JPG: Photos: "Gorbachev Tear Down this Wall The Decaying Soviet Empire" by JOE FAILK

Gorbachev Tear Down this Wall The Decaying Soviet Empire

Hot! In Decay

by JOE FAILK

Uploaded 16 Oct 2009 — 103 favorites

Share this!

VOTE: Is this photo good for Decay?

Voting open until 13 Dec 2009. Tell a friend!

A piece of the Berlin Wall and the German people asking the Communist Govt to stop killing the protesters. The wall was torn down shortly afterwards.
I wrote an essay about two questions I asked a young college educated person about the meaning of these words and the wall, his responses and my response to his answers. I was stunned by his answers. I was going to post it but decided not to. If you would like to read it please send me an email.

97 responses

Alejandro González gave props (16 Oct 2009):
cool !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
david ong gave props (16 Oct 2009):
great one Joe!!
Linda Houghton gave props (17 Oct 2009):
that a powerful image
Dawn Duffield gave props (17 Oct 2009):
Extremely powerful; definitely an attention grabber!
Donald Garrett gave props (17 Oct 2009):
I agree with the others! (Why is it not written in German?)
Christopher J Chalk gave props (17 Oct 2009):
Intense image captured beautifully!
JOE FAILK said (17 Oct 2009):
It was written in English for world media attention English is the worlds language as much as any can be.
Al Gieryna gave props (17 Oct 2009):
Powerful image, nicely done.
Jüri Vissak gave props (17 Oct 2009):
Cool find! Got my vote.
Litz Go gave props (17 Oct 2009):
Great capture to remind us what it was before. Whoever wrote this must be so proud . In his small way, he contributed to the end of this unpleasant piece of history. I want to read the essay, please.
Litz Go gave props (17 Oct 2009):
My vote, of course!
Leslie Hunziker gave props (17 Oct 2009):
I would absolutely love to read it!
John Linton gave props (17 Oct 2009):
Oh YEAH! Rad!
Charles Rushton said (17 Oct 2009):
A bit of history.
Andrea Petersen gave props (17 Oct 2009):
A very compelling image in not only reading the words but in seeing the red streaks running down the side of the wall...You have my vote and yes, I would like to read the essay, please.
Rob Roy gave props (17 Oct 2009):
1st class image & FAB entry!!
elfriede fulda gave props (17 Oct 2009):
Great Entry as well as a piece of world changing history !
minno ramirez gave props (17 Oct 2009):
good entry!!!
Natalie S gave props (17 Oct 2009):
Joe, send me the essay if you would please. Perfect, creative, literal entry to the theme.
Alexis Gerard gave props (17 Oct 2009):
This entry is perfect for the category. And I would definitely like to read the essay.
Maura Wolfson-Foster gave props (17 Oct 2009):
I would love to read the essay Joe.....excellent entry.
Maura Wolfson-Foster said (17 Oct 2009):
voted.
Richard Knight gave props (18 Oct 2009):
Perfect for the theme, not just the wall, but the political system, especially
eithne mythen gave props (18 Oct 2009):
I think you should post your essay here looks like everyone is interested including me, excellent historical shot..
Didi Witchard gave props (18 Oct 2009):
yes i would love to read the essay. and amazing shot this is.
Karen K Smith gave props (18 Oct 2009):
Perfect comp, perfect entry...great work as always Joe:)))
Michael Ball gave props (18 Oct 2009):
Excellent!! My vote!!
Greg Adams gave props (18 Oct 2009):
Powerful photo - takes me back to a rather dangerous period of our history. Voted
Sonia Adam Murray gave props (18 Oct 2009):
This is a fantastic capture and perfect for the theme!
Norman Caldwell gave props (18 Oct 2009):
Great capture and a perfect entry!
Fried M. Khan gave props (18 Oct 2009):
RIGHT!
bonnie pelton gave props (19 Oct 2009):
great! got my vote !
Norman Baade C. said (19 Oct 2009):
Very nice shot, my vote.!
Dawn Duffield gave props (19 Oct 2009):
Definitely deserves my vote!
Kathleen Mercado said (19 Oct 2009):
This is WONDERFUL...on so many levels...my vote:)
Kim Pascu gave props (19 Oct 2009):
Great shot for the theme Joe! voted
Karen Roberts gave props (19 Oct 2009):
POST the Essay! If not email me I would love to read it! the photo is a very very powerful one. It is so right on about the system of today! Very timely!
Karen Roberts gave props (19 Oct 2009):
Oh and I forgot to say I voted!
dp * gave props (19 Oct 2009):
Heck yeah it's RAD ! dp
Jamie Nardoni gave props (19 Oct 2009):
Great job :)
Sheila Floyd-Evans gave props (19 Oct 2009):
Powerful entry. Definite vote!
Regenia Brabham gave props (20 Oct 2009):
I vote for the essay too!! A very impactful image!!! It could be displayed in every major city and have so much meaning. Great shot.
Deborah Downes gave props (20 Oct 2009):
Very potent image, Joe. Sure gets my vote.
