This giant wall (called throughout this explanation “the blue wall”) was built to represent one of the most infamous walls in history: the Berlin wall. The Berlin wall was built in 1961 by East German authorities, and for 28 years this heavily guarded fortress served as a very tangible symbol of the Cold War. As far as the rest of the world could see, the Berlin Wall was an actual iron curtain that divided Europe.
After WWII ended in 1945, Germany was divided into four sectors: a United States sector, a Great Britain sector, a France sector, and a USSR sector. Although Berlin was actually located deep within the USSR sector, it was the nations capitol and was therefore also divided into equal sectors. In 1948, the United States, Great Britain, and France united their sectors to form one entity called the Federal Republic of Germany, which is also known as West Germany. This decision angered the USSR because West Germany was now very clearly a democratic nation. In response to this, the USSR started a blockade. The USSR tried to use the blockade to force the West out of Berlin, however, supplies airlifted in by Britain and the United States were enough to shut this down fairly quickly.
By 1961, about 2.5 million people had already fled from East Germany to West Germany and away from communist rule. Because the USSR lost so much of their work force, their economy was failing (the “for rent” sign on the blue wall represents the failing economy). This caused the USSR to want to build a literal blockade, one that would stop citizens of East Germany from getting to the democratic West once and for all.
The wall started out as a barbed wire fence that ran through Berlin. This is similar to the way the blue wall started out, as smaller, weaker pieces of cardboard that just laid the groundwork. Checkpoints where people could cross through the Berlin wall were drastically reduced as was the number of Westerners allowed entrance into the East. Easterners were no longer allowed to enter the West at all, and for them the wall served as a cage. The blue wall sports signs that say things like “No trespassing” and “keep out”. This represents the message that was sent to Easterners.
Eventually the wall was reenforced with concrete pilings and guards with machine guns, just as the blue was was reinforced with paint sticks, duct tape, and the negative messages on the outside. Eventually the Berlin Wall was 103 miles long, 15 feet high, and topped with barbed wire, watchtowers, and even more machine guns.
Eventually, the sweep of democratic views and culture all across Europe and the crumbling of communism caused the wall to come down, but for a long time, the Berlin wall stood as a symbol of the oppressiveness of communism. It also served as a symbol of the selfishness and greed that drives communism.
Some people say that capitalism is based on greed, which is true. Capitalism is based to the greed felt by everyone, the greed that is an undeniable part of human nature, and capitalism focuses on turning that greed into a helpful force that drives an economy and benefits everyone who works hard.
Communism, on the other hand, seems to have a reputation even today that focuses on helping everyone, when in fact communism could not be more greed oriented. Communism focuses on the greed of a select few, the people in charge. It only ever benefits the people at the top because no matter how hard or how little everyone else works, their greed is never fulfilled, and their work is never rewarded. This is perfectly shown by the Berlin wall. East Germany built the wall, ignoring the wants of it’s citizens, and continued to hold to this value of communism even when people were dying because of their need to escape. A system like that only benefits one person.
For this reason, Swift’s face is on the blue wall. (Sorry Swift, not trying to compare you to an oppressive communist leader.) The face of only one person is on the wall because only one person really benefits from communism.
The American flags on top of the blue wall represent the fact that America won out over communism in this instance. The flags also represent all that America stands for: freedom and democracy.
After WWII ended in 1945, Germany was divided into four sectors: a United States sector, a Great Britain sector, a France sector, and a USSR sector. Although Berlin was actually located deep within the USSR sector, it was the nations capitol and was therefore also divided into equal sectors. In 1948, the United States, Great Britain, and France united their sectors to form one entity called the Federal Republic of Germany, which is also known as West Germany. This decision angered the USSR because West Germany was now very clearly a democratic nation. In response to this, the USSR started a blockade. The USSR tried to use the blockade to force the West out of Berlin, however, supplies airlifted in by Britain and the United States were enough to shut this down fairly quickly.
By 1961, about 2.5 million people had already fled from East Germany to West Germany and away from communist rule. Because the USSR lost so much of their work force, their economy was failing (the “for rent” sign on the blue wall represents the failing economy). This caused the USSR to want to build a literal blockade, one that would stop citizens of East Germany from getting to the democratic West once and for all.
The wall started out as a barbed wire fence that ran through Berlin. This is similar to the way the blue wall started out, as smaller, weaker pieces of cardboard that just laid the groundwork. Checkpoints where people could cross through the Berlin wall were drastically reduced as was the number of Westerners allowed entrance into the East. Easterners were no longer allowed to enter the West at all, and for them the wall served as a cage. The blue wall sports signs that say things like “No trespassing” and “keep out”. This represents the message that was sent to Easterners.
Eventually the wall was reenforced with concrete pilings and guards with machine guns, just as the blue was was reinforced with paint sticks, duct tape, and the negative messages on the outside. Eventually the Berlin Wall was 103 miles long, 15 feet high, and topped with barbed wire, watchtowers, and even more machine guns.
Eventually, the sweep of democratic views and culture all across Europe and the crumbling of communism caused the wall to come down, but for a long time, the Berlin wall stood as a symbol of the oppressiveness of communism. It also served as a symbol of the selfishness and greed that drives communism.
Some people say that capitalism is based on greed, which is true. Capitalism is based to the greed felt by everyone, the greed that is an undeniable part of human nature, and capitalism focuses on turning that greed into a helpful force that drives an economy and benefits everyone who works hard.
Communism, on the other hand, seems to have a reputation even today that focuses on helping everyone, when in fact communism could not be more greed oriented. Communism focuses on the greed of a select few, the people in charge. It only ever benefits the people at the top because no matter how hard or how little everyone else works, their greed is never fulfilled, and their work is never rewarded. This is perfectly shown by the Berlin wall. East Germany built the wall, ignoring the wants of it’s citizens, and continued to hold to this value of communism even when people were dying because of their need to escape. A system like that only benefits one person.
For this reason, Swift’s face is on the blue wall. (Sorry Swift, not trying to compare you to an oppressive communist leader.) The face of only one person is on the wall because only one person really benefits from communism.
The American flags on top of the blue wall represent the fact that America won out over communism in this instance. The flags also represent all that America stands for: freedom and democracy.