Kindness and Empathy in Berlin 30 Years After the Wall

American and Soviet tanks face off at Checkpoint Charlie along the Berlin Wall in 1961.

Following World War II, Germany was divided physically and ideologically by the Cold War. This represented the potential for WWIII and an existential crisis to humanity. In the 1980s, there was a belief that thawing tensions between the world’s two superpowers would provide an enduring peace.

Following pressures from international powers in the 1980s, the deconstruction of the Berlin Wall began. This month, the world celebrated the 30th anniversary of the wall’s demise. The fall of the wall symbolizes a series of events that led to freedoms and opportunities for hundreds of millions of people around the world. It also facilitated a period of time where capital and people moved around the world in a way we’ve never seen before. It could be argued that this movement of money and brainpower enabled many of the scientific and technological advancements that allow us to live longer, safer, more fulfilling lives.

For a year, I knew I wanted to join the celebration in Berlin and I wanted to share the celebration with my three-year-old daughter. Together we spent a week in Germany. I was certain I would come home with a story about how Berlin and the demise of its wall was a microcosm of the world today. It turns out the story is a lot more complicated than I expected.

Flying back to the United States, my daughter slept next to me as I jotted down three lessons I took away from the trip. It’s these three lessons I want to share with you today in this bonus podcast episode.