Abstract This paper looks at the Monika Maron stories "The Promise" and "Silent Close No.6". In the two stories, the author tells us that The BerlinWall comes to represent much more than concrete blocks built together. Throughout both pieces, the Wall represents the struggles each character goes through with their fathers and their battles or embraces of Communist ideals.
From the Paper "Throughout The Promise and Silent Close No.6, there are references made to the Berlin Wall. Though the same physical object looms over the characters in each piece, the wall comes to represent two entirely different things within the context of each work. Within The Promise, the wall separates two lovers, Sophie and Conrad. However it is much more than a barrier, the Wall represents the teachings of Conrad's father, the loyalty to his country, and the importance he shows for his family. The only way Conrad can live out his love story with Sophie is to escape the shackles that keep him tied to the East side of the Wall. These restraints come off only after the Wall has fallen, but by that time it is too late to rekindle the romance he shared with Sophie. In Silent Close No.6, the wall is used as a tool of unification rather than separation. Beerenbaum perceived it as a tool in unifying and solidifying the socialist nation. The wall was representative of the pinnacle of the East German socialist regime, a legacy for Beerenbaum to leave behind. Rosa, on the other hand, views the wall as a physically looming presence upon which she projects her resentment and bitterness onto her father and communism. For all these character the Wall becomes much more than concrete and watchtowers. It divides them all further than spatial limitations allow, creating a mental wall that prevents all Germans from coexisting."
Tags: compare, contrast, german, germany, literature, berlin
Abstract This paper discusses how the causes that brought about the fall of the BerlinWall and the monolithic Communist empire run deep. It cites the beginning of the fall as 1985 with new Soviet leaders such as Gorbachev followed by the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
From the Paper "The political polemics and economic theories and the geopolitical analyses of the fall of Communism and the break-up of the Soviet Union fill shelves with cruel crimes committed for the party ..."
Tags: Communist International relationships. History Economics Politics, BerlinWall, Soviet, Gorbachev
Abstract Although the BerlinWall was erected by the East German government in order to stop the mass exodus of refugees from East to West Germany, it acquired in the course of its twenty-eight-year life span symbolic meanings which transcended the pragmatic political intention behind its building. As a demarcation line between East and West, the Wall played a significant symbolic role in the "imaginative geography" of the Cold War, detente, and finally the collapse of the Communist regimes in Eastern Europe which brought to an end the dominance of a bipolar world system. This paper examines the significance of the Berlinwall from the eyes of author Roger Darton and his book, "Berlin Journal".
Abstract This paper is about the fall of the BerlinWall and the effects it has had on society and still has on society today. The paper contains a discussion of different theories, information on war and about people in the East and West Berlin as well as an account of the symbolic meaning the fall of the BerlinWall holds.
From the Paper "On November 9, 1989 the Berlin Wall collapsed. This marked the disappearance of the Iron Curtain, and more importantly, signified the end of the Cold War. For years, East and West Berlin had been divided. This division separated families, caused thousands of escape attempts, and was to many, symbolic of Winston Churchill's famous Iron Curtain Speech. It is only now, over a decade after the wall was opened, that one can appreciate the suffering, struggles, devastation, and victories that surrounded this twelve-foot high monument of the unwillingness to succumb to communism."
Tags: German, Europe, division, war, separate, society
Abstract This paper attempts to help the reader understand the current situation in Germany today by providing an overview of the reunification of East and West Germany, the process that led to the reunification, and the opposing political forces that emerged in response. The paper's format is presented in the form of several subject headings followed by discussion and analysis according to the topic. The focus of the paper is the opposition to the reunification, comprised mainly of Great Britain, France, and Poland. The paper begins with the situation in East Germany in the late 80s, covering the Montagsdemonstrationen organized by Christian Fuehrer, heading on to the "Einigungsvertrag" and the integration of the GDR into Western Germany. This is followed by an analysis of the political concerns evinced by France, Poland, and Great Britain. A summary of the research and salient findings are presented in the conclusion.
Outline:
Introduction
Review and Discussion: Diplomatic Difficulties during the German Reunification Process
The Political Situation in Germany and the USSR during the Late 1980s
Social Insecurities after Perestroika and Glasnost Fail to Save USSR
USSR is Weakened
Early Stage.
Situation in the GDR
Montagsdemonstrationen in East Germany Occurs, First in Leipzig, Then Entire State
Christian Fuehrer
4 September 1989
Massive Exodus of GDR Inhabitants over Hungarian Border in Summer 1989
Fall of the BerlinWall on November 9, 1989
On the Road to Unity
Helmut Kohl's Ten-Points Plan to Integrate GDR into West Germany
Reunification of October 3, 1990
The British View of German Reunification
Margaret Thatcher's Concerns
Dominance of Germany Economy in Europe
Balance of Power Disturbed
Militarily Too Powerful Germany Could Threaten Regional Stability
The French View of German Reunification
The Polish View of German Reunification
Poland Demanded that Germany Accept the Oder-Neisse Line as the Official Border
When Helmut Kohl Failed to Include this Line in his Ten Points, It Caused Major Worries on both Polish and German Sides
German Development Following Reunification.
