A rabbi spoke with God about heaven and hell.
"I will show you hell," God said, and they went into a room which had a large pot of stew in the middle.
The smell was delicious, but around the pot sat people who were famished and desperate.
All were holding spoons with very long handles which reached to the pot, but, because the handles were longer than their arms, it was impossible to get the stew back into their mouths.
"Now I will show you heaven," God said, and they went into an identical room.
There was a similar pot of stew, the smell was delicious, and the people had identical spoons, but they were well-nourished and happy.
"It's simple," God said. "You see, they have learned to feed one another."
-- Medieval Jewish story
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
jeremy lin
If you are an Asian American parent, the thought of your kid attending an Ivy League school such as Harvard might have crossed your mind sometime. How about your kid playing in a professional sports league, such as NBA? Probably not. Now imagine your kid attending Harvard and going NBA? You must be joking, you'd say.
Well, here's an Asian American kid who's well on this path now, no joking. Jeremy Lin, the son of two Taiwanese immigrant parents who was born and raised in Palo Alto, California, is attending Harvard and leading its basketball team playing NCAA games with record shattering performances, and is projected to be a favored draft choice of NBA if he elects to go professional after graduation. The following is put together from various newspaper and magazine reports regarding this unique young man that's making news lately:
Jeremy Lin, a 6 ft. 3 in., 200 lb senior majoring in Economics in Harvard Univeristy and co-captain of its basketball team, is leading this year's Harvard team to its best start in 25 years. Last season Lin was the only player in the nation to rank among the top 10 players in his conference in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and 3-point percentage. This year, in games against New England's two traditional NCAA basketball powerhouses, UConn and Boston College, Lin scored 55 points and shot 64 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free throw line. If Lin helps Harvard's team to win the Ivy League this year, it will play in the NCAA Tournament in March for the first time in 64 years.
Lin caught the hoops bug from his father Gie-Ming. Before he emigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s from Taiwan, Gie-Ming would scour Taiwanese television for highlights of NBA games. Once in the States, he studied Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the classic Los Angeles Lakers–Boston Celtics games from the 1980s. "I cannot explain the reasons why I love basketball," says Gie-Ming, a computer engineer who received his doctorate degree at Purdue University before settling down on the West Coast. "I just do."
By the time Jeremy was 5, Gie-Ming was taking him to the local YMCA in Palo Alto, Calif., to play ball in a kids' league. For Jeremy, it wasn't exactly love at first sight. "He stood at half-court sucking his thumb for the entirety of about half his games that season," says Jeremy's older brother Josh, 24. "It came to the point where my mom stopped going to watch his games." Then Jeremy asked his mother Shirley to start coming to the Y again. Before Shirley would commit, however, she wanted to know if he'd actually try. "He responded with something along the lines of 'I'm going to play, and I'm going to score,' " Josh says. She showed up, and Jeremy scored the maximum number of points one player could amass under the kiddy-league rules. "From that game on, he just took off and never looked back," says Josh.
Throughout Jeremy's childhood, Gie-Ming would take him to the YMCA after he finished his homework. They would practice and play in pickup games. "Many Asian families focus so much on academics," says Gie-Ming. "But it felt so good to play with my kids. I enjoyed it so much." Gie-Ming said he never had to worry about Jeremy's ability to balance basketball and academics because his son always showed maturity in devoting enough time to both. The young Lin had an overall 4.2 GPA, a perfect score on his SAT II Math 2C in the ninth grade, and led Palo Alto High basketball team to a 32-1 record and the California state championship in his senior year in high school and ended up garnering virtually every player of the year award in northern California.
Some people still can't look past his ethnicity. Everywhere he plays, Lin is the target of cruel taunts. "It's everything you can imagine," he says. "Racial slurs, racial jokes, all having to do with being Asian." Lin is reluctant to mention the specific nature of such insults, but according to Harvard teammate Oliver McNally, another Ivy League player called him a C word that rhymes with ink during a game last season. On Dec. 23, during Harvard's 86-70 loss to Georgetown in Washington, McNally says, one spectator yelled "Sweet-and-sour pork!" from the stands.
