9 November 1938/ 1989/ 2009

The Celebration of the Fall of the Wall on 9 November 2009:

Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of Britain

This wall was torn down not by the demands of political leaders, not by dictat from on high, not by the force of military might but by the greatest force of all – the unbreakable spirit of the men and women of Berlin. You dared to dream in the darkness. You know that while force has temporary power to dominate, it can never ultimately decide. You proved that there is nothing that cannot be achieved by people inspired by the power of common purpose, and let me thank you, the people of Berlin, for sending a message to every continent that no abuse, no crime, no injury need endure forever.

(…) injustice is not the final word on the human condition (…) in a troubled world, with an Africa in poverty, Darfur in agony, Zimbabwe in tears, Burma in chains, individuals, even when in pain, need not suffer forever without hope (…)we can advance prosperity not just for some but for all.

The tides of history may ebb and flow, but across the ages, history is moving towards our best hopes, not our worst fears, towards light and not darkness, towards the fulfilment of our humanity, not its denial, so as we stand here, as free people, gathered today in the shadow of history, let us pledge that we will work together to write the next chapter of the human story. Let us write a chapter of liberty, and of prosperity, and of peace.

Barack Obama, President of the United States of America

There could be no clearer rebuke of tyranny. There could be no stronger affirmation of freedom. This anniversary is a reminder that human destiny will be what we make of it.

Even as we celebrate these values, even as we mark this day, we know that the work of freedom is never finished.

Today, there are still those who live within wall of tyranny. Human beings were denied the very human rights that we celebrate today. And that is why this day is for them as it is for us. It is for those who believe even in the face of cynicism and doubt and oppression that walls can truly come down.

Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany

For us Germans November 9 is also a day of remembrance. 71 years ago today the Reichsprogromnacht opened the darkest chapter of our history: the systematic persecution and murder of European Jews and many other human beings. We do not forget this on a day like today.

Both facts show us: freedom does not develop by itself. One has to fight for freedom and liberty. Freedom has to be defended regularly. Then freedom remains what it is: the most valuable good of our political and societal order. Without freedom no democracy, without freedom no diversity, no tolerance and therewith also no common Europe.