Berlin should inspire us all

by Greg McDonald

As world leaders gather in Germany today to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the miracle of reunification should embolden us to believe that bold, peaceful, democratic progress is possible when we have the courage to act as if it’s so.

For Berlin owes much of its success to precisely that spirit: manifested in the bravery of ordinary Germans who faced down a seemingly unbeatable foe, and to sage German leaders who put long-term security ahead of short-term advantage.

In Berlin today, however, world leaders should recognise that peace and prosperity in a united Germany did not happen in a vacuum - but as part of the wider European miracle, which has given an otherwise historically bloody continent 64 years of relative peace.

And, reflecting on the iconic images of Berliners’ triumph over fear and division 20 years ago, we in Britain would do well to reflect on how fortunate we are to be a part of that Europe - and, for all the European project’s defects, how essential it is that our future is at its heart.

The German miracle is so inspiring because so little is easier in life than saying “I can’t” - and, when it seems that way, still acting as if “I can”. Or in Gandhi’s formulation, to “be the change you wish to see in the world”.

Recalling the fall of the Wall, we can take heart that humanity constantly produces seemingly miraculous triumph over unbeatable odds - as anyone who saw David Haye’s Goliathan boxing victory this weekend will testify - and feel emboldened that progress is always possible if we act like it’s so.

Comments

[the realist]

well.... the european "dream" will come back to reality soon enough !
think of the mix!.... the balkan states ... turkey ..wow what a conflict there !!
in any case ..as has been said before
WAR IS THE ONLY WAY MANKIND SEEMS TO HAVE THAT CAN LIMIT ITS NUMBERS !!
IT IS HUMANITY ITSELF THAT IS DESTROYING THIS PLANET ....... NOT CLIMATE CHANGE OR ITS ALTER EGO GLOBAL WARMING

[billo]

invicta stated that war is not thinkable,when our unelected bureaucrats in Europe are busy looking after their own interests and cutting defence spending remember that Russia are busy building a new navy,they have a million men in the army,
and the Chinese have two and a half million men in the army.it is a worry that we are getting in the same position as the thirties.
such as a recession, reduced Military in this country, large armies being built by cold war enemies, and some people in this country voting for a facist party

[The gospel According to invicta]

According to invicta " war is no longer even thinkable between European nations"

He was correct until we seee how many islamic immigrants are flooding europe and breeding 5 times faster than europeans to make up the numbers and then there will be the biggest war the planet has ever seen.

islamists cant even live in peace in their own lands so just think of the armageddon that is to arrive in europe with their masses.

[wat tyler]

not forgetting by the way how the EUROPEAN CRIMINAL ELEMENT
knew that once here they WOULD NEVER be extradited back to stand trial for their wrongdoings in their own country!!.............
THE REST OF THE WORLD MUST BE LAUGHING THEIR HEADS OFF WHEN THEY SEE HOW OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM FAVOURS THE CRIMINALS !!

[the realist]

the dregs of european society were among the first to take advantage of an unsustainable "open door immigration policy" that was deliberately created by new labour .
the others that followed were opportunists that had been briefed.. by lawyers in their own country.. on how to cheat and deceive the incompetents that were ( and still are ) employed by the benefit ofices around britain .... who were frightened to delve deeper into any foreigners claim for maintenance from the taxpayers of this country in case the knowledgeable foreigner shouted RACIST ........
the reason new labour allowed such a destructive immigration policy to be implemented was simply to DESTROY the fabric of british culture ... mostly english of course as the instigators were SCOTTISH...... determined to avenge culloden !!
they fail to acknowledge that scotland has thrived under the cloak of the union far more than any other of the four nations!!

[invicta]

When the wall came down it also meant that Hungarians, Slovaks, Poles, Russians, Latvians and many other East Europeans could move freely to the West. nOw with full integration they are also entitled to come and work here and live here. As British people are entitled to do so in any country in the EU. This is a fantastic privilege and should be celebrated.

What exactly do you mean by 'dregs from the rest of the world'?

[When they wall was knocked down]

When they wall was knocked down at least it was only German people being taken into either side.
With the channel tunnel we now have to take in all the dregs from the rest of the world.

A once Island nation is now the melting pot of inhumanity.

[j.loups]

This country cannot go on taking in all these aspiring
immigrants from East Europe &
starving Africa.Most have a 10 year plan in Europe...why not this country....France sends its "difficult" cases to Sangatte & Boulogne camps &
Britain seems to accept responsibility,Why ??
We complain about huge populations in developing countries but the Catholic Church encourages followers to breed like rabbits...so no wonder the Third World is also suffering...Birth Control
please !! ..Why should Governments & the taxpayer keep paying for huge unecinomic families ??At least Germany still has it`s industries and unlike Gordon Brown understands ECONOMICS !!

[the realist]

lol winston.......
i suppose if you have taken the latest exams created by this so called governments education system one would think they are cleverer than they really are !!

[wat tyler]

SPOT ON realist .......
sad though it always is for those that lose their loved ones this is the only way mankind knows how to limit his numbers ........
UNLIKE the supposedly lesser intelligent life this planet is blessed with ( ha ha !) which limit their nubers on a regular basis due to an obvious ( to them) lack of essentials that their lifestyle needs !!
SO IS HUMANITY AS CLEVER AS IT THINKS IT IS ....... ??

[the realist]

invicta......
the whole problem that is besetting mother earth is that there NEEDS to be another war if the ecological balance of humanity versus world resources is to balance !!!
TOO MANY HUMANS is what is sounding the death knell of this planet .......NOT global warming .
had not the two world wars happened this planet would be in devastation as we talk !!

[invicta]

And of course it is thanks to the EU and its previous incarnations that war is no longer even thinkable between European nations.

The EU is a fantastic political achievement.

[Peter Angry]

Don’t really want to carp on your joyful little article, Greg, as indeed the reunification of Germany was and is a wonderful thing – however, if only we’d been given the opportunity to be part of the democratic decisioning in Europe, i.e. the Non referendum, we would indeed, as you quote Gandhi “be the change you wish to see in the world”; as things stand we are only “bystanders” in the EU.