Essay On Berlin Wall

647 Words2 Pages

“Ich bin ein Berliner”-John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy, having been in Berlin numerous times already, returns to display the support of the United States government. Kennedy’s willingness for the survival of Berlin was vast and was never doubted. The strength of Berlin rested with the United States, and John Kennedy looks toward the positive of their situation. With his youth and energy, John Kennedy’s words are heard around the world yet again. On June 26, 1963, President Kennedy delivered the most distinguished speech of the time, elevating the morality of the city’s protection from communism (Kennedy 1963).
As the wall rose, mass panic caused many Germans in East Berlin to flee in hopes of evading the chains of communism. Those who didn’t cross into West Berlin were trapped, forced to live the Nazi way of life, separated from freedom. With Berlin dwindling from the previous war, the people were neither strong nor weak, but their fears grew. The fear that the Nazis would soon consume all of Berlin plagued the people of West Berlin (Widmer 2013).
The Berlin wall appeared to be an actual iron curtain. With the panic that came with the wall, Kennedy followed not long after, arriving in Rudolph Wilde Platz to an estimated 1.1 million free Germans (Widmer 2013). At the time, this was over half of West Berlin that came to attend their ray of hope. The people weren’t week, but instead, seeked the truth of freedom in the words of Kennedy’s speech. With confidence the President spreads his words of freedom. John Kennedy’s energy lifted the spirits of West Berlin. Democracy was felt throughout the entire crowd.
Kennedy notes, “Freedom has many difficulties and democracy is not perfect, but we have never had to put a wall u...

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... also rid the world and employ freedom to all. As a backbone, Kennedy displays himself as being one with them.
“All free men, where they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and, therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words ‘Ich bin ein Berliner!’” (Kennedy 1963).
Kennedy’s words, having declared himself a free Berliner, were not only heard all throughout Berlin. “Ich bin ein Berliner” (Kennedy 1963) was felt in the hearts of the all Germans. The crowds unleashed the spirit of West Berlin as Kennedy stepped down from the podium, returning the support Kennedy was giving. The fears and turmoil of Berlin were forgotten in the presence of John Kennedy. John Kennedy’s speech touched them so greatly, in honor and thanks to John Kennedy, Rudolph Wilde Platz was renamed John F. Kennedy Platz for his commemorated work. The success of John Kennedy was unprecedented.

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