In the face of such foolishness, Lin doesn't seem to lose it on the court. "Honestly, now, I don't react to it," he says. "I expect it, I'm used to it, it is what it is." Postgame, Lin will release some frustration. "He gets pissed about it afterwards," says McNally. "I have to tip my hat to him. I don't know how I'd react. The type of dude I am, I might not be as mature as Jeremy."
Lin's maturity could lead him to the ministry. A devout Christian, Lin is considering becoming a pastor in a church near his Palo Alto home. "I've never really preached before," Lin says. "But I'm really passionate about Christianity and helping others. There's a beauty in seeing people change their lifestyles for the better."
If Lin leads Harvard to the tournament, he'll be off to a pretty holy start. Consider it his first miracle.
By the time Jeremy was 5, Gie-Ming was taking him to the local YMCA in Palo Alto, Calif., to play ball in a kids' league. For Jeremy, it wasn't exactly love at first sight. "He stood at half-court sucking his thumb for the entirety of about half his games that season," says Jeremy's older brother Josh, 24. "It came to the point where my mom stopped going to watch his games." Then Jeremy asked his mother Shirley to start coming to the Y again. Before Shirley would commit, however, she wanted to know if he'd actually try. "He responded with something along the lines of 'I'm going to play, and I'm going to score,' " Josh says. She showed up, and Jeremy scored the maximum number of points one player could amass under the kiddy-league rules. "From that game on, he just took off and never looked back," says Josh.
Throughout Jeremy's childhood, Gie-Ming would take him to the YMCA after he finished his homework. They would practice and play in pickup games. "Many Asian families focus so much on academics," says Gie-Ming. "But it felt so good to play with my kids. I enjoyed it so much." Gie-Ming said he never had to worry about Jeremy's ability to balance basketball and academics because his son always showed maturity in devoting enough time to both. The young Lin had an overall 4.2 GPA, a perfect score on his SAT II Math 2C in the ninth grade, and led Palo Alto High basketball team to a 32-1 record and the California state championship in his senior year in high school and ended up garnering virtually every player of the year award in northern California.
Some people still can't look past his ethnicity. Everywhere he plays, Lin is the target of cruel taunts. "It's everything you can imagine," he says. "Racial slurs, racial jokes, all having to do with being Asian." Lin is reluctant to mention the specific nature of such insults, but according to Harvard teammate Oliver McNally, another Ivy League player called him a C word that rhymes with ink during a game last season. On Dec. 23, during Harvard's 86-70 loss to Georgetown in Washington, McNally says, one spectator yelled "Sweet-and-sour pork!" from the stands.
In the face of such foolishness, Lin doesn't seem to lose it on the court. "Honestly, now, I don't react to it," he says. "I expect it, I'm used to it, it is what it is." Postgame, Lin will release some frustration. "He gets pissed about it afterwards," says McNally. "I have to tip my hat to him. I don't know how I'd react. The type of dude I am, I might not be as mature as Jeremy."
Lin's maturity could lead him to the ministry. A devout Christian, Lin is considering becoming a pastor in a church near his Palo Alto home. "I've never really preached before," Lin says. "But I'm really passionate about Christianity and helping others. There's a beauty in seeing people change their lifestyles for the better."
If Lin leads Harvard to the tournament, he'll be off to a pretty holy start. Consider it his first miracle.
| Jeremy Lin in an NCAA basketball game against Boston College on Dec. 9, 2009.jpg |
| Jeremy Lin (2nd from right) and family.jpg |
* Here's a YouTube clip "Top Ten Must-See Sports Moments" by ESPN that includes one Jeremy Lin's basketball highlight: A last-second, game winning 3-point shot in an NCAA contest last November (ranked one notch higher than Kobe Bryan's during that week): http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Saturday, December 5, 2009
rick's tweets
I am not a big fanatic of social networking sites--yes I have Facebook, LinkedIn accounts, but I rarely use them, only in response to people's "invites" or for some topical news. So when a few months ago Pastor Rick Warren encouraged people to follow him on the Twitter site (http://twitter.com/RickWarren
Pastors should wash their own clothes, dishes and change diapers. You may be anointed but you're just human. Acts 14:15a
Thermometers copy the climate. Thermostats CHANGE it! What are you?
