Berlin Gift #4 – Demonstrations
OK. Here we are again. Berlin’s seven gifts to the world.
Continuing today with the 4th gift: the right to peaceful assembly, or in other words: the right to demonstrate…
Is there a better example than Berlin in its role as initial point for the peaceful revolution in November 1989? Is there any other city out there, which is able to announce 2500 demonstrations per year? 2500! PER YEAR!
A wise government realizes that permitting peaceful gatherings helps citizens feel that they have a role to play in their society. To forbid it causes citizens to feel insecure, disconnected, and distrustful of their government. We, as Berlin citizens can tell you a story about that…
So, if you are thinking about to take over the world, you might need to attract some participants – perhaps you should try it by initiating a demonstration here in Berlin, it’s not that difficult. But be sure – there will be an anti-demonstration…
Tags: berlin, metroblogging, berlingift4, metblogs7gifts, 7gifts, demonstrations, freedom, speech, freespeech, assembly
So we put the DEMO into DEMOcracy. ;)
“So, if you are thinking about to take over the world,.. ” you may not want to start in Berlin. This thing failed twice ;-) (lucky us)
das ist so ein geniales bild !!!!
see my left fist going up ??
TWENTYFIVE HUNDRED!!!!!!!!??????????? holy………… ****!!!
We also have our fair amount of demonstrations here in Karachi, especially in front of the Press Club, but i think the number caps at 300 per year :p
Well, actually the “peaceful revolution” in 1989 started in Leipzig. Read it up on wikipedia/DDR. And 2500 demonstartions per year isn’t really a gift, it’s rather a curse. What do you think is the impact of a demonstration if you have so many of them? In fact, it’s a good indicator for politicians: If you have a demonstration and only a few hundred people attend, they know that they can safely ignore the issue.