U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., delivers a speech at the Victory Column in Berlin Thursday, July 24, 2008.Berlin has been fertile ground for speeches by sitting U.S. presidents. John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan are remembered for their bold declarations during the Cold War, and Bill Clinton made a simple declaration about reunified Germany.
A look at their words as U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama visits Berlin:
"All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and, therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words "Ich bin ein Berliner!" — President John F. Kennedy on June 26, 1963, at Rathaus Schoeneberg in West Berlin, sending a signal of unity to the citizens of the then-divided city.
"Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall." — President Ronald Reagan on June 12, 1987, speaking on the western side of the Brandenburg Gate and exhorting the former Soviet leader to end the Cold War.
"Berlin ist frei" ("Berlin is free") _ President Bill Clinton on July 12, 1994, recognizing the now-unified Germany during a speech on the eastern side of Brandenburg Gate.
2 comments:
Kennedy´s words are really famous here in Germany. Everyone knows them.
I was there on Thursday standing only 15 meters away from the stage. Obama's speech was simply amazing. I really liked his approach speaking not only as an American but somehow as a "citizen of the world" and that he emphasized how important it is to tear down walls between different cultures, races... I think this is basically the message the world badly needs.
I've listend to German politicians on campaign rallies before, but at the most 20,000 people showed up... and not one of them got me really excited. Obama attracted 200,000 people at the Victory Column -- many of them Germans like me, who don't even have the right to vote.
So I wish him good luck for the general election in November. Americans get registered,then go to the polls and cast your votes for him! :)
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