The Wall
On August 13th, 1961, several workmen in Berlin started to build. A post-war country, so no wonder people
were building. Even today, after more than 50 years we still see the scars of the Second World War, all
over Europe, and Asia, practically all over the world.
But these workmen weren't rebuilding a devastated city.
They were building a means to separate families, and friends, a means to keep people in. They were building
the largest prison known to mankind, half a city, and several countries large. The prison guard was called
"communism".
They were building the Berlin Wall.
On November 9th, 1989, the largest prison-uproar ever known to mankind started, and the Berlin Wall
was torn down, with tools ranging from bulldozers to human hands, but it came down. People fell into
eachothers arms, laughing and crying, fireworks were set off.
On June 15th, 2002, several workman in Israel started to build. A war-ridden country, so no wonder people are
building.
But these workmen aren't rebuilding a devastated city.
They are building a means to secure families, and friends, a means to keep terrorism out.
This is a very defendable statement. And in a way, I guess, I can't blame them, not after the last couple of
days. I don't think there's a person alive in Israel today, who hasn't lost a loved one, or knows someone who's
lost a loved one.
But, again a country is building the largest prison known to mankind, a country wide. And within these
prison walls, I am sure you won't find a person alive, who hasn't lost a loved one, over all this fighting,
or knows someone who's lost a loved one.
As I understood it, the Berlin Wall, wasn't meant to stay there as long as it did. But hey, it worked.
Sure a few years long, hundreds of people risked, and sometimes lost their lives, trying to get over it,
or helping someone to get over it, but in the end that stopped, so, it worked, right?
The Berlin Wall stood right across Berlin for 28 years, 2 months, and 27 days, if I counted correctly.
This wall is a temporary measure, the Israeli government is assuring us.
So, how long will it take, before no more Palestinians will try to get out of their prison? How many
lives will be lost, here? How long will it take, before the next largest prison-uproar will start?
By my calculations, it means that this wall will be torn down on August 12th, 2030.
There probably won't be any hugging, and laughing, but the "fireworks" will be bigger.
© 2002 Bertine Centen-Nieuwenkamp