The Cold War, now iced and venti

Mon Jun 11, 2012 6:00 PM EDT

Most are familiar with President Ronald Reagan's 1987 declaration from Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" Less remembered is how Mr. Reagan preceded that sentence with "Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate!"

A quarter century later, the Eastern side of the gate has been opened to, among many other things, a Starbucks.

Dark-roasted market forces are as unstoppable as they are addictive.

Zeta511

Last time I saw the Brandenburg Gate I was just 10. it was 1975.

It was dingy, drab, and overshadowed by that blasted wall. The wall itself made Berlin a dark and dingy place. Maybe it was just my eyes as a child.

My, how things change.

I'd love to see it again.

#1 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 7:51 PM EDT

MeddlingMonk

I forget. Did the East German government call the wall the "anti-fascist protection barrier" or the "anti-franchise protection barrier"?

#2 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:13 PM EDT

Dorothea from Germany

Hi MeddlingMonk! The irony here is that if you are an opponent of separation walls, then you should NOT spend your money at Starbucks. See BDS.

#2.1 - Tue Jun 12, 2012 12:41 PM EDT

MeddlingMonk

Bund der Selbständigen? British Dragonfly Society? Hmm.

#2.2 - Tue Jun 12, 2012 8:17 PM EDT

Dorothea from Germany

Ha, ha. Of course, I am talking about Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions. But you already know that.

#2.3 - Wed Jun 13, 2012 4:28 AM EDT

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