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West Berlin citizens hold a
vigil atop the Berlin Wall in front of the Brandenburg Gate on November 10,
1989, the day after the East German government opened the border between East
and West Berlin. (Image source: rarehistoricalphotos.com)
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As Tank' Goodness the Wall came down, so now
everyone can Dine at the "golden Arches" in Der Fatherland, Ja-Ja!
"The West is the Best"
James Douglas Morrison
The Doors: The End,
1967
VIDEO: The Doors - The End Song
Nah, Don't Fret Folks, I'm Not gonna G-O
Critical on that Buffoon in thee White House, who after all, hasn't been in the
Office lately, 'cause he was Rasslin' Up some fine Fricassee for his impending
Guests, since he sent his Staff home for the week...
As seriously? Thee
Donald went thru the MicDugalz' Drive-thru; As I'd like 100 Whoppers! Sir this
is Mickey D's... Ok, then how 'bout 100 Big Macs, 100 Quarter Pounders, Fries
and Oh Yeah, can I get Dat' super Sized? Does everything look correct on the
Screen? That'll be $186.69 at the first window... What's that? Oh you wanted
some Chicken McNuggets with your order, Sir?
Once again here on thou Isle 'O
Nofendersville, I'm struck by thoust foaming Seas of Synchronicity, as I'm
currently listening to another CD Audiobook. Being the final volume of Ken Follett's
excellent Century trilogy, the Edge of Eternity, which
just so happens to begin by taking place in east Berlin, circa 1961.
Denoting the Overt Ruthlessness of the Stasi, the Vicious East
German Secret Police and their Barbarically Brutal Enforcement Tactics, and how
Civilians Chilled over the mere thought of being summoned to Stasi Headquarters for a
"Simple Chat."
As Follett's most Excellante Century trilogy
begins with the beginning of World War One, then thru WWII and then the
"Cold War" and the Civil Rights movement of the 1960's.
Whilst certainly Y'all know what happened in
the Summer of '61, Righto? As that's the year that Nikita Khrushchev authorized
East Germany installing The Berlin Wall! Which also became known as thee
"Iron Curtain."
As how many people
were Killed, Maimed or Seriously Injured over nearly three Decades of Subjugation
by the East? And for what ultimate purpose?
As we should All know, the Berlin Wall was
Erected on August 13, 1961 to Halt the flow of East Germans "Escaping;"
Err migrating to the West for better pay and ultimately a better lifestyle! Most
notably the Freedom of Choice in All aspects of life, with an estimated 3.5
million citizens fleeing before the Wall's installation.
As thou Wall Stood Menacingly for some 28+
years before the German Democratic Republic (GDR) finally succumbed to the Tyranny
'O Freedom, and opened passage thru The Wall to its population on November 9,
1989, with Germany being reunified, beginning on October 3, 1990.
As I've previously read two fascinating Books
upon the subject of Berlin, which I highly recommend. Giving a vastly intriguing
perspective upon the Harshness German Citizens endured for several decades.
Yet
before The Wall was erected, there was a previous tussle over Germany, which
perhaps Y'all recall the Berlin Airlift of 1948? When another Russian leader named
Stalin thought Harry S. trueman was a weakling, apparently never hearing of his
campaign slogan: "Give 'em Hell, Harry!"
As thou
Book in Questione I read first is called The Candy Bombers: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift
and America's Finest Hour by
Andre Cherny. (2009)
As it
wonderfully chronicles the originally unknown American volunteer Airman Gail
Halverson, who upon visiting a flock of German Kids behind Tempelhof's Airfield
fence, told them he'd drop them candy the next time he flew into Berlin.
But
how will we know your plane one asked? I'll Wiggle my Wings, to which the child
immediately asked in broken English, What is Wiggle? As Halverson would become
fondly known as "Uncle Wiggly Wings" when the Americans and Allies
furnished the Germans with the necessary supplies to survive the Russian
Blockade.
Next, the second book I listened to was Berlin 1961: Kennedy, Khrushchev
And the Most Dangerous Place on Earth, by Frederick Kempe. (2011) As its title
is pretty self-explanatory, but explains the nuances of how the two Super
Powers leaders dealt with Berlin, and their Tug 'O War over Communism vs.
