I n 2014, we have commemorated the 100th anniversary of the start of first world war and the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The former led to the still greater catastrophe of the second world war, followed by Europe’s division between the west and the communist bloc. The latter marked the end of that division and the emergence of a Europe, whole and free. Today, we can see a great irony of history: Germany has won through peaceful means the position it sought through force of arms. Like it or not, the Federal Republic is Europe’s central power.
2014年，我們紀念了一戰爆發100周年和柏林墻倒塌25周年。前者引發了更大的災難——二戰，此后歐洲分裂為西方和共產黨國家兩大陣營。后者則標志著分裂的結束，一個團結和自由的歐洲浮出水面。眼下，我們可以看到歷史的極大諷刺：德國用和平的手段贏得了它過去曾用武力尋求的地位。無論你喜歡與否，這個聯邦共和國現在是歐洲的核心強國。
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