It was Eighteen Years Ago

It surely does not seem that long ago. On this day in 1989 the East German govenment announced that anyone that wanted to could leave the country. Thousands did so, and over a few weeks time they tore down the greatest symbol of the Soviet's horrible oppression of millions. I was only 13 at the time, but I vividly remember sitting in my parents living room, and watching the news coverage as it happened. It was such a joyous occasion. Even at such a young age, I knew what it meant. I had heard the stories of the brave people that had tried to cross the wall to freedom, only to be gunned down.

I will never forget the raw emotion we saw acted out on our glowing televisions as the people attacked the wall. Some with sledgehammers wailed against it as the cried with joy and relief. Families that had not seen each other in decades were reunited. This was the beginning of the end of the Soviet Union.

Now as we fight our new enemy, we can look back to our old one, and see the similarities. The Islamofascists wish simply to do as the Stalinists did. They wish to control us, and make us all conform to their will. If we allow them to overpower us, we will have the same fate as the millions that died to fight off the communists did. We will die, and leave our children beholden to evil.