Comments about ‘Germans thank Gorbachev for wall coming down’

As the world celebrates a great achievement one of the main players- the United States- is missing in the celebration. I have one question- why, Mr. President, did you not feel the need to go celebrate with the world?

Interesting how there is no mention of President Reagan and his role in getting the wall torn down.

What isn't well known is that West Germany PAID a huge sum of money to Russia to get East Germany back, a fact that has had a very bad effect on the German economy. So thank the Russians--I don't think so. They had no business extending the partition of Germany for so long after WWII.

The sad thing is that we let them--and today our government isn't even mentioning the reunification of Germany. Curious!

It was an amazing event! We can thank Gorbachov, but we must also thank Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, Pope JohnPaul II, and others in the FREE World who continued to speak out, which helped to bring about this wonderful change! Gorbachov was a wonderful world leader, and he is lucky he wasn't arrested by those in the "Pullit Bureau" for some of the daring changes he proposed and brought about! He is a very brave and couragous man. To bad we don't have leaders like him in our government, we could use a couple! Men that stick to CONSERVATIVE VALUES, and stand for FREEDOM, and for the cause of the CONSTITUTION as our forefathers intended!

Anonymous: It's simple. Obama is sorry the wall came down. He longs for the days when he can build one here.

In short, he does not see any reason to celebrate a defeat of socialism/Marxism. That's why he isn't there.

Because history has seen Ronald Reagan was empty shell. He said a one liner that conservatives tried to amplify as an example of this nebulous conservative construct, "moral clarity." "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" Was little more than a Reagan photo op in Berlin trying to mimic Jack Kennedy's speech. "Ich bin ein Berliner"

Reagan, like most Americans failed to understand that a Berliner in Germany, is a pastry. :-)

The German people held back their laughter out of respect.

It was communication that made those in the East see that life was better in the West that got this wall removed. We see the same affect of global communication with youth in Iran today. It's hard to control the story now.

Today, we have the clear of hindsight that has removed the fog of Reagan's moral clarity." Reagan cut and ran from Beirut, had the beginning of the Taliban trained and armed and the Reagan presidency still holds the record for federal convictions. He sold Iran arms. How does this reflect on Reagan's morality?

Over time history will be harsher on Reagan and will be kinder on Carter.

To continue this logic, we should credit Jimmy Carter credit for getting our captured citizens
out of Iran and Nansty Pelosi credit for the transparency and bipartisan support for her socialist/universal healthcare bill.

CougarKeith at 10:43 correctly identified the gang of four responsible for causing the wall to tumble.

@CougarKeith: I love it! "Pullit Bureau!" I assume that has something to do with the regulation of misspelled chickens, right? Could you be referring to the Politburo?

If Obama was there you'd be complaining that he wasn't home taking care of the economy and acknowledging the Ft. Hood tragedy and that he was catering to Europe too much.

This is the same toxic accusatory groupthink that plagued GW Bush and poisons this country's political discourse. EVERYTHING is their fault and they're ALWAYS doing it wrong. Get past the bumper sticker sloganeering and actually engage yourself in reality.

"Tear down this ignorance Mr. world!"

There can never be a question that you will never get everyone to agree on the "truth" because each person sees it from their own perspective, tainted or otherwise. I clearly am amazed that a person would put Reagan down and Carter up, but clearly, this establishes that the world is one wacky place. There are probably people out there that think Pelosi is amazing and that the Fort Hood killer is a hero. I just keep shaking my head in near disbelief, but having seen it most of my life now, I am finally accepting that this is the way it is. Heaven (yes, I do believe in that too) help us.

Putting Gorbachev in the limelight was good. He was a courageous man who put a stop to the worst of the Soviet tyrany.

Leaving Reagan out was a mistake.

I am an old man, old enough to remember the wall going up and coming down. I do not think Reagan played no role but how exactly do some of you justify giving Reagan so much credit while giving no credit to the rest of the world, previous presidents and the force of time coupled with of a world community that differed so much from the reality that many in these oppressive societies experienced? I think it is great that the republicans have a sense of pride in Reagan but I am not convinced this praise for his effect on the fall of the wall is not misguided.

The book, His Holiness, by Carl Berstein, covers the effect Reagan and Pope John Paul II had in bringing down communism. I believe they, Gorbachev and others were the right people at the right time to do what had to be done.

Giving credit to a select few for the fall of the Berlin wall is short sighted indeed. What of all the demonstrators, who fought for months couragously, yet, peacefully for their freedom? There were tens of thousands of them; like a tidal wave, that the communist government coudn't stop! The Churches in East Germany played a huge role in the freedom movement. And many politicians on both sides of the wall had their share in the events that lead up to the 9th of November 1989, including leaders from e.g. Poland, Hungary and, of course, West Germany, like Kohl, Genscher. Margaret Thatcher, though, to my knowledge was NOT one of them, because she was afraid of what a reunited Germany might become.

Like a puzzle there were hundreds of pieces that came together to bring to pass the end of the wall.

And, yes, America was thanked many times in the festivities in Germany today. Also, Mrs. Clinton was present and Mr. Obama had sent a video message.

Re: Anonymous | 11:08 a.m. Nov. 9, 2009 - I'm a native German speaker and can assure you that when Kennedy said, "Ich bin ein Berliner!" the audience understood him clearly. The confusion about the word Berliner was created by a US newswriter stationed in Berlin who had only limited German language ability. It's just an urban legend.

As to who brought the wall down we Germans believe it was a complex situation where no one entity can claim responsibility. Certainly the US outspending the USSR in military equipment under President Reagan tamed the Soviet response to the freedom movement. I wouldn't say the US played the key role however. The pivotal moment came when hundreds, then thousands and eventually hundreds of thousands of East Germans demonstrated for the ability to travel freely to any country they wished to. Eventually the government of East Germany signaled a willingness to loosen the restrictions but by then the momentum of protest was too great. I give the greatest credit to the brave East Germans.

By the way, the USA also prohibits its citizens from traveling to any country they choose. Where are the protests?

I did not see the name Reagan mentioned in the article. Gorby was a stout communist, but the Soviet Union was collapsing as a result of Star Wars. Even today Russia is passing into the dustbin of history with a rapidly declining aging population. Reagan stood tall, but it appears Obama is standing small.

To Anonymous 11:08 AM.

Sorry but you are incorrect in your comments regarding President Ronald Reagan!
A hollow shell with a one liner? Your understanding of history is flawed in realizing the many steps over a 40 year period that President Reagan took to help crush the tyranny of Soviet Communism! On a number of occessions President Reagan put the Soviet leadership on notice of his intent to free Eastern Europe. To support this position and that of other Americans and true fighters of freedom I would encourage you to read the accounts of the meeting between Reagan and the Russian leadership in Iceland and review U.S. policy regarding military build up and economic security which were very much enhanced! President Reagan was no EMPTY SHELL, but an inspired leader who helped free tens of millions and was credited as such at the time AND AT HIS FUNERAL! Maybe only a hard core hater of Reagan could come up with such a thought! Then again today, even the Secretary of State of the United States failed to show proper respect! But then what else can you expect from a party that views appeasement over strength!

That's right. Another Gorbasm.

Reagan? What did he do?