Capitalism.
Ich
bin ein Berliner
(I am a 'Berliner')
John F. Kennedy,
June 26, 1963 - West Berlin
"Freedom
has many difficulties and democracy is not perfect. But we have never had to
put a wall up to keep our people in -- to prevent them from leaving us"
Alas, although I've never contemplated this
before. Perhaps? Was it just CoInky-dense' that thee Berlin Wall was erected on
august 13, 1961. exactly one week after the 1961 German Grand Prix was held at
the legendary Nurburgring. Whilst a further irony would be the two main rivals
for that year's formula 1 Driver's World Championship being an American vs. a
West German during this Ultimate Crisis, Ja volt!
While it's also funny to Mwah, how even
though I began following Formula 1 two years before the Wall's Demise. It was
that very same year when some Cowboy Movie Star implored Mr. Gorbachev to Tear
Down the Wall!
Along with living through it as a young motor
racing lad. I'm struck over how just now, today with the realization that I've
never classified German Drivers and Teams as West Germans in my 30+ years of
following Formel Ein.
As I've previously
chronicled my loose recollections of my Debutante Full Season of Formula 1.
Hence why I've only listed those West German Drivers participating in F1 below...
West German Born F1 Drivers
(Name/First Grand Prix/Team)
Christian Danner: 1985 Belgian Grand Prix, (Zakspeed)
Bernd Schneider:
1988 Brazilian Grand Prix, (Zakspeed) Michael Schumacher: 1991 Belgian Grand
Prix, (Jordan) Heinz-Harald Frentzen: 1994 Brazilian Grand Prix, (Sauber) Ralf
Schumacher: 1997 Australian Grand Prix, (Jordan) Nick Heidfeld: 2000 Australian
Grand Prix, (Prost) Timo glock
: 2004 Canadian Grand Prix, (Jordan) Nico
Rosberg: 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix, (Williams) Adrian sutil: 2007 Australian
Grand Prix, (Spyker) Markus
Winkelhock: 2007 European Grand Prix, (Spyker) Sebastian
Vettel: 2007 United States Grand Prix, (BMW Sauber) Nico Hulkenberg: 2010 Bahrain
Grand Prix (Williams) and Andre
Lotterer: 2014 Belgian Grand Prix, (Caterham)
Not until 2016, Down Under in Bloody OZ',
when Pascal Wehrlein was elevated from winning the DTM, to Marussia F1; Err
Manor Racing with the backing of Mercedes Benz, was there a German on the F1 Grid
hailing from Unified Germany. As Wehrlein hails from Sigmaringen, which is in Southern
Germany.
Teams
Zakspeed and Rial
Having previously
scribbled 'bout those two F1 Teams, plus Thar Predecessor ATS a very long time
ago here upon No Fenders, I'll skip re-inventing thou Wheel, and defer Y'all
to;
While I didn't include the Almighty Silver Arrows,
nee Mercedes, since they weren't involved with Formula 1 during the Iron
Curtain era...
Let Freedom Ring...
With
Tis Land 'O Thee', having been Born some 242 years ago, and never having had a
Wall along its Borders, HELL! Yuhs Didn't even need a Bloody Passport to visit
North of thee Border, Oh KanaDuh! Or Viva la Mexico until the implementation of
the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative on January 23, 2007!
Thus, I
simply ask, why do we need a Wall now? And do we really wish to become the new Israel?
Not to mention, who's gonna clean All of Somebody's Hotels, Mow the lawns and
keep the Greens Manicured, et Al Mr. President?
And I
haven't even touched upon the Sickening Plight of our National Parks et Al, for
which regardless if you're Republican or Democrat. Thars' Absolutely ZERO
reason for Destroying our Natural Resources, i.e.; Decimating the Joshua trees,
etc.
Henceforth
Donald, as 'Ol Ronnie said: Tear Down This Wall! And Quit keeping the U.S.
Government shutdown, as there's so MANY More Important things needed in our
Country!
Or even better yet,
in another nod to that enduring couple, aka Ronnie & Nancy:
Just
Say NO to The Wall, Donald!
Or even better yet
Donald, in the Immortal Words 'O Don Henley; "Get Over It!"