Joy B gave props (20 Oct 2009):
I vote YES!
Jean Pierre Vacherot gave props (20 Oct 2009):
Great entry, powerful capture
Jean Pierre Vacherot gave props (20 Oct 2009):
Voted
suzanne said (20 Oct 2009):
Power to the People! Extremely powerful image.
Judy Wanamaker gave props (20 Oct 2009):
Wow!!! Joe, what a piece of history. I know that in recent years history has been rewritten, so younger people are not aware of what went on during that period of time. A wonderful entry.. Great one, Joe.
Ronnie Ginnever gave props (20 Oct 2009):
Yes, yes, yes - voted!
Mykola Swarnyk gave props (20 Oct 2009):
It is decaying but in fact it does`nt stops just by removing physical wall. It will take a long time. Thank you Joe!
Karin Burton said (21 Oct 2009):
Awesome capture! Voted! Somewhere in the house I have a piece of that wall. I still have relatives living in Berlin.
Meggie Schwendemann gave props (21 Oct 2009):
Thanks for sharing !!!
Yasmina Baggili gave props (21 Oct 2009):
Amazing capture! voted
Maurie A gave props (21 Oct 2009):
Voted.... perfect for this theme!!
Matt. Fletcher gave props (22 Oct 2009):
YEAH! Rad!
Lanis Rossi gave props (22 Oct 2009):
Yeah Rad! Voted!
Warren ~Mangione~ gave props (22 Oct 2009):
Great shot! I remember seeing the wall being torn down and all the celebration on television. That was a monumental day!
Joerg Schlagheck gave props (22 Oct 2009):
Fantastic shot a t he right angle and with just enogh kight. Not to mention the right message. Voted!
Michaela Krumrey gave props (24 Oct 2009):
my vote!!!!
Sherry gave props (24 Oct 2009):
excellent entry. Please send me your essay in my message box. I am very curious
Sherry said (24 Oct 2009):
voted ^-^
Will Floyd-Evans said (24 Oct 2009):
Great shot and good work documenting a sad piece of history many are too young to remember or too worldly to truthfully acknowledge...
Konrad Ragnarsson gave props (25 Oct 2009):
My vote Joe!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Zerina Phillip gave props (25 Oct 2009):
Truly amazing. Many messages is in this photo.
Steven Maguire gave props (26 Oct 2009):
Fabulous work!!!!
Nelson Campbell gave props (27 Oct 2009):
EXCELLENT! VOTED!
Hunaid H gave props (27 Oct 2009):
Reminds us of the dreadful past, great composition for the theme
Heaven Man gave props (27 Oct 2009):
This rocks to this theme!! voted!
Paul Lindo gave props (27 Oct 2009):
awesome...got my vote!
Chessaddict * gave props (28 Oct 2009):
Wonderful shot and yeah my vote!!!
Tom Piorkowski gave props (31 Oct 2009):
Got my vote
Alaina Stevens gave props (31 Oct 2009):
amazing work.
Christopher J Chalk gave props (3 Nov 2009):
BTV Joe :)
Santiago Padilla gave props (4 Nov 2009):
Very nice. Voted.
peggy gardner gave props (5 Nov 2009):
excellent !
Leanne Silva gave props (7 Nov 2009):
Good entry!
Litz Go gave props (8 Nov 2009):
Today is the 20th year of its falling down. Happy 20th year!
fernando villalobos said (9 Nov 2009):
Joe, one of my favorites.. love it. F
Cecil Brissette gave props (10 Nov 2009):
nice image
nema' etebar said (11 Nov 2009):
really great shot
Jen Perez gave props (11 Nov 2009):
Very powerful. As appropriate as it was then, it's just as appropriate now.
Antje Woolum gave props (11 Nov 2009):
Great image Joe! Voted...
catharine amato gave props (12 Nov 2009):
a definite "YEAH"!
Aaron Mythen gave props (12 Nov 2009):
Good entry voting yes...
Jack Sills gave props (14 Nov 2009):
Excellent Historic Entry Joe!!! Voted
Cindy Mikulski said (14 Nov 2009):
wow! I voted!
dana iordan gave props (15 Nov 2009):
great idea, submitting this picture for 'decay' -- it works on more levels. What crosses my mind is that although the physical wall is down, the discrepancies it built still have some way to go... voted!
Željko Jelenski said (16 Nov 2009):
my vote!!!!!
Susan Littlefield gave props (17 Nov 2009):
It's all been said, and I agree whole-heartedly. Very powerful presentation. Voted.
Leanna Lomanski gave props (18 Nov 2009):
My vote.
Elisabeth gave props (24 Nov 2009):
Definitely my vote !! Thanks for submitting this picture !!
Matt Granz gave props (25 Nov 2009):
Fantastic Image Joe! Voted!
Tiia Vissak gave props (25 Nov 2009):
a great theme shot! yes!
Bruce Miller or Tammy Phloo gave props (27 Nov 2009):
Yes, I'd like the essay! I'm so curious. I remember the wall coming down. I wasa 26. It was an amazing and powerful time in history. Apartheid was ending too. It seemed the world was undergoing an amazing political change. Unfortunate that the hopes of those days did not attain their potential.
Jesús L. Yapor gave props (28 Nov 2009):
excellent shot!
Desiree Adams gave props (30 Nov 2009):
Awesome Joe you get my vote!
Michael Lynch gave props (30 Nov 2009):
Powerful presentation ! Vote: YEAH !!!