Article accurately conveyed fall of the Berlin Wall

The article in the Salisbury Post on Sunday, “Berlin Wall 25 years later” by Matthew Schofield is excellent. Schofield has done a fantastic job in assembling the information and writing it.

I was in Berlin 1963-1966, and my first two children were born there. At the time I suspected there were some crucial differences between people living in free West Berlin and those living in the communist East. I still remember one of the communist teachings: “from each according to his/her abilities and to each according to his/her needs.” As it turns out, there is a huge difference in productivity, accomplishment and self-esteem between free people who are working for themselves and subjugated people who receive everything from the good will of their government.

In 2007, a few of us had a reunion in Berlin. One of our number had married a girl from Berlin, and we stayed with groups of her family — one group in West Berlin and another group from the former East Germany just outside Berlin. Without even being asked, members of her family told us of many of the conditions mentioned by Schofield in his article.

— Bax Mowery

Salisbury

Questions to ponder

I’m still concerned about our politicians and the difference they’re making between alcohol and cigarettes. Why don’t they publicize how much damage alcohol can do the way they do with cigarettes? I can’t understand why bars and everything are trying to cut down on smoking, yet alcohol is worse than smoking.

Also, they have made it legal for homosexuals to marry. I am against that. I don’t understand it. I have never seen a man that I want to get that close to. I don’t understand what they see in each other.

Another thing: People who are convicted and serve their time for sex crimes have to register with police and go through all this mess. I wonder about fixing them so that they’re not interested anymore and let them live in society. I don’t understand why this can’t be done. Let them live a normal life.

About the election between Kay Hagan and Thom Tillis. I didn’t like the news about either one of them. I noticed there was a third person. Shoot fire, I thought. They were both downing each other. I thought, if they’re both that bad, the third person can’t be any worse. I’ve always been against just having two parties, anyway. I think it should be fixed so that people have more of a selection than just two.

— Leroy Earnhardt

Kannapolis

Glad Tillis won

My prayers have been answered. Tillis beat Hagan. As my husband said, “How can you be a Christian and vote for a Democrat?” Just think about that.

Sorry Vince Coakley didn’t win. I voted for him.

— Catherine A. Sommers

Kannapolis