Jesus died for people, not principles. Pharisees care about keeping rules. Jesus cares about healing hurts. Luke 13:14-15
The myth "I can't say I'm humble" misunderstands humility. Humility is admitting I'm helpless without God. It's dependence!
People who shine from within don’t need the spotlight. Phil 2:15
When you die, you won't regret your unfulfilled dreams, just your unattempted ones. The 1st is reality; the 2nd is tragedy. Matt 9:29
Sinful inclinations AREN'T your identity! Don’t say “I’m an alcoholic (or whatever),” say “I'm a Believer who struggles with...”
Heresy-hunting lets you ignore the mess in your own life. God is more concerned about your hypocrisy than other's heresy.
For every book on serving, there's a 100 written on leading. Which have you read more of and what does that tell you? Matt 20:26
Fear-based evangelism lasts as long as the fear. You need Jesus not because you'll die tonight but because you must live tomorrow.
Some people are so open-minded their brains fall out. Prov.14:15 "Only fools believe everything they hear."
Anytime you teach about giving, the generous will smile, and the stingy will squirm. That’s what makes it fun!
Deeper levels of Fellowship: 1 Sharing together (shallowest). 2 Studying together. 3 Serving together. 4 Suffering together.
.
You don't fully understand a thing 'til you can explain it in a simple way. Confusing people is easy. You must THINK to be simple!
You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving. "God so loved the world that he GAVE his only son." Jn. 3:16
Advice of the First Consultant: "BUILD A TEAM! This is too much work for you, Moses. You can't do it by yourself." Exodus18:18
In every culture, profession and religion, the pros have always tried to lock out amateurs. It's why innovation happens at the fringe.
Some subgroups of Christians will be shocked when they see who is in heaven. "I have sheep that aren't of this fold"--Jesus
The greatest gift you can give someone is your time, because you'll never get it back. Your time is your life. You spell love "T.I.M.E."
Vision is NOT predicting the future. No one can. Vision is the ability to see opportunities around you NOW and jump on them!
Make the decision THEN solve the problems. "If you wait for perfect conditions you'll never get anything done." Eccl. 11:4
When Kennedy said "We're going to the moon" it was still impossible. Never confuse decision making with problem solving.
Your Life Purpose comes in three stages: 1 WHAT God wants you to do; 2 HOW & WHERE; 3 WHEN (timing). Delays between stages test your faith.
Humility isn't thinking less of yourself. It's thinking of yourself less. If you focus on others, you forget you.1 Cor. 10:24
Following Him when your heart is breaking is greater faith than praising Him when your heart is singing. Ps. 34:18
Billy Graham's counsel on false attacks: "Rick, if you wrestle with a pig, both of you will get dirty, but only one of you will like it." Pr. 26:4
My definition of success: Having those who know me best respect me most.
When a plane goes thru violent turbulence at 35,000 ft, you don’t bail out. You remain calm and trust the Pilot! Ps. 56:3
The source of a criticism doesn’t invalidate its truth. Even a broken clock is right twice a day. Discern and learn. Prov.12:15
To insist on being “original or nothing” ensures you'll be both. Refusing to learn from models is pure and simple ego. Pr. 14:6
When I hear "I didn't get anything out of worship today" I say "Sorry but our worship wasn't done for you. It was for God." 1 Chr. 16:29
Doubts are meant to be doubted and beliefs meant to be believed. Don't get it backwards. Doubt your doubts! Believe your beliefs! Mk 9:24
"God ONLY expects me to be FAITHFUL" is a lie. He also expects you to be FRUITFUL! That proves TRUE discipleship. Jn 15:8
First Saddleback sermon on 4/4/1980: "We buy things we don't need, with money we don't have, to impress people we don't even like."
