Final observations - Eastern Europe

 After a 7.5 hour flight from Berlin to Newark, we waited about 4 extra hours for our flight to be cancelled to Greensboro.  We spent the night and arrived in NC about 3:30 the next day, this past Monday.

FINAL OBSERVATIONS FROM OUR TRIP TO EASTERN EUROPE.

Until the end of WWI in 1918 most of continental Europe was ruled by monarchies.  Most people were employed on the farms of their feudal lord (serfdom) or in the dirty cities in manufactures.  The majority of people were poor and uneducated, with the top 5% controlling 95% of all assets.  After 1917 communism had toppled the Russian Czar and in Germany the Kaiser's abdication led to a social democratic  form of government (Weimar), which barely had 10 years to flourish when the Great Depression came in 1929 ushering  in National Socialism (Nazism) in Germany.

Thus, since the breakup of the Roman Empire, the peoples of Europe had been governed by kings, then a fleeting moment of social democracy (other than France which beheaded their King - only to replace him with a reign of terror and then the dictatorship of Napoleon), and finally fascism scratching for a fight which led to WWII.  In 1945 the Soviet Union came to control the eastern half of Germany (GDR),  along with all other eastern European countries.  Then 24 years ago the fall of the Berlin Wall brings about "freedom".  So it is only in the last 24 years that most of these peoples have had a hand  governing themselves.

The good news is that a lot has been accomplished in 24 years, maybe more than has been accomplished since the end of the Roman Empire.  This is not to take away from their monumental buildings, great art and music, and the tremendous contributions to science, letters, and learning.  What they did not have was freedom, and now they do.  I believe Europe will NOT decline even as it teeters economically at the present.  I believe they will create a more responsible UNION that can one day be an economic powerhouse.  However, beliefs die slowly.  My bet is that the newer generations will not have the baggage of the old, and can design a society that is just to the producers, and then a modern renaissance is possible.  If not, then their low birth rate and low immigration will continue to contract their opportunity creating a land of what was, not what can be.

BTW:  everyone speaks English, most are very friendly and courteous, and they make the best beer in the world - great combination!