Where four decades ago there was rubble, today in West Berlin there is the greatest industrial output of any city in Germany--busy office blocks, fine homes and apartments, proud avenues, and the spreading lawns of parkland. Where a city’s culture seemed to have been destroyed, today there are two great universities, orchestras and an opera, countless theaters, and museums. Where there was want, today there’s abundance--food, clothing, automobiles--the wonderful goods of the Ku’damm. From devastation, from utter ruin, you Berliners have, in freedom, rebuilt a city that once again ranks as one of the greatest on earth. The Soviets may have had other plans. But my friends, there were a few things the Soviets didn’t count on--Berliner Herz, Berliner Humor, ja, und Berliner Schnauze. [Berliner heart, Berliner humor, yes, and a Berliner Schnauze.]

In the 1950s, Khrushchev predicted: “We will bury you.” But in the West today, we see a free world that has achieved a level of prosperity and well-being unprecedented in all human history. In the Communist world, we see failure, technological backwardness, declining standards of health, even want of the most basic kind--too little food. Even today, the Soviet Union still cannot feed itself. After these four decades, then, there stands before the entire world one great and inescapable conclusion: Freedom leads to prosperity. Freedom replaces the ancient hatreds among the nations with comity and peace. Freedom is the victor.

And now the Soviets themselves may, in a limited way, be coming to understand the importance of freedom. We hear much from Moscow about a new policy of reform and openness. Some political prisoners have been released. Certain foreign news broadcasts are no longer being jammed. Some economic enterprises have been permitted to operate with greater freedom from state control.

Are these the beginnings of profound changes in the Soviet state? Or are they token gestures, intended to raise false hopes in the West, or to strengthen the Soviet system without changing it? We welcome change and openness; for we believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace. There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace.

General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!

Five Most Recent Trackbacks:

The first colour photographs from the German front line during World War One.
(1 total trackbacks)
Tracked at Macker's World
WOW! Now this presents a new perspective on World War I: color photos from the German side: Given today's film speeds and grain quality, I can only imagine that what…
On: 11/15/08 11:19

Too True!
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Tracked at Macker's World
Now here's a parody of a parody: If Parker & Hart were around, I'm sure they'd be OK with this. HAT TIP: BMEWS
On: 11/09/08 11:38

Twas the Night Before
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Tracked at The Chronicles Of A Rogue Jew
A friend of mine emailed this to me.  He said he got it from the Barking Moonbat Monitor.  Enjoy! ‘Twas the night before elections And all through the town Tempers…
On: 10/30/08 12:38

Banned from using Hoover or hot water under health and safety rules. (ere we go again matey)
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Tracked at Goldwater Girl's Weblog
Perhaps some of BHO’s civilian security force (which will be funded as well as the military) can cook up something like the Elf and Safety over in the UK. This…
On: 10/23/08 09:48

debate blogging
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Tracked at Nicholas Fitzgerald
Well, it was another night of missed opportunities for John McCain. He missed a lot of them tonight. I’m not sure how that will play out over the next three…
On: 10/15/08 11:18