You can be a THINKER without ever DOING anything, but you'll burn out as a DOER if you don't schedule time to think. Ps. 77:12
Churches built on shaky foundations don't last. Build on The Word, not the world; on Truth, not trends; on Theology, not psychology.
To become like Jesus you must go thru all Jesus went thru: loneliness, fatigue, temptation, hurts. No shortcuts to maturity! Rom. 8:17
When morality is determined by popularity, depravity becomes normality and the death of that culture becomes an inevitability.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
only god knows
Out of many things evangelical Christians say to non-believers when proselytizing, I suspect one that "pisses off" them most is the claim that those who don't believe shall not go to heaven but are doomed for life in hell.
"Who do these 'holier-than-thou' clowns think they are," they probably snap when turning their backs on these "Jesus freaks."
God only knows a true Christian is one who knows he's the lowest of the low, been to the abyss of his misery, therefore seeks refuge from the almighty at the end of his rope with utmost humility.
And not all self-professed "Christians" are guaranteed to go to heaven, anyway, says Jesus himself in the Bible. "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evil-doers!'" (Matt. 7:22-23). He could not have put it any more blunt than this, could He?
So the real question to ask, if you want, is "who is a true follower of God?"
Only God knows.
For all that much postulation and theorizing done by the Predestinationist theologians, this is basically all they can come up with: Yes, some of us are pre-elected by God for salvation, and some are not, but we don't really know which ones are which--God alone holds the ultimate authority and knowledge to this. Really, it's not our place to even ask such question--just like the pot has no right to question the potter why it was made a particular way (Rom. 9:21).
Once for some unexpected reason I was talking about "everlasting life after death" in a social occasion (God knows I am not the proselytizing type) to some people, and one guy interjected, with honest curiosity, "I don't think I ever want an everlasting life, really. I just live my life one honest day at a time, work hard, do the best I can, and when I die, I die." I had to explain, then, "I am not looking forward to an everlasting life after death per se either.. but since the day I realized I have a spiritual life in me that's everlasting in nature, I made up my mind to cultivate it, and when I die, it just disengages from my earthly body and continues its journey into eternity.. It's like a higher standard I set for myself to pursue even while I am on earth."
Some who know me might know I have a strong mystic bend in my Christian belief. Indeed I have explored and read some books on Christian and Eastern mysticisms and practiced "contemplative prayer" for years. But lest some of my Christian friends should worry I go astray 😄 I'll echo what is concluded by an Irish Jesuit who went all the way to Japan to study and practice Zen Buddhism there for 50 years and analyzes and compares each and every elements of these two religions and explains them with perfect sense, and yet at the end he admits there is still one thing he cannot explain or compromise his Christian faith with. It is "the feeling of being loved by God," the sense of His presence even when he is in the depth of his Zen meditation. "For Zen Masters, sentiments of love for God, even for a God who is my deepest being and my truest self, are a species of illusion or makyo (魔鏡).. yet I regard these sentiments as--yes, imperfect and inadequate to express the reality, but nevertheless as true and valid and valuable religious experiences," said the Jesuit.
Christ is the reality behind these "religious experiences" that I believe in.
* 莊子與惠子游於濠梁之上。莊子曰：「鯈魚出游從容，是魚之樂也。
I know it right here.
-- 《莊子‧秋水》篇
Saturday, November 7, 2009
paradoxical commandments
“The Paradoxical Commandments" were written by Kent M. Keith in 1968 as part of a booklet for student leaders:
1. People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.
2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.
3. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
6. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.
7. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway.
10. Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.
1. People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.
2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.
3. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
6. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.
7. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway.
10. Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.
The version found written on the wall in Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta:
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
someday we'll get there
This is the story of two elderly people living in a Florida mobile home park. He was a widower and she a widow. They had known one another for a number of years.
Now, one evening there was a community supper in the big activity center. These two were at the same table, across from one another. As the meal went on, he made a few admiring glances at her and finally gathered up his courage to ask her, "Will you marry me?"
After about six seconds of 'careful consideration,' she answered. "Yes, Yes, I will."
