Reflections on our week in Berlin

 

 We have been surprised by Berlin. I don't know what we expected as we had read that it is a youthful and hip city and that seems to be true.

  It is certainly English language friendly with most people in retail speaking it. And, many of the immigrants that we have met, speak at least 3 languages - always impressive.

     We are most impressed with the concerted effort by the Germans to confront their history, especially that of the Nazi era. There are many reminders in the most mundane of places, not all huge memorials, but many small ones, such as the "stumble stones."

    I wish that the U.S.A. would put memorials/reminders everywhere about those who have been victims - 

    We are also impressed that news is NOT entertainment in Germany and there is no equivalent of Fox News. That does not mean that there is not disinformation on social media, but there is a concerted effort to keep the news factual.

    The emphasis on transparency in government and true democracy is also very evident, even though we were here only for a week.