Reagan says that one line "Mr.Gorbachov.....tear down these walls"

and the crowd cheer with angst and emotion you feel like crying because

you can feel it inside your heart as well.

So overwhelming really.

[3martijns]

Unfortunately, MANY COMMUNISTS left East Germany to spread their EVIL ideology - EVIDENT in USA today.

[AmericanBornWest]

We just need to put a wall up to keep people out.

[deathknight20001]

lol a jellly donut!

[henrycate]

@MrSpieldose : Yes, Kennedy's German was imperfect. But, quite obviously, he was clearly understood. Nobody thought he was saying that he was a jelly doughnut.

Kennedy had a point, and he made it clearly.

How bout YOU?

[kmg501]

Well done video for it's very short length but deeper examination of the period nets Ronald Reagan less influence on this event.

Regan does deserve *some* credit but in all honesty he usually receives more than his fair share. It is also important to understand that his influence was built on the back of reinvigorating the Military Industrial Complex...

I'm a libertarian conservative, so it is important to me to be complete in the history. And lets hope that we prevent similar USSR's...

[jpeditor]

@kmg501 " It is also important to understand that his influence was built on the back of reinvigorating the Military Industrial Complex..." - well we all know that the Dems did so much before Reagan to end communism, especially with flower power.... / sarcasm off

[Kwicherbichen]

Kennedy was correct....We don't need to erect a wall to keep our citizens in......YET.

[gordy212121]

they may have to do that in NYC as people are moving out in droves to escape high taxes

[Kwicherbichen]

Same for California. They are taxing us to death now. And, what they don't call taxes they refer to as "Fees". This is so the stupid ones don't catch on.

The problem so Californian's are facing is....where to escape to?

[TheNomadicMonad]

The fall of the Berlin Wall was a great day for capitalism and imperialism. DDR was corrupt and undemocratic, but at least it could afford their population a good standard of living. Look at eastern Germany now: Rampant unemployment (20%), prostitution, crime, far right extremism, lack of funding for social policies, increased suicide rates. The problems of the DDR could have been solved without becoming a modern-day colony for western Germany.

[vllmer]

Don't forget the government could shoot/imprison people who tried to leave. And the stasi? Don't forget the stasi. What a gilded prison it was.

[TheMrSeagull]

I'm rather surprised that the celebration this week honored Gorbachev of all people. His contribution to this event was that he didn't do anything when he found out about the breach. The fall was an unintended effect caused by miscommunication. It was Egon Krenz who allowed Eastern Germans passage to the west, and this, due to miscommunication from the politburo, snowballed into the eventual destruction of the wall.

[DominicBuchholz]

Damnit. Finding out that I missed this makes me regret spending most of yesterday reading. Now to reflect sadly on the condition of our species, knowing that the anniversary of something like this passed me.

[mackdan7]

Amazing video.

[reassessment]

rip berlin wall.

[anryth]

i am a donut!

[jackntheVox]

Dictators and leaders of the like, brought fear to many because of their cowardice and heinous acts. A man like President Reagan brought inspiration and hope, Through his authoritative voice and actions. He was the man for the job. Can anyone imagine our current leadership, no matter whom, saying something lie that and meaning it. Not only meaning it but with the recipient of the speech succumbing???

[dannidandannikins]

When this wall came down I was five years old. It is the first piece of international news I can remember seeing on the news. I remember my dad seemed quite happy about it and telling me I'd understand one day.

[bayushizero]

I was in Japan at the time, on an American Naval Air Facility, with my father at sea near Northern Korea on an Aircraft Carrier.

I can only imagine how the Sailors and Marines took the news of the fall of the Wall. I can imagine a joyous mood aboard those ships, to know that their life's work in our country's service amounted to something positive.

[bayushizero]

Contrary to the Negative Nancy above complaining about corruption in the DDR, etc, the day was indeed historic. It spelled the end of the Warsaw Pact, and an end to what seemed to be an unending arms race.

Unfortunately, it did not prepare us for the current methods of warfare(terrorism, guerilla warfare) being used by those who oppose progress.

Let us hope future generations will remember this day in our history, and make sure nothing like it ever happens again.

[0sv87d0]

Amen for liberty

[tootywink]

Communism's evil should be a lesson you take the time to learn or teach your children. Do not believe they will get the lesson from progressive teachers. Liberty is too important to be ignorant of the evil bent on destroying freedom. I am so happy for reunited Germany and the former Soviet blocks!

[David578593]

beautiful....

