Only Yesterday: Remembering East Germany
GUEST COLUMN
“You want to search my box of Pampers?” I exclaimed.
I couldn’t believe I’d heard the border guard at Checkpoint Charlie correctly. And why was she eying me so suspiciously?
Yet, of course, in April 1988 it was East German security policy to examine all incoming vehicles in the search for drugs, books, tapes — anything that might corrupt or contaminate the East German citizenry.
The guard removed the Pampers box from my car and examined it with a mechanical device. She then selected one of several bags in my trunk to inspect, plus the glove compartment in the car, before she felt satisfied I was not transporting any illegal material into East Berlin.
You May Also Enjoy
Reviews of King's Pawn...John Donne: Selections from Divine Poems, Sermons, Devotions, and Prayers... The Politics of Rich and Poor. Wealth and the American Electorate in the Reagan Aftermath... Daniel Berrigan: Poetry, Drama, Prose... Lent: The Slow Fast... Inside the Soviet Writers' Union... Sweden: Social Democracy in Practice... Proud Donkey of Schaerbeek: Ade Bethune, Catholic Worker Artist...
Don’t run through the church doors but think about what they mean, writes Romano Guardini…
I went to Catholic schools, was taught by nuns and brothers, and even had some Jesuit training. I’m so chic I can hardly stand it. But please don’t tell anyone I am still a Catholic. It could ruin me.