| 20.07.2008 |
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| Even after Barack Obama's change of venue for his speech in Berlin from Brandenburg Gate to the Victory Column, the controversy over his choice of location continues. German politicians from both the ruling Christian Democrats (CDU) as well as from the opposition Free Democrats (FDP) critized the Obama campaign's decision to hold what was billed as a major foreign policy speech at the Victory Column. German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), after objecting against a speech at Brandenburg Gate earlier, accepted the Victory Column as the venue for the Democratic presidential candidate's speech. She told German public broadcaster ARD, "we now take the venue as it is." But Andreas Schockenhoff, deputy head of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, told Sunday paper Bild am Sonntag: "The Berlin Victory Column is dedicated to the victory over neighbors, who today are our European friends and allies. To me that is an unfortunate imagery." Rainer Brüderle, deputy leader of the Free Democrats said in the same paper, that the column was moved to its current location by Adolf Hitler. Brüderle added: "For him (Hitler) it was a symbol of German superiority and victorious wars over Denmark, Austria and France. I ask myself whether Obama was well advised to choose the Victory Column as a venue for a speech about his vision for global cooperation." Back in the U.S., Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was quoted by Berlin daily Tagesspiegel, saying that the Victory Column was a good choice for Obama's speech and that she sees no problems with campaigning abroad. So after the Brandenburg Gate gaffe did the Obama team make another mistake in choosing the Victory Column or is the criticism overblown? To be sure, the Victory Column is connected to Prussian history and Adoph Hitler. But so are many other historic monuments suitable for a public event in a city like Berlin. And as I wrote earlier, today the Victory Column is primarly associated with mass events that draw thousands of young people from all over the world like the Love Parade or as the place where Berlin celebrates the annual Christopher Street Day as German online portal Spiegel.de noted. So, as far as I am concerned, the Victory Column is as good a choice one can make in Berlin to give a speech about international relations to a global audience. But what do you think? How do you feel about Obama speaking at the Victory Column? |
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| 27 Comments |
| It is very fustrating for some people to hear that a man like Obama could be an American leader. What is the basis for their worries? It is because of what his pastor stand for? Or what he stands or are scared of what he might be capable of accomplishing as as african American. I see how some people talk about Obama as if they were a bunch of red necks or even blue necks. However, what they fail to realise is that it takes a strong man to be an American president candidate and better yet a rising African American for a greater good. Think of him this way, he is the logiciel with a full package for the betterment of the American society and world, only presented in black cover! |
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| jc | Homepage | E-Mail | 26.07.2008, 03:17 | ||
| Upon reading many of the blogs posted here, I must clarify something. Most Americans agree with the lofty words and visions for world peace that Obama so eloquently pontificates in his speeches ... It's Obama we don't trust. those of you who hypnotically fawn over Obama take everything he says as gospel. But, you don't even know the man. You assume that because his words are worthy, he is trustworthy. People they are just words! Obama, the man who is speaking those words has a horrible track record. He did nothing as a senator. He spent the last 20 years accepting an anti-American racist as his mentor. His associations have been with extremely unsavory people. However, you Obamabots keep trying to characterize the rest of us as disagreeing with what Obama says ... when it's Obama himself we don't trust ... nor should you! |
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| lee | Homepage | E-Mail | 25.07.2008, 16:29 | ||
| the only thing obama is is the anti-christ..wake up america before its too late..........GO MC CAIN | ||
| merry | Homepage | E-Mail | 25.07.2008, 13:10 | ||
| i like traffic lights | ||
| Bobby | Homepage | 24.07.2008, 03:48 | ||
| Why the hell is Obama in Germany anyways? Do the Germans actually like this guy (we don't) or are the jewish extremists trying to shove him down your throat like they did us? Don't believe the hype, both these candidates are extremely disliked by the average American. And Europe, here's a clue - take a look at the policies and political direction of America, Israel and the UK and do EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE...Otherwise you're in for a world of hurt. |
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| Boston | Homepage | E-Mail | 22.07.2008, 23:15 | ||
| McCain should ridicule Obama for campaigning in a foreign country to please foreigners. It's amazing that Obama being associated for years with a preacher that is racist and anti-American is so embraced by leftist Germans. Then again, I can see Germans liking the second part but I guess racism is ok so long as it is coming from the minorities. What a sad world we live in. | ||
| T. Allen | Homepage | E-Mail | 22.07.2008, 09:29 | ||
| Well, somebody is calling the shots, and sorry to tell you but it is not a German. I believe its an american, and the German government has to follow suit. That's teh problem when you're not a completely sovereign country, after WWII. | ||
| Marienfeld07 | Homepage | E-Mail | 22.07.2008, 06:01 | ||
| My understanding is that in more recent times, the column was used by East Germans as a guide toward West German territory during the uprising in June of 1951, thus the name of the street the column is on. So if Obama wishes to use a "beacon of freedom" as the location for his speech, more power to him. | ||
| Bruce | Homepage | E-Mail | 22.07.2008, 04:35 | ||
| Its all a big show, Obama has little to go on exept his majic charisma. If elected he may find that it takes more than charisma to run the most powerful country in the world. | ||
| Zigfeld | Homepage | E-Mail | 22.07.2008, 03:59 | ||
