Today, Europe has 27 member states. Of those, fully 10 former communist states, (plus the former DDR) with a combined population of almost 107 million people have joined the European Union. The lives of the citizens of those member states have improved beyond mere measure, and they no longer have the yoke of oppression imposed by the mindless brutality of the old Communist system.
On June 12th 1987, then President Ronald Reagan delivered a speech at the Brandenburg Gate, in what was then West Berlin. The Brandenburg gate site was selected to emphasize President Reagan’s personal conviction that Western democracy offered the best hope to reopen the Berlin Wall. The speech he gave focused on a series of political initiatives to achieve this end. The (now) famous “tear down this wall” phrase was intended as the logical conclusion of the president’s proposals. President Reagan’s staff felt that the phrase was too confrontational, and one (Chief of Staff Howard Baker) even went to far as to say that he felt it to be “unpresidential”. Reagan prevailed, and the phrase remained in the speech.
“[...] We welcome change and openness; for we believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace. There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”
Interestingly, at the time the speech received little in the way of media coverage. Communists were -- predictably -- unimpressed. TASS went so far as to accuse Reagan of giving “an openly provocative, war mongering speech”.
29 months later, in November of 1989, the Politburo announced that East Germans were permitted to move freely into West Germany. Tens of thousands flocked to the Berlin Wall and proceeded to “tear down this wall”. Border Guards, with no clear orders took a wise course and allowed citizens of East Germany to stream across the border. On October 3rd 1990 East Germany joined the Federal Republic of Germany. German reunification was -- at long last -- a reality.
Thanks to YouTube, we can view that historic speech, which was delivered 23 years ago today;