[digitalph33rfan9]

This is a part of history that should never be forgotten. But was it 200 or 70 people? The clips we watched today said 70

[TheRealFallenDemon]

Numbers are going to differ everywhere. I would just say people got shot trying to defect and let that be the end of it

[SuperAtheist]

a wall that keeps Mexicans out can also keep Americans in.

Mr. obama, tear down that wall!

[Fetchdafish]

You're absolutely right. Freedom means being able to come and go anytime and anywhere you choose. That's how it used to be about a century ago. Anyone could leave or enter most countries with ease, whenever they wanted. Making it difficult to become a citizen is wrong. We WANT immigrants. And we want them official so they can be taxed and policed like the rest of us. So make it easy to do! And let us leave whenever and however we want as well. Otherwise were in the same mindset as the wallmakers

[ted4464]

fetchdafish.... ur a noob at america

[Fetchdafish]

What does that even mean?

[Gyrode]

There is a big difference. When we catch illegals crossing the border, they get cookies and milk, and are sent back, to come back the next day. The whole border policy is a patchwork deterrent to stop even more poor campesinos from flowing in...millions and millions (probably 20 million) are here anyway....the comparison doesn't hold water with the Berlin Wall.

[Fetchdafish]

I never said there wasn't a difference. I'm saying it's silly and pointless to restrict movement across borders. It prevents national economies from seamlessly integrating with the global economy.

[jpeditor]

"It prevents national economies from seamlessly integrating with the global economy."

Are you an idiot? Ogabe hasn't destroyed our economy enough and now you want us affiliated by Mexico and COMPLETELY on our knees to bankers in China?

[zantrua]

ok, if you want to emigrate to mexico, i support you, and i assure you the president does too.

[rockfilmers]

Yeah, because we are not allowed to travel to Mexico or anything, we are not allowed to speak out against the nation, and we are under a dictatorship form of government. Yep, we are just held into this totalitarian hell whole by a skinny little fence. What a great point you make

[jpeditor]

oh please, go back to the hope and change thing. Now you REALLY sound like an idiot.

[SuperAtheist]

"go back to the hope and change thing"

I can't go back. I was never on the "hope and change" band wagon!

"you REALLY sound like an idiot."

sounding like an idiot is far better than being a fucktard like you.

[wwtuthill]

Wow. The one memory I still have that is not in this clip is of Leonard Bernstein (a Jew) conducting Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the combined East and West Berlin orchestras and choirs. This clip and that memory are spine tingling.

[IchorFigure]

Remember the sight of those desperate bodies clawing through barbed-wire trying to make their own lives better when some useful idiot tells you socialism/communism/collectivi­sm is noble in theory.

[DominicBuchholz]

@IchorFigure

Communism *is* the ideal form of government *in theory*. The key phrase ofcourse being in theory. That, as is so often the case, simply doesn't translate well into reality, and might not ever in the predictable future.

[IchorFigure]

No, it is evil and false in theory and therefore evil and false in practice.

[DominicBuchholz]

@IchorFigure

I would say it's unfair to dismiss ANY idea as purely evil, though I'm interested in hearing your reason for thinking so, if you'd be so kind as to share.

[jpeditor]

"I would say it's unfair to dismiss ANY idea as purely evil, "

You must be a europeeon, to think NO idea can be "purely evil" - sophistry like yours allowed over a hundred million to be slaughtered by Hitler, Stalin and Mao - but , hey, whats a few broken eggs in the omelette if we can achieve your "post modern" paradise, right comrade?

SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS.

[DominicBuchholz]

@jpeditor

So only a European is capable of believing in granting everything its fair chance? Hell, sort of makes sense, actually.

Disregarding that, I am strongly opposed to all three of the tyrants you had named, but saying that they discredit socialism as a form of government is not unlike claiming that the Inquisition discredits Christianity.

Truth be told, I know very little about the socialist, archetype, I think the most proper word would be. I'm only sure of . . .

[DominicBuchholz]

@jpeditor

. . . Something to the effect of government being an all-encompassing entity or something of the same tone, which even that issue I am rather doubtful of.

Again, though, I'll reassert that I think that not granting every possibility a chance is, at its most innocent, naive, or else xenophobic.

[Scammington]

Nice job, Drew.

[CarcharodonMeg]

Reagan and JFK... where oh where are you now.

[professor501]

Simply the best...

[RosySenna]

Congratulations from Brazil!

[smithcobb]

Very inspiring -- great newsclips.