“Never going out again,” the words I kept mumbling myself this morning when waking up after just hours of sleep. Those eternal words which many have said before me and many will continue to say long after I’m gone. Of course they are never honored, but they made me feel better at the time.
Tired and groggy I met with group members to visit East Side Gallery, a decorated part of the Berlin Wall left as a “memorial to freedom.” Though it took me a bit to comprehend the depth of what I was standing in front of, the moment I did, I realized the struggle that this wall presented and the amazing ability of the Germans to overcome and grow out of the ashes of a divided city. I stood for a moment and just stared at this piece of concrete that effectively split families, friends and an entire city for almost three decades. In my mind, I always imagined the wall as an impossibly high structure that was extremely thick. In reality, it’s 12 feet high and 18 inches thick. The idea that that could divide a city staggering. That this would be allowed to happen.
It stands as symbol of oppression and dispair, now beautifully decorated for all to come see and enjoy. I feel much more of an understanding of the Berlin wal than I did before. Not that I learned anymore facts or information, but just seeing it and being there gives a new understanding. The fact that artists use this as their canvas to promote peace, shows a beautiful awakening of a city that has been through so much.
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