"While the wall is the most obvious and vivid
demonstration of the failures of the Communist
system, for all the world to see, we take
no satisfaction in it.
For it is, as your Mayor has said, an offense
not only against history but an offense against
humanity, separating families, dividing husbands
and wives and brothers and sisters, and dividing
a people who wish to be joined together."
Fifty-five years ago today, former President
John F. Kennedy gave a speech to 400,000 people
in Berlin.
That speech boosted morale in West Germany,
where the wall was built just two years prior.
"All free men, wherever they may live, are
citizens of Berlin, and, therefore, as a free
man, I take pride in the words 'Ich bin ein
Berliner."
Beyond morale, the speech also inspired significant
international policy.
Two months later, the Limited Nuclear Test
Ban Treaty was signed to curb the testing
of nuclear weapons.
And more than two and a half decades later,
the Berlin Wall was torn down.
"I welcome the decision by the East German
leadership to open borders to those wishing
to enter in or travel."
As of February 2018, the Berlin Wall has been
gone longer than it stood, and lawmakers have
used its history to criticize President Donald
Trump's border wall plans.
Back in 2017, the mayor of Berlin said in
an open letter to the U.S. president:
sentiment is echoed by other critics, who
argue that walls can be faulty instruments
of diplomacy — faulty because they may not
work to permanently solve issues like illegal
immigration or national security threats.
In Trump's view, a wall could help solve both
those issues.
"But the border wall is truly our first line
of defense, and it's probably, if you think
about it, our first and last, other than the
great ICE agents and other people — moving
people out."
Going forward, Republicans are expected to
vote this week on a compromise immigration
bill.
It would set aside $25 million for border
security, which includes Trump's wall.
