One of the priviledges of living in our time is to live in a Europe that is united in friendship and where such a terrible conflict will never happen again. Much of this is owed to the wisdom of the Western Allies who after the war have reached out, put the defeated nations back on their feet with the Marshal Plan and other intiatives which ensured the establishment of democratic institutions and the rebuilding of civil societies. One such remarkable intitiative was the concept of European partnering/sister cities across all Europe. This made it possible on a communal level for people from different regions to not just talk about, but with each other.
Today talking to each other across all borders is second nature. I have immense respect for the people who fought in the war and for their sacrifices, but my respect is equally high if not higher for those who have not only won the war, but have also won the peace.
MAC
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