Obama, Batman, Hasselhoff, Kennedy and Reagan. In No Particular Order.
July 24th 2008 23:53
For decades there have been reasons for US Presidents to go to Berlin and make a profound speech about the nature of foreign relations and humanity on a whole. Kennedy went there to remind the people of the city that to say “Ich bin ein Berliner” (“I am a Berliner