Twenty years ago, the ultimate symbol of the division between freedom and tyranny was torn down. The Berlin Wall was constructed for one purpose: to prevent the escape of East Germans to the freedom of the West. The Wall’s cold, gray façade was a stark reminder of the economic and political way of life across the Soviet Union’s sphere of influence in Eastern Europe (Palin, 2009, ¶1).
Ronald Reagan never stopped regarding the Berlin Wall as an affront to human freedom. When so many other American leaders and opinion makers had come to accept its presence as inevitable and permanent, Reagan still hammered away at the Wall’s very premise in human tyranny, until finally the Wall itself was hammered down. Its downfall wasn’t the work of Reagan alone. Our president’s actions were joined with the brave acts of many individuals who stood firm and united in facing the Soviet Union. The Berlin Wall came down because millions of people behind the Iron Curtain refused to accept the fate of enslavement and their supporters in the West refused to accept that the “captive nations” would remain captive forever (Palin, 2009, ¶2).
Though that long, tragic episode in human history had come to a close finally with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, it wasn’t the “end of history” or the end of conflict as some had hoped. New conflicts confront us today throughout the world which call for courage and resolve and dedication to freedom. The new democracies and market economies that have emerged in Central and Eastern Europe still require our friendship and alliances as they continue to seek security, prosperity, and self-determination. But as we reflect on present and future challenges, let’s take time to celebrate the anniversary of this awesome victory for freedom. The downfall of that cold, gray concrete Wall should be a lesson to us in hope. Nothing is inevitable. Tyranny is no match for the hope and resolve of those who work and fight for freedom (Palin, 2009, ¶3).
- Sarah Palin
Commentary:
In three beautiful and succinct paragraphs, Governor Palin delineated the history of the Berlin Wall and segued into the conflicts we face today. Her third paragraph is Presidential and Reagan Conservative to the core.
Providentially, a piece of the Berlin wall resides in an open public atrium just across the street and slightly diagonal from 10 East 53rd St., New York, NY -- home to Harper Collins. This building is now most familiar to Governor Palin, as she made a number of trips there while working on Going Rogue: An American Life.
Berlin Wall section on East 53rd St. between 5th Ave. and Madison Ave.
New York, NY. Photography: Ron Devito (iPhone camera).
Berlin Wall section on East 53rd St. between 5th Ave. and Madison Ave.
New York, NY. Photography: Ron Devito (iPhone camera).
Berlin Wall section on East 53rd St. between 5th Ave. and Madison Ave. New York, NY. This photo shows the relationship between the Section's Location and Harper Collins -- the publisher of Going Rogue
Photography: Ron Devito (iPhone camera).
References:
Palin, S.L.H. (2009, November 9). "Commemorating a Victory for Freedom." Facebook, Sarah Palin. Retrieved November 9, 2009 from: http://www.facebook.com/sarahpalin?v=wall&ref=mf#/note.php?note_id=170146378434&ref=mf
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