20th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall

Today marks the 20th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall.

A large ceremony was held at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, the same location as President Ronald Reagan's famous "Tear down this Wall" speech.

Many dignitaries attended the event. Geman Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Russian President Medvedev, former Polish President Lech Walesa, former Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, and leaders from the rest of Europe. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was also present.

Noticably absent was President Barack Obama (who normally would have been happy to go speak in Europe...). He sent a video message with Hillary, instead (On a side note, why does everything he talks about always have to go back to him? Watch at 1:45 of the video link to see what I mean).

Also of note was how Mikhail Gorbachev was praised, who was greeted by cheers of "Gorby!" Chancellor Merkel said to Gorbachev that "You made this possible." No mention of Ronald Reagan.

So, since it wasn't said by the Germans, the Brits, the French, the Russians (or former Soviets), our own Secretary of State, or our own President, allow me: President Reagan, thank you. The Berlin Wall wouldn't have fallen without your resolute leadership and determination.

In honor of Ronald Reagan, I present you with a video that gives me goosebumps, even though I wasn't even alive at the time.



Boy, could we use another of him...