I went through Checkpoint Charlie once, it was a grim, scary, and depressing feeling in that ugly lousy concrete box-city they built. Tenement after tenement. and the gubbmin't buildings and businesses looked pretty much the same. The only good stuff was what was left over from before. The rest of the city was just low-grade plumbing-fixtures and bad caulk. Bleh.
Uhhhhh . . . . didn't we all know that, like, a long time ago?
It wasn't exactly a theoretical debate. People GOT shot trying to cross that thing with depressing regularity.
But people will insist on forgetting the past. I'm reading The Gulag Archipelago and find that I become shocked on every page. Why? Don't I already know what the Soviets did to their people?
My dad was called back to active duty in '61 because of Berlin. We all figured he'd be commanding a tank company at the Gate or pushing back at the Fulda Gap through a NBC cloud.
For Christmas of '89 I was able to give him a chunk of concrete that had once been part of the wall. I have that piece in my home now.
People were shot (and WORSE) escaping what Col. Cooper aptly called "Mordor, the prison of the world." I saw The Line in 1988, and the wreck of the system behind it in the early 90's. Anyone that views Communism as anything less than despicable should be required to read the chapter "The Line" from To Ride, Shoot Straight, And Speak The Truth. I still get angry when I read it.......
There was a section of The Wall on display in Seattle. One side was covered (completely) with graffiti, the other side was pristine clean concrete. Not too hard to figure out which side faced which country.
Just sitting here thinking about standing next to that wall and what its implications were is quite enough to bring the anger level near max.
Stating that this might lead to tyranny is OK, and probably good prophylaxsis, especially if acted upon.
Claiming bush=hitler, or expect a bullet in the back if you don't produce ID, especially when the statement is provably wrong, might make you look a bit silly.
There are plenty of things wrong with security theatre and the drug war, without having to make stuff up.
Kristopher, Then prove it wrong. Push through the TSA checkpoint at a major airport and get on an international flight, without showing id. I bet you are shot, tased or bodily tackled and thrown in jail. How is that different from the socialist paradises of the past?
No, I am not saying that we are living in a state that is as bad or worse than the former "communist" states. However, we are heading in that direction at a rapid pace.
The IGB was the most terrifying work of man I've ever seen close up.
ReplyDeleteAnyone feeling less than angry and frightened by communism should read Along the edge of the forest: An Iron Curtain journey
by Anthony Bailey.
http://www.amazon.com/Along-edge-forest-Curtain-journey/dp/0394523954/ref=sr_1_1/103-2152345-4282219?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1187019266&sr=8-1
I went through Checkpoint Charlie once, it was a grim, scary, and depressing feeling in that ugly lousy concrete box-city they built. Tenement after tenement. and the gubbmin't buildings and businesses looked pretty much the same. The only good stuff was what was left over from before. The rest of the city was just low-grade plumbing-fixtures and bad caulk. Bleh.
ReplyDeleteUhhhhh . . . . didn't we all know that, like, a long time ago?
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't exactly a theoretical debate. People GOT shot trying to cross that thing with depressing regularity.
But people will insist on forgetting the past. I'm reading The Gulag Archipelago and find that I become shocked on every page. Why?
Don't I already know what the Soviets did to their people?
With regards to the land mines they could at least claim their purpose was to keep the imperialists out.
ReplyDeleteToo bad there aren't many left (if any!) they can charge for it.
My dad was called back to active duty in '61 because of Berlin. We all figured he'd be commanding a tank company at the Gate or pushing back at the Fulda Gap through a NBC cloud.
ReplyDeleteFor Christmas of '89 I was able to give him a chunk of concrete that had once been part of the wall. I have that piece in my home now.
Regards,
Rabbit.
People were shot (and WORSE) escaping what Col. Cooper aptly called "Mordor, the prison of the world." I saw The Line in 1988, and the wreck of the system behind it in the early 90's. Anyone that views Communism as anything less than despicable should be required to read the chapter "The Line" from To Ride, Shoot Straight, And Speak The Truth. I still get angry when I read it.......
ReplyDeleteThere was a section of The Wall on display in Seattle. One side was covered (completely) with graffiti, the other side was pristine clean concrete. Not too hard to figure out which side faced which country.
ReplyDeleteJust sitting here thinking about standing next to that wall and what its implications were is quite enough to bring the anger level near max.
But walls and fences don't work, dontcha know?
ReplyDeleteI ain't just communism, it's gov't in general. Try leaving this country by plane without showing your documentation and see if you aren't shot also.
ReplyDeleteTry leaving this country by plane without showing your documentation and see if you aren't shot also.
ReplyDeleteBullcrap.
Comparing the US to a socialist dictatorship is overblown hyperbole, at best.
In other news, winter is cold, water is wet, and fire burns.
ReplyDeleteGet back to me in ten more years.
ReplyDeleteStating that this might lead to tyranny is OK, and probably good prophylaxsis, especially if acted upon.
ReplyDeleteClaiming bush=hitler, or expect a bullet in the back if you don't produce ID, especially when the statement is provably wrong, might make you look a bit silly.
There are plenty of things wrong with security theatre and the drug war, without having to make stuff up.
Kristopher,
ReplyDeleteThen prove it wrong. Push through the TSA checkpoint at a major airport and get on an international flight, without showing id. I bet you are shot, tased or bodily tackled and thrown in jail. How is that different from the socialist paradises of the past?
No, I am not saying that we are living in a state that is as bad or worse than the former "communist" states. However, we are heading in that direction at a rapid pace.
Gregg .... try reading the link I posted.
ReplyDeleteNo ID ... but the person was still able to board.
As for pushing past a cop ... if you do that to ANY cop, including ones around last century, you are going to get a drubbing.
Which makes my point very well thank you.
ReplyDelete