It’s been 20 years since the Berlin Wall came down. The wall was up for almost 30 years, cutting off West Berlin from all of East Germany. Soviet-controlled zones were disconnected from the American, French and British, making not only geographical divisions but, more importantly, human divisions. The wall severed families, friends and lovers. It cut off workers from their jobs. It divided a people.
Over 100 people were killed trying to cross over the wall. Some estimate as high as 200 people were killed. The wall had barbed wire, guard towers, guard dogs, anti-vehicle trenches and more; it became a symbol of oppression and intimidation.
Most walls throughout human history have served similar roles.
This article appears in Nov 4-10, 2009.
