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

Overkill

Biblical scholars may follow the first two steps of scientific procedure (formulation of hypothesis and accumulation of evidence) but cannot proceed to the third (verification).

"Crime Must Not Go Unpunished" — Or Was That "Unpaid"?

The "Seven [Remaining] Dirty Words You Can't Say on TV" just became six.

Perfect Possession

Some individuals freely give themselves to evil. Notice that Our Lord did not exorcise Judas, nor did St. Peter exorcise Ananias, nor St. Paul Elymas.