Berlin's Amerika Haus off to the Allied Museum?
Nah, it would be too expensive to move. And the building was never much to look at in the first place. A symbol of America’s commitment to a free Berlin, as US ambassador William Timken put it, the Amerika Haus is sadly (or happily?) no longer zeitgemäß (contemporary, goes with the times) and the keys just got handed over to the city. Berlin is about as free now as you can get, of course. Unless you have to live here, that is.
I wonder if Germany will ever be putting up a building somewhere in town which will symbolize its commitment to a free Berlin? The Reichstag and City Hall certainly aren’t making it at the moment.
Oh well, time to say goodbye. Maybe they’ll put up a little exhibition thingy about the place at the Allied Museum one day.
Der Zahn der Zeit nagt an allen Häuschen.
Kommentare auf Deutsch? Klar.
PS: OK, Zyme. I agree. If "das Volk" really feels strongly about it and wants to rebuild the Schloss on their own initiative like they did with the Frauenkirche in Dresden, who could be against it? It's not like the city of Berlin has any money to do so.
Amerika Haus, the East German visa barracks next to the Amerika Gedenkbibliothek (there is one still operational), and last but not least Traenenpalast (still standing?). I also remember a lavish New Year's Eve Party at the American Embassy in Zehlendorf. Don’t ask me how I got invited.
Yeah, West Berlin was fenced in but free, but not the other half. (Comment this)
If we could rid ourselves of all buildings in Berlin that have ceased to serve their original purpose and build giant shopping malls instead (like it is already happening at Potsdamer Platz, Alex, etc.), the city could finally become that big entertainment park that tourist managers try to sell it for - only that then no tourists would come there anymore in the first place, as they want to visit those historic landmarks which are unique to the place. (Comment this)