Breakdown of GDR Economy
Obsolete East German Companies were Unable to Compete in a Free Market
Production Costs Too High Due to Too Many Employees
Major Consumer of East German Products, USSR, had Collapsed
Major Change 1:1 for Ostmark to Deutschmark
Exodus
Money Spent on Reunification
Depending on Source, Costs Estimated at 250 Million to 1.5 Billion DM
Temporary State Deficit in Germany was 1.4 Billion DM
Germany Today
The Wall in the Head
The Perspective of the Victim
The Perspective of Accountability
Table 1 - Imports and Exports
Table 2 - GDR Trade with West Germany, 1961-1976 (in millions of Deutsche marks).
From the Paper ". It happened so quickly that many observers were taken by surprise. The events that ultimately led to the collapse of the former Soviet Union were characterized by half-measures and false starts that created the conditions needed to fuel further social unrest and political discord. According to Niven and Thomaneck, the fact that former GDR leader Erich Honecker's attempt at political crisis management and linguistic "democracy" propaganda had failed became clear in the autumn of 1989, when the working people of Germany reminded him: "We are the people." These authors report that, "Whereas the Polish free trade union Solidarity movement did not in any noticeable way capture the mood of the working people in the GDR, the policy shifts announced by Mikhail Gorbachev after his appointment as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1985 triggered a new political discourse in East Germany" (57). At the time, Gorbachev recognized that the system of "actually existing socialism" simply could not endure in its existing form, either in the Soviet Union or in the Eastern bloc as a whole (Niven & Thomaneck 57)."
Abstract This paper explains that there were many factors leading to the end of the Cold War, including the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the Soviet disengagement from Europe, the pioneering role of Poland in the elections of 1989, the fall of the BerlinWall, and the Reunification of Germany. The paper also describes the structural and long-term factors that contributed to the transformation of Soviet policy such as the stagnating economy, the burden of the arms race, and the persisting challenge of nationalism.
From the Paper "The Cold War was a worldwide conflict between the United States and the United Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) in the years following World War II. The expansion of Stalin's control in Eastern Europe, the competition for nuclear weapons, and differing philosophies of political and economic life contributed to the growing tension between the East and West. For over forty years, the United States and the Soviet Union confronted one another directly and indirectly all over the world. The most important areas of tension were Berlin, Southeast Asia, and Cuba. Thus, the history of the Cold War is the history of the world since 1945. For forty-five years, through missile crises, the Vietnam War, and the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the world lived in anxiety. Finally, the Soviet Union was dissolved in the last days of 1991, bringing the cold war to an end."
Abstract The paper discusses how the 1980s ushered in a new era of politics, with President Ronald Reagan at the reins. The paper reveals that Reagan is credited with helping to speed the end of the Cold War by challenging the Soviets on several other fronts and siding with the dissident movement in Poland. The paper relates that less than a year after Reagan left office, the BerlinWall fell and the Cold War essentially ended in 1991. The paper looks at reasons for the swift collapse of communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
From the Paper "Reagan is credited with helping to speed the end of the Cold War, which had preoccupied both nations for over forty years, at a cost of hundreds of billions of dollars, and had resulted in the building of some of the most destructive weapons in history (Hoffman 2004). During the late 1970's and early 1980's, the United States underwent a revolution in technology that left the Soviets behind in the arms race. David E. Hoffman wrote in the June 06, 2004 issue of The Washington Post that the Soviet system was under pressure from "Reagan's defense buildup and deployment of medium-range missiles in Europe, the CIA-backed mujaheddin fighting Soviet forces in Afghanistan and Reagan's proposed missile defense system, the Strategic Defense Initiative" (Hoffman 2004)."
Abstract The Cold War is considered by historians to be one of the most prominent social and political developments of the later Twentieth Century and served to form the political and economic alliances which impacted almost every aspect of modern life. The development of the Cold War can be traced back nearly a century, but the event that triggered the outbreak of the Cold War itself is believed to be the Berlin Blockade. This paper investigates the causes of the Berlin Blockade and how this event came to pass, with reflection on how the Berlin Blockade helped chart the development of the Cold War itself.
Abstract The paper examines Brian S. Gunderson's article "Strategic Air Command's B-29's During the Berlin Airlift", which emphasizes the previously unacknowledged, but crucial role played by B-29s during the famous Berlin Blockade airlift. The paper asserts that although this is a valuable document in its detail and meticulous, step-by-step chronological unfolding of the events leading up to and after the airlift, Gunderson lacks engagement because of his failure to really make an argument about the significance of the airlift. The paper notes many aspects the author could have addressed that would have improved this work.
