“The striking phrase is intentionally ambiguous: it might refer to the historical significance of the site, but it can also be read as a comment on contemporary issues of belonging and identity.”
A beautiful phrase. Myself, I think it perfectly captures The best of German intentions.
Thank you, Jay for sharing what you see, feel, remember and wonder as you wander.
May I be permitted to wonder, out loud, so to speak (or type) ...
You wrote of "wandering" about near Checkpoint Charlie, and commented that there must be a similar place on the Korean peninsula.
I could not help but imagine if it were possible for Korean tourists to wander about Washington, or Chicago, or anywhere in the US today, without fear of being challenged or even assaulted by masked agents of the State.
Your tour and photos are excellent, as usual. I found Berlin to be a city of contradictions. It held center stage for so much of the past century. God bless the resiliency of the Berliners. Passing the Ministry of Finance and recalling some connection of the structure to the Nazi past, I had to stop and read the plaque. Turns out my remembered connection was to its past was when it was Herman Goring's Luftwaffer Headquarters (Reichsluftfahrtministerium). (Ah German!) A hard threatening piece of architecture but, also, eye catching. Amazing it has survived. The Topography of Terror and the remains of the Gestapo headquarters being right around the corner can consume many hours for any student of history or a younger German wanting to know about what --not to be. I envy your being there. If you ever tire of journalism, and music--doubtful--you would make a heck of a tour guide! Hugh Donohue
"I don’t know what Germans think of when they look at the Brandenburg Gate."
Neither do I, but I think of P.J. O'Rourke's article about the fall of the Berlin Wall and about my brother persuading his Air Force friends to go with him to East Berlin and see Guns N Roses.
“The striking phrase is intentionally ambiguous: it might refer to the historical significance of the site, but it can also be read as a comment on contemporary issues of belonging and identity.”
A beautiful phrase. Myself, I think it perfectly captures The best of German intentions.
Thank you, Jay for sharing what you see, feel, remember and wonder as you wander.
May I be permitted to wonder, out loud, so to speak (or type) ...
You wrote of "wandering" about near Checkpoint Charlie, and commented that there must be a similar place on the Korean peninsula.
I could not help but imagine if it were possible for Korean tourists to wander about Washington, or Chicago, or anywhere in the US today, without fear of being challenged or even assaulted by masked agents of the State.
Excellent Mr. Nordlinger. Your city journals are the best!
Thank you so much.
Your tour and photos are excellent, as usual. I found Berlin to be a city of contradictions. It held center stage for so much of the past century. God bless the resiliency of the Berliners. Passing the Ministry of Finance and recalling some connection of the structure to the Nazi past, I had to stop and read the plaque. Turns out my remembered connection was to its past was when it was Herman Goring's Luftwaffer Headquarters (Reichsluftfahrtministerium). (Ah German!) A hard threatening piece of architecture but, also, eye catching. Amazing it has survived. The Topography of Terror and the remains of the Gestapo headquarters being right around the corner can consume many hours for any student of history or a younger German wanting to know about what --not to be. I envy your being there. If you ever tire of journalism, and music--doubtful--you would make a heck of a tour guide! Hugh Donohue
Thank you a ton, Hugh!
Thank you for taking us along with you in Berlin.
Thank you, Pam!
"I don’t know what Germans think of when they look at the Brandenburg Gate."
Neither do I, but I think of P.J. O'Rourke's article about the fall of the Berlin Wall and about my brother persuading his Air Force friends to go with him to East Berlin and see Guns N Roses.