Figure 1 – The fall of the Berlin Wall, November 26, 1989. Image by Sharon Emerson and from the Wikimedia Commons under creative commons attribution license.

We mark this second week of November the fall of the Berlin wall, thirty-five years ago.  The two words “Berlin Wall” conjure up many classic images – of its construction, of the cold war, of people trying to cross it, and of its fall.  Perhaps most deeply are the images of President Kennedy speaking at the wall: “Ich bin ein Berliner.”  It is an important symbol of the durability of human hope.

The image of Figure 1 is from November 1989 by Sharon Emerson and shows section of the wall covered with colorful graffiti.  There is a hole in the wall through which and East German guard speaks to a westerner.  It was a moment that slowly led to the reunification of Germany.