Volume > Issue > Only Yesterday: Remembering East Germany

Only Yesterday: Remembering East Germany

GUEST COLUMN

By Nancy O. McAdams | March 1990
Nancy O. McAdams is a substitute teacher in the public schools of Princeton, New Jersey.

 

“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.

Enjoyed reading this?

READ MORE! REGISTER TODAY

SUBSCRIBE

You May Also Enjoy

A Protestant Considers the Catholic Magisterium

Like a magnet drawing iron filings to itself, the Catholic Church can best help restore the brok­en Body of Christ by being that which God ordain­ed it to be.

Feminists: The Worst Misogynists?

Feminists have brought a tsunami of misery upon members of their own sex with their in­human mantra, "blessed are the barren."

What Does Real Faith Require of Us?

Once upon a time, secu­lar liberals and secular conservatives distrusted their Catholic fellow travelers. And quite rightly, too.