Barack Obama: So little time - so many places to speak …

Der Tagesspiegel, Germany

For Obama, There's a Better Place than the Brandenburg Gate!

"The situation is not without a certain comic element: With George W. Bush, it took a wider war to strain transatlantic relations. But with his would-be successor - the campaigning senator from Illinois - all it took was the announcement of a speech."

By Malte Lehming

Translated By Ulf Behncke

July 11, 2008

Germany - Der Tagesspiegel - Original Article (German)

The situation is not without a certain comic element: With George W. Bush, it took a wider war to strain transatlantic relations. But with his would-be successor - the campaigning senator from Illinois - all it took was the announcement of a speech. Chancellor Angela Merkel was not at all enamored with his desire to speak in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Barack Obama was looking to repair transatlantic relations rather than poison them. Oh well, in terms of foreign policy he certainly has room for improvement.

But naturally, Klaus Wowereit [mayor of Berlin] and Frank-Walter Steinmeier [Foreign minister], both of whom are in the starting blocks to be candidates for Chancellor for the Social Democratic Party, see things differently. They would love to stand alongside Obama throughout his visit and have some of his luster rub off on them. Which is why they so conveniently ignore the fact that for now, Obama is merely a promising candidate and by no means the President of the United States. He's not yet a Ronald Reagan nor a Bill Clinton - let alone a John F. Kennedy. Nevertheless, Wowereit and Steinmeier are acting shamelessly. What in other politicians would be criticized as presumptuous behavior, in Obama's case the same behavior by Social Democrats is a matter of respecting his "stature" and "showing respect." They know how to deal with "alpha males" – the reign of Gerhard Schroeder is still vividly remembered. [Like Obama, Schroeder - the former Chancellor - was also apparently an 'Alpha male.']

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This farce also teaches us: Like no other politician, Obama is suited for having various hopes, desires and aspirations projected onto him. The first Black president in the White House: That would fulfill the dream of equality and emancipation. Anyone can succeed; there is justice on Earth. And historically, following a period of suppression and tribulation, rectification usually follows. One might add that what the Jews were to the Third Reich and Blacks are to the United States, the Turks are to Germany today: at least that's how Faruk Sen, director of the Center for Turkish Studies at the University of Duisburg-Essen, would express this situation - and with him millions of others - in Germany and elsewhere.

So rather than having Obama deliver a speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate, wouldn’t it be more suitable to let him deliver it at the Tiergarten [near the Bundestag  at a summer BBQ along with thousands of Berlin-Turks!? He could tell them of the never-ending struggle for equality, education and opportunities for advancement. And he could end it on a legendary note, like his role model Kennedy, only not with a German quote - but a Turkish one: "Evet, siz'de baschara bilirsiniz" - Yes, you can.

CLICK HERE FOR GERMAN VERSION

[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US July 17, 5:49pm]