[Skybird]

I just had left Westberlin only some days before, moving from my parent's household to my first all-alone appartement in Osnabrück, and starting study at university. All new to me. I took note of the events, but honestly said - for the most I had other things on my mind. So many things in my life just were in a chnage, and so much was new.

Seeing the pictures nevertheless still is a moving experience. So many things could have gone wrong, resulting in utmost violence and cival-war like scenes.

Other people had done things in their countries before without which the peaceful revolution in germany would not have been possible. The Poles. The Hungarians. Gorbatchev.

That'S what it was indeed: a revolution. the wall did not come down by itself. It was brought to a fall with determination, fighting spirit and willingness to take enormous risks by many Eastgermans marching in the streets. And really, the risks for their health and safety was real, very real.

Many people wearing the uniforms of the hungarian border patrols or the Eastgerman police, found themselves suddenly in situations were they had to make a decision all by themselves - and many put their humanity over their uniform's obligations. These people can and should be as proud as those who found the courage to resist the regime and turned to the streets.