John O. Andersen

It has been a decade since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Perhaps that is the
single most remembered event when people ponder the fall of communism and
the end of the Cold War.

A century from now, many historians could likely conclude that in terms of
significance to world history, the two most important years of the 20th
century are 1945 and 1989; 1945 marking the end of WW II and a radically
changed and politically and economically realigned world, and 1989 marking
the collapse of communism and another major political and economic
realignment.

Perhaps the events of 1989 will also emerge as the most poignant modern
example of just how much influence average citizens can have when they
muster the courage to get actively involved. Oppressive governments and
failed ideologies can be pulled down and swept away (even without bloodshed)
if enough people are willing to take the risk by speaking and acting as
their consciences dictate.

Those who feel they're powerless to make changes, would do well to educate
themselves in the history of the events leading up to the fall of the Berlin
Wall. That history is a message of hope, a reaffirmation that the power is
within
each and every one of us to create a better world if we are willing to put
forth the
effort.

John Andersen
http://members.xoom.com/joandersen