Fascinating article from CNN East Berlin/Germany revisited

songbird · ‎03-21-2010

Although Germany is a united country, there is still an invisible barrier between East and West Berlin (and East and West Germany) It looks at the economic differences (the east is very poor) and cultural (curious differences, more men in the East, while many more women migrated West) Even taste in food! Loved reading it!

https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/07/europe/berlin-wall-fall-30th-anniversary-intl-grm/index.html

Still Raining · ‎03-30-2014

When I traveled as a teen, it was still up and my extended family was divided.

Not sure I would to see us enforce crossings the way they did though.

songbird · ‎03-21-2010

@Still RainingAccording to the article, cultural wise & economic. It's still very much a separate country. East side is still very poor. Even their diet is different. East side children still excel in reading and Mathematics. The old left over discipline of Communism is Strong. West Germany is exposed to better life styles. More distractions. So the kinds tend to not hunch over their books. Politically the fascism has made a major come back. Hostile to new comers, Jew, Muslims, etc. West Germany is open and liberal to new comers.

sfnative · ‎03-10-2010

Regardless of what CNN might have to say, I need to hone in on one East German and how life beyond that wall affected her and her family.

The person is KATARINA WITT, internationally recognized Olympic skater of great renoun. Katarina won many medals. I recall watching her many times on TV and lastly, during her last appearance at the Olympics. What gauled me was the fact that the Stasi and Intelligence Polizei, refused to allow Katarina's parents an exit visa so that they could travel to the Olympics to see their daughter perform in the Olympics. If memory serves me correctly, Karatarina won the Gold.

It was all about control. A socialist ****** communist state like that is all about and always has been about control and it makes my blood run cold. I felt so very sorry for Katarina and hope she was able to find some happiness in life.

songbird · ‎03-21-2010

@sfnative wrote:
Regardless of what CNN might have to say, I need to hone in on one East German and how life beyond that wall affected her and her family.

The person is KATARINA WITT, internationally recognized Olympic skater of great renoun. Katarina won many medals. I recall watching her many times on TV and lastly, during her last appearance at the Olympics. What gauled me was the fact that the Stasi and Intelligence Polizei, refused to allow Katarina's parents an exit visa so that they could travel to the Olympics to see their daughter perform in the Olympics. If memory serves me correctly, Karatarina won the Gold.

It was all about control. A socialist ****** communist state like that is all about and always has been about control and it makes my blood run cold. I felt so very sorry for Katarina and hope she was able to find some happiness in life.

Germany is now more of a schizophrenic state. Nobody controls them. Nobody wants to continue to live in East Germany. But those that are still there are stuck...Maybe for life. . No one wants to rebuild. They stay because of housing which much, much cheaper to own and to live in. Many East Germans live on the dole. Jobs are scares. Companies won't move there to invest. Fertile ground for angry jobless men and the rise of Fascism again. West Germany is a first world country. Thriving and living there for many people is the best they ever had.