The meal ended and with a few more pleasant exchanges, they went to their respective places. Next morning, he was troubled. Did she say 'yes' or did she say 'no'? He couldn't remember. Try as he would, he just could not recall. Not even a faint memory.
Now, one evening there was a community supper in the big activity center. These two were at the same table, across from one another. As the meal went on, he made a few admiring glances at her and finally gathered up his courage to ask her, "Will you marry me?"
After about six seconds of 'careful consideration,' she answered. "Yes, Yes, I will."
The meal ended and with a few more pleasant exchanges, they went to their respective places. Next morning, he was troubled. Did she say 'yes' or did she say 'no'? He couldn't remember. Try as he would, he just could not recall. Not even a faint memory.
With trepidation, he went to the telephone and called her. First, he explained to her that he didn't remember as well as he used to. Then he reviewed the lovely evening past. As he gained a little more courage, he then inquired of her, "When I asked if you would marry me, did you say 'Yes' or did you say 'No'?"
He was delighted to hear her say, "Why, I said, 'Yes, yes I will' and I meant it with all my heart." Then she continued, "And I am so glad that you called, because I couldn't remember who had asked me."
Saturday, October 3, 2009
the other 9/11
September 11, 2001 undoubtedly was a historical day for the world and the US in particular. What happened that day and its aftermath effects were tragic and mostly negative, you may say. That same date, in a different year, however, registered another history breaking event that carried quite a different tone for the world. The following is abridged from an LA Times article I read a couple weeks ago (http://www.latimes.com/news/
Twenty years ago, on Sept. 11, 1989, the plug was pulled on the bathtub of Soviet empire.
At the stroke of midnight, tiny communist Hungary threw open the gates to freedom and the West. Tens of thousands of people surged across the suddenly unguarded border. It was the straw that broke the Soviet camel’s back, that started a chain of events leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, and eventually the end of the Cold War.
How did all this get started?
The date was Aug. 19. The place: Sopron, a sleepy provincial town in western Hungary. In Moscow, Mikhail Gorbachev was at work, shaking up the old Soviet sphere. In Poland, the famous trade union known as Solidarity faced off against its communist masters.
In Hungary, a new generation of reform-minded communists had taken charge. Almost overnight, they wrote a US-style constitution and began speaking openly of a free press, free markets and free elections. Emboldened, a small group of local Sopron activists decided to celebrate the new spirit. Their modest aim: put up some tents, hire a brass band and let the beer and good vibes flow. One of the organizers came up with an especially inspired idea -- to briefly open a gate through the barbed-wire frontier to Austria, allowing people to casually stroll back and forth across the border for the first time in four decades. They called it the Pan-European Picnic.
In Hungary, a new generation of reform-minded communists had taken charge. Almost overnight, they wrote a US-style constitution and began speaking openly of a free press, free markets and free elections. Emboldened, a small group of local Sopron activists decided to celebrate the new spirit. Their modest aim: put up some tents, hire a brass band and let the beer and good vibes flow. One of the organizers came up with an especially inspired idea -- to briefly open a gate through the barbed-wire frontier to Austria, allowing people to casually stroll back and forth across the border for the first time in four decades. They called it the Pan-European Picnic.
Because anything involving the border was a matter of extreme sensitivity, their request for a permit came to the attention of Hungary's young prime minister, Miklos Nemeth, the man behind so many of the Gorbachev-like changes taking place. Immediately, a light bulb went off in his head.
Every summer, tourists from East Germany descended on Hungary, where the mixture of Marxist industrial planning with a measure of free enterprise provided things such as nice restaurants, ample food, good wine for the East German vacationers to enjoy. A mutual treaty obliged the Hungarians to ensure that East Germans did not escape to the West, though.
Earlier in 1989, however, before the seasonal onslaught of East German tourists, Nemeth had very publicly ordered the electricity in the barbed-wire border with the West turned off. Border guards began ceremoniously cutting down large swathes of the barrier -- filmed by Western TV crews summoned for the occasion. Nemeth intended this as a clear message to Hungary's East German guests: Look folks, he declared in effect, a hole in the Iron Curtain. There's nothing to prevent you from "escaping" through it to freedom.