| I would not believe if I had not read it. Obama is able to have the Jews adoring him and yet he's going to have a speech at Hitler's Victory Column. No Problem! Wierd. The world is getting stranger and stranger. He (Obama) could wipe crap from his shoes onto a Rabbi or Merkel, and it's just fine and dandy. |
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| JewsEatingOutofObamasHand | Homepage | E-Mail | 22.07.2008, 03:16 | ||
| I have few places in Berlin for American presidential hopefuls: 1. For Obama the best would be in front of Neues Wache na Unter den Linden. It is the war memorial for war victims, very moving and beautiful. It will move every heart in Germany and the world. 1. For McCain the best would Berlin's ZOO. It would be the best place as his retirement. |
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| aaa | Homepage | E-Mail | 22.07.2008, 01:48 | ||
| Jews For Obama Web Sites my.barackobama.com/page/group/JewsforObama jewsforobama.blogspot.com/ Germany is really atoning for their sins by giving their stage to someone like Barack. Those who don't support Barack are racist and anti-semitic. |
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| Dan | Homepage | E-Mail | 21.07.2008, 21:14 | ||
| I do not like OBama or his politics so I could care less where he speaks. He will set the stage so it looks wonderful for him back home. He will have the right color of people standing around him. He will have his emblem that he made so his halo shows around his head. I would never vote for this man. He is a fake. Now this is only my opinion. |
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| Fae | Homepage | E-Mail | 21.07.2008, 16:36 | ||
| They have to pick *somewhere*. It has been suggested that virtually every public site in Berlin with decent optics has some unfortunate connotation with either Germany's Imperial, Nazi or Communist eras. |
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| Anthony Damiani | Homepage | E-Mail | 21.07.2008, 14:09 | ||
| I'm so proud of the German people. How far they've come and matured from their shameful years. I'm Jewish German American, too, Jenn! It brings tears to my eyes that we finally have one of our homelands back overthere, and great American leaders like Barack Obama can go there to speak at our special monuments. It's such a great world. | ||
| Diane | Homepage | E-Mail | 21.07.2008, 11:53 | ||
| As an American ex-pat I'm looking forward to hearing the man speak and happy they chose a location I can ride my bike easily to. Images of the love parade are much more associated with this location recently. I personally also always think of the Siege Zeule as the opening shots of Wim Wenders "Wings of Desire" (Der Himmel uber Berlin). See you Thursday.... |
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| Jess | Homepage | E-Mail | 21.07.2008, 08:09 | ||
| Time for Germans to move on... PLEASE. Your country is a filled with symbols of past horrors, yes, but when do you stop beating yourself up and living in shame? I hope the new generation will say ENOUGH and start to live their own lives, breathe the fresh air of today and not be bound by shame and guilt of the past --- which they had nothing to do with. I encourage the new German generations to give back to their parents all the guilt and shame they could not face... It's time for Germany to dream a new future. |
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| Matt | Homepage | E-Mail | 21.07.2008, 07:41 | ||
| I can guarantee 99% of Americans have no idea what the Victory Column commemorates; and, I don't think I would be far wrong in guesstimating 80% of Germans don't know either....considering recent polls showed considerable percentages of west Germans thought the allies built the Berlin wall and Helmut Kohl was a DDR politician. I suggest the German government stop wasting time on matters of such little import! Enough already!!! | ||
| daniel schmid | Homepage | E-Mail | 21.07.2008, 07:10 | ||
| Barack has chosen the place because of the word "victory" and that will be the only thing people will hear when they will read about the place of the speech. | ||
| maz hess | Homepage | E-Mail | 21.07.2008, 06:55 | ||
| Hitler would be probably be upset about that a woman is chancellor of Germany and that Barack Obama will speaking anywhere in Germany. The fact that Obama will be speaking before Germans at Victory Column will symbolize an important victory for Germany, over a hateful era. |
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| MrUniteUs | Homepage | E-Mail | 21.07.2008, 05:57 | ||
| I think it is better connected to Prussia and Bismarck than Hitler. In any case, it seems the speech on Thursday is highly anticipated! | ||
| Brian Dell, Canada | Homepage | E-Mail | 21.07.2008, 05:18 | ||
| We are not waiting for the Column itself to give a speech. What is important is for Senator Obama to address the German people. | ||
| Ivan | Homepage | E-Mail | 21.07.2008, 04:20 | ||
| When your a rock, you can speak where ever you want. But being popular in Germany, does that translate to votes in America? | ||
| Juan Derick | Homepage | E-Mail | 21.07.2008, 03:42 | ||
| Does anybody know which public place in Germany is not connected to a "stupid" historical symbol ? It looks like in that country everything goes with symbols. I beleive that if Obama drives in Wolkswagen in Germany, they will say " well, driving in WW is not a good idea because it was made by Hitler and reminds people of those war times". Who really cares ? Symbole people. |
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| chris | Homepage | E-Mail | 21.07.2008, 01:15 | ||
| No great shakes where Obama speaks in Germany so long as there is space suitable for massive numbers of people who make noise. For most politicos the problem is drawing a crowd sufficiently large so as not to look piddling on TV. For Obama it's finding a place large enough to accomodate the overflow. Politicans pray for the type problems Obama has. Sterling Greenwood Aspen Free Press |
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| AspenFreePress | Homepage | E-Mail | 20.07.2008, 23:42 | ||
| In this mater, I think that the German's are idiot as the American's. Pour world. | ||
| El Rey | Homepage | E-Mail | 20.07.2008, 22:43 | ||
| I believe it's the perfect choice for the speech. I am a devoted Obama supporter than happens to be Jewish German. | ||
| Jenn | E-Mail | 20.07.2008, 21:56 | ||