tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34128264.post22295843874796225..comments2024-03-25T12:55:40.911+00:00Comments on Caron's Musings: 20 Years since the Berlin Wall came down? Really?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04988201531739344840noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34128264.post-68842517166732969822009-11-10T19:35:53.841+00:002009-11-10T19:35:53.841+00:00Actually being in school while all this change was...Actually being in school while all this change was happening was a weird experience. I was still in Primary School when the USSR collapsed and that was at the time when we were learning a lot more about all the countries on the map. Except the damn map kept changing! We were just about getting used to one Germany, but the USSR becoming fifteen republics was harder to work out. Then factor in the Velvet Divorce and the breakup of Yugoslavia.<br /><br />It was a strange time to be learning about the world, just as it was changing beyond what the teachers recognised.Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10978812670312106107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34128264.post-64798558562518205072009-11-10T15:15:51.487+00:002009-11-10T15:15:51.487+00:00"Those amazing events of 20 years ago led to ..."Those amazing events of 20 years ago led to huge change across all of Europe and gave hope that even huge totalitarian monolithic repressive regimes could come to an end."<br /><br />Yes, I too am in hope that one day, the totalitarian monolithic repressive regime known as 'The European Union' will come, if not come to an end, to at least embrace the principles of 'accountability' and 'democracy.'<br /><br />But I might be waiting a while.<br /><br />This summer, when I was back at my parent's house in Europe, we opened up the atlas my father had bought in the 1950s (it's an utterly beautiful book, with topographic maps and gorgeous artwork.) It was simply astonishing just how much our world had changed - and how much it had stayed the same. The map of Europe's been practically redrawn, whereas the United States has remained resolutely fixed.<br /><br />When I was a teenager, it's hard to believe I visited countries that don't even exist any more!Roland Hulmehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08979437320446956987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34128264.post-33712444984450128302009-11-10T12:16:35.437+00:002009-11-10T12:16:35.437+00:00I remember the 9th November 20 years ago. I was si...I remember the 9th November 20 years ago. I was sitting in front of TV here in Vancouver and couldn't believe what was happening. It seems like yesterday. I'll never forget the feeling I had. It was hope that the world can change to something better. However, the situation few years after that was not so optimistic like on 9th November. The economy was in much worse situation than had been expected and some friends from Germany told me that the differences remain even nowadays. Well, everything has its cost. But we must hope.<br /><br />Best regards,<br />Jayreal estate Vancouver BChttp://jaybanks.canoreply@blogger.com