From the Paper "Author and B-29 navigator from the 1948 28th Bomb Wing Brigadier General Brian S. Gunderson's article "Strategic Air Command's b-29's During the Berlin Airlift" appears to be a fairly straightforward account of the Berlin Blockade with an emphasis on the previously unacknowledged, but crucial role played by B-29s during the famous airlift. Gunderson was personally involved in the airlift, although his article takes a cooler, more dispassionate tone than other attempts to provide the reader with a gripping, involved, and 'grounds-eye' narrative of the events that transpired. His thesis, vaguely defined, seems to underline the significance of the airlift and the essential fellowship and hospitality of the British that enabled the airlift to be so successful. However, although a valuable document in its detail and meticulous, step-by-step chronological unfolding of the events leading up to and after the airlift, he lacks engagement with a central, driving thesis because of his failure to really make an argument about the significance of the airlift."
Abstract This essay evaluates Robert Frost's poem "The Mending Wall." The author examines Frost's theme of the dynamics of friendships and enmities, discusses the views of the speaker in the poem and his neighbor and explores the merits of each of their views regarding the function of walls in human relationships. The author then expresses his own views as to whether he agrees with Frost or not and provides a specific example from his own experience that demonstrates that walls can be good or bad, depending on the neighbor in question.
Abstract This paper looks at how globalization results in creating a world that has torn down walls, collapsed distances, and spread information. It asks whether the world that has developed since globalization emerged is a better or worse place.
From the Paper 'Globalization is defined as the emergence of global society in which economic, political, environmental and cultural events that occur in one part of the world affect the people in other. It describes the growing economic, political, technological, and cultural linkages that connect individuals, communities, businesses, and governments around the world and hence, resulting in a world without walls. The most dramatic evidence of globalization is the increase in trade and the movement of stocks, bonds, currencies, and other investments. From 1950 to 2001 the volume of world exports rose by 20 times. By ?2001 world trade amounted to a quarter of all the goods and services produced in the world. As for capital, in the early 1970s only $10 billion to $20 billion? (Free Trade, www.encarta.com) in national currencies were exchanged almost daily. Globalization results in creating a world that has torn down walls, collapsed distances and spread information."
Abstract This paper summarizes an article from the Wall Street Journal on the recent hurricanes which devastated the East Coast. Theo Francis explains the effect of the hurricane on the Allstate insurance company. The paper also discusses the use of metaphor.
From the Paper "The hurricane caused billion in losses for the insurance company in the year. Allstate announced to its shareholders that the hurricane caused huge third-quarter loses. The third-quarter reports are not completed at this point but the company was trying to be honest with its shareholders. Before the hurricane Allstate had a profit of million for the third-quarter. Allstate intends to provide additional ..."
Tags:Wall Street Journal, summary, Allstate, insurance, metaphor
Abstract This paper discusses how Frost's poem 'Mending Wall' is constructed in blank verse, with a formal pattern of structure and a conversational tone of language. Frost was quite adamant about the use of natural elements within his work. Therefore, to use language that every individual could relate to was in keeping with his natural style of poetic structure.
From the Paper " Frost wrote: "I have come after them and made repair Where they have left not one stone on a stone, But they would have the rabbit out of hiding, To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean, No one has seen them made or heard them made, But at spring mending-time we find them there" (Frost, n.d.). Unlike poets before his time, Frost did not concern himself with flowery language that was intended to heighten the event in the poem."
Abstract This paper takes a look at Ken Auletta's book 'Greed and Glory on Wall Street: the Fall of the House of Lehman'. According to the paper, the book tells the story of how the old and prestigious company Lehman Brothers Kuhn Loeb (LBKB) self-destructed from within because of infighting among its leaders.
From the Paper "At the same time, the SEC relaxed certain investing rules, which made it tempting to ignore the long term picture -- Peterson's strong suit -- in favor of short-term investment decisions -- Glucksman's preference. But for long-term stability, the company needed to consider the long-term picture when making short-term decisions. Glucksman could not or would not do that. The market turned from bull to bear, and LBKB's profits began to decline (p. 144). Meanwhile, Glucksman nominated Robert S. Rubin, a man who openly stated that he might not be suitable for the position, as President of LBKB, which brought the dislike some felt for Glucksman to the surface. Gradually Peterson and others discovered that significant opportunities had been lost, such as an offer to buy LBKB for three times its worth at the time, which would have been a huge windfall for all of the partners. Peterson didn't hear it because those in the know didn't like him and didn't take the information to him (p. 154). "
Tags: Peter, G., Peterson, Lewis, L., Glucksman, affluent, New, York, City, Wall, Street, investment, banker, trader
