The wall in the mind is still present in Germans today. The cultural and political
beliefs of the former East are suppressed and devalued by German society. There
is no place for easterners to remember the strengths of the old system. They
are simply expected to take on a new identity, while westerners are not faced
with this task. Real reintegration will not occur as long as easterners are
treated like a conquered people. This can be alleviated by increasing knowledge
and consciousness of similarities
Graffiti from the Berlin Wall.
and differences between the two Germanys. Also, strengthening interpersonal
bonds will decrease the prejudice and tension between the two cultures. A program
has been attempted to bring together youth from the Hamburg and Dresden to promote
reunification. However, this program was not continued or further developed.
Another important step to take to achieve true unification is to find ways to
attract people to go to the other side. Simply having the freedom to go there
does not alter people’s behavior. These steps to build social bonds between
the two sides are essential if Germany is to become truly one country.
