Tear Down This Wall: Questions
Tear Down This Wall: Questions
- What parallels can we draw between the United States' role in the Cold War and the United States' role in the War on Terror? What are the major differences? What does it all mean?
- During World War II, the Soviet Union and the United States and its allies worked together to defeat Germany and the Nazis. After World War II, the Cold War started and the Soviet Union and the U.S. were buds no more. Then in 1989, after the Soviet Union collapsed and Russia was Russia again, the U.S. and Russia rekindled their friendship. And recently on the news, we've heard about potentially worrisome "Russian aggression." What is the deal? Is Russia America's friend, foe, or frenemy?
- Reagan and Gorbachev got along pretty well, and they were both political reformists (though their guiding ideologies were a little different). How might the events of the late 1980s have played out with different people in charge? Would the Cold War have ended sooner or later than it did, or would it still be going on?
- The word "freedom" is used sixteen times in this speech, and words and phrases like "liberty" and "free world" are used quite a bit too. What effect do you think this had on Reagan's Western audience? What about his Eastern audience?
- In the 1980s, "communism" was seen as a dirty word by many Americans. Do you think it was the theory of communism that most Americans found distasteful, or the application of the theory in real life? Why? Has this outlook changed since the end of the Cold War? If so, how?
- Imagine if a Berlin Wall-type structure were constructed around one part of an American city today, like Hollywood in Los Angeles or Queens in New York City. Just like West Berlin during the Cold War, travel in and out of the walled area would be heavily restricted and supplies like food and clean water would have to be airlifted in by other countries. People who tried to cross the wall would run the risk of being shot by armed guards. How would the world today respond to something like this? How would Americans respond? How would you respond?
- Reagan mentions two of Berlin's "unofficial anthems" in his speech: "Berliner Luft" and "Ich hab' nocht einen Koffer in Berlin." If you were writing a speech that would be given in an American city of your choosing, which unofficial anthems would you mention? Why?
- Check out this reading on Olympic boycotts during the Cold War. Reagan specifically brings up the upcoming Seoul Olympics in his speech; why were the Olympics such a big deal? Do you think sports can (or should) be used as an effective political tool?