Remember the Berlin Wall? Remember how it fell? Remember the way in which the event reverberated throughout the world?
Many readers probably don’t. That is not to say readers don’t care about humanity outside of the US, nor that they are completely ignorant to the tides of history; but rather that most current college students were simply too young at that time to have grasped the severity of what the Iron Curtain stood for.
These students may have read about the seemingly impenetrable cement wall separating a once-unified city, they may have heard some fantastic recollections of how the West organized the Berlin Airlift to supply an entire metropolis during the notorious communist blockade, and they may know about the event that marked the de facto conclusion to world war and all of its lingering implications.
Often, though, those born in the late 1980’s or even more recently fail to grasp the bigger picture.
In the words of history professor Thomas Maroukis, the fall of the Berlin Wall is “one of the greatest symbols of the 21st century.”
The event championed democracy over communism and catalyzed the dissolution of the Soviet Union as well as the end of the Cold War. It assured that no obstacle could be insurmountable in the human quest for freedom and gave courage and hope to all oppressed peoples that together, they too might hold that same power for change.
More recently, many have noted the marked similarities between the courage of the oppressed in Berlin and the courage manifested throughout the Middle East that is embodied by the Arab Spring.
Yesterday, November 9th, marked 22 years since the Berlin Wall ceased to divide a common people; 22 years since the Iron Curtain ascended from a free world. Now as much as ever, faculty at Capital feel it is important for students to look upon Capital’s piece of the Berlin Wall with a fresh set of eyes and renew their respect for such a meaningful piece of world history.
The 12-foot-tall, 4-foot-wide, section of concrete was installed in the Blackmore Library following the AmeriFlora exhibition at Franklin Park in 1992. The artifact is was given to Capital on long-term loan from the German firm Hansa Consulting GmbH, a part of the larger company Tukay International GmbH. Capital was selected selected, in part, due to its history of service to the German community in the greater Columbus area. Capital’s section of the Wall was included in “Die Berliner Mauer in der Welt,” which brought together all of the remaining sections of the Berlin Wall under one book cover.
“People come from all over the U.S. to see our piece of the Berlin Wall,” said Dr. Cassandra Tellier, Director of the Schumacher Gallery. “They want their children to experience such an intricate part of our world’s history.”
Belen Fernandez, director of Blackmore Library, takes pride in housing the relic.
“Our library serves as an opportunity for students to temporarily escape the confines of Columbus, Ohio and have access to sights, sounds, and information from world’s away through our books and other outlets,” Fernandez said. “In this light, our section of the Berlin Wall tangibly defines everything this library stands for.”
