Berlin, Ich Liebe dich!

The morning began quietly on Skalitzer Str. as the sun broke over the graffitied buildings and shimmered serenly through welcoming windows. I found a post card today of a rundown building most likely on the east side of berlin, with a sunshine graffitied on the wall and green leaves hanging delicatley in front of the cameras picture plane. this vision is now the vision of all Berliners, from the East to the West. Skalitzer str. is located in what used to be East Berlin, and nearly 20 years ago was occupied by communist russia. now that sunshine that comes from freedom has settled over this people. Berliners are happy to meet you, smile at you say gutten morgen, or danke schon. they thank you for your being in their city and simply have a smile across thier whole face!

Just yesterday i was walking back to skalitzer str. along Leipziger Str. and was thinking about check point charlie, wondering were it was. I had been looking at pictures showing old berlin, East/West. then there was a part that talked about check point charlie and a map of were it was. Looking at the map, then turning my head to get my bearings I realized all i had to do was turn the corner and check point charlie was that close to me. so my next steps were to do just that, i walked to the end of Leipziger Str. turned left onto Friedrich Str. and about two blocks away I could see the remains of check point charlie.

when the Berlin wall went up, the Russians demolished any building that stood in the way, cutting through roads, breaking up neighborhoods, families, and friends. One night they were united and the next morning the wall had gone up and Berlins people had been divided. After the wall came down on Oct. 9th 1989 the city restored the streets to their original grid. the building that had been demolished were replaced by modern buildings and the land were check point charlie stood was put up for sale. Check Point Charlie was the dividing point between the American and the Russian Sector.

I saw a picture of a small boy about 5 or 6 reaching his hand up to a soldier who stood on the american side just over tangled up barbed wire. that soilder looked around him clearly torn by the small childs wishes, not understanding the consequence but realizing that crossing the barb wire fence would bring him a happier life. Clearly people were watching because their picture was taken. I doubt the soldier would have ever put that little boys life in danger.

I love Berlin, I love Germany, I love love love this land and all the people who ever suffered because of the wickedness of one man.