Nemeth hoped to unleash a flood. He believed that a mass escape of East Germans from Hungary would pose an existential threat to the regime of Erich Honecker, the dictatorial boss of East Germany. He also believed that if Honecker fell, it would bring down the Berlin Wall -- and with it the entire communist bloc. Amid the chaos, he could realize his true goal. Hungary too would gain its freedom.
The problem was, Hungary's East Germans didn't seem to be getting the message. Despite Nemeth's televised border-snipping, only a handful had mustered up the courage to cross the border. And so he seized on the Pan-European Picnic.
As the day of the picnic approached, Nemeth and his team put their secret plan into action -- in cooperation with the West German intelligence service. Fliers began appearing in camps where East Germans were staying, emblazoned with the iconic image of a dove soaring in flight across the barbed-wire frontier. Come one, come all, they read. Eat, drink and be merry. Snip a piece of the Iron Curtain as a souvenir. But be careful not to stray. The border is unguarded. Why, you might just stumble into Austria and no one would notice!
Every summer, tourists from East Germany descended on Hungary, where the mixture of Marxist industrial planning with a measure of free enterprise provided things such as nice restaurants, ample food, good wine for the East German vacationers to enjoy. A mutual treaty obliged the Hungarians to ensure that East Germans did not escape to the West, though.
Earlier in 1989, however, before the seasonal onslaught of East German tourists, Nemeth had very publicly ordered the electricity in the barbed-wire border with the West turned off. Border guards began ceremoniously cutting down large swathes of the barrier -- filmed by Western TV crews summoned for the occasion. Nemeth intended this as a clear message to Hungary's East German guests: Look folks, he declared in effect, a hole in the Iron Curtain. There's nothing to prevent you from "escaping" through it to freedom.
Nemeth hoped to unleash a flood. He believed that a mass escape of East Germans from Hungary would pose an existential threat to the regime of Erich Honecker, the dictatorial boss of East Germany. He also believed that if Honecker fell, it would bring down the Berlin Wall -- and with it the entire communist bloc. Amid the chaos, he could realize his true goal. Hungary too would gain its freedom.
The problem was, Hungary's East Germans didn't seem to be getting the message. Despite Nemeth's televised border-snipping, only a handful had mustered up the courage to cross the border. And so he seized on the Pan-European Picnic.
As the day of the picnic approached, Nemeth and his team put their secret plan into action -- in cooperation with the West German intelligence service. Fliers began appearing in camps where East Germans were staying, emblazoned with the iconic image of a dove soaring in flight across the barbed-wire frontier. Come one, come all, they read. Eat, drink and be merry. Snip a piece of the Iron Curtain as a souvenir. But be careful not to stray. The border is unguarded. Why, you might just stumble into Austria and no one would notice!
Behind the scenes, buses were arranged to transport would-be escapees. Hungarian border guards were ordered to withdraw. As this new D-day dawned, the official organizers expected a few hundred people. Imagine their shock when the same scene played and replayed throughout the afternoon. Buses would arrive. East German tourists would get off, blink in confusion at the bizarre spectacle -- then dash toward the open border gate to Austria.
Fewer than 700 East Germans left that day, but it was enough. In the days after the Pan-European Picnic, what had been a fearful trickle quickly became a flood. As for Nemeth, he was proved a prophet. Within weeks, Honecker was ousted in a Politburo putsch. Within three months, the Berlin Wall fell. East Germany collapsed, revolution swept Eastern Europe and the Soviet empire was no more.
Fewer than 700 East Germans left that day, but it was enough. In the days after the Pan-European Picnic, what had been a fearful trickle quickly became a flood. As for Nemeth, he was proved a prophet. Within weeks, Honecker was ousted in a Politburo putsch. Within three months, the Berlin Wall fell. East Germany collapsed, revolution swept Eastern Europe and the Soviet empire was no more.
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