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| Europe | |
| Good-bye Checkpoint Charlie | |
| 2005-06-27 | |
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| Posted by:Clulet Glatle5510 |
| #4 It is their country. They can do what they like. It is important to remember the past, but it is also important to move on and prosper. Much like the 9-11 site. I forget which blogger I read, but he said the best memorial for the 9-11 dead is to rebuild and have lots and lots of trade and commerce going on at the site. Proves the terrorists lost since we not only went on with our lives, but we improved since then. I feel the same goes with the Germans. |
| Posted by: mmurray821 2005-06-27 10:50 |
| #3 Germany has a lot of memorials. They're getting to be all memorial'ed out. |
| Posted by: Whomong Shavique3752 2005-06-27 08:54 |
| #2 I just published this over at LGF As much as I understand the furor and I wish that the museum and memorial continued to exist, the following it should be clarified. The museum was erected as a temporary exhibition made possible by a private person who leased the estate only for a few months until the end of 2004. Her deceased husband had designed the place. It's a museum (only finished in October 2004) plus a rebuilt piece of the wall and sports over a thousand wooden crosses as a remembrance of the people who died crossing the wall (most not at Checkpoint Charlie btw). By January 1st 2005 the lease had run out and the owner (a investment bank) had other plans with this place (it's prime estate after all). The person (who seems to be a bit annoying in her character and simply ignores property laws) who leased the place simply continued paying the lease (€12000 month which she can afford because of entrance fees and donations) and refused to leave. That's why the owner filed for eviction. That this is done on July 4th may look as poor taste but I think that was not intentional. The woman had only a few days before angered Berlin authorities. She and her organisation Arbeitsgemeinschaft 13. August (day when the wall was built) had attached - originally with the consent of the ministry - photo plates on the facade of the Ministry of Finances with pictures of people who died during the rebellion of June 17th 1953. The minister later changed his mind but the woman ignored court orders to remove them and the city removed them by force, exactly on June 17th, which again was considered as poor historical taste. Re Checkpoint Museum: The city has to execute court orders of eviction. It's not an "anti-American" move. The owner has the perfect right to do so. Well, the city didn't protest much. The private museum didn't fit into the concept of the red/green Berlin Senate so they are probably not shedding tears. Tourists and Berliners alike liked the place. Critics complain about the "privatization of memory" and don't like the "Disneyland character" of the place (young Berliners dress up as Vopos to show tourists around etc). Whether the demolishing will actually take place is not sure yet. Daimler Chrysler has just offered to help. It may be a good idea to keep up the protest. Maybe the property can be bought from the owner who filed for eviction. The owner seems to be willing to sell to private investors. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2005-06-27 01:32 |
| #1 That's right, gotta tear down that reminder of how Germany was divided. Can't have people wishing for the type of freedom West Germany offered before reunification. |
| Posted by: Charles 2005-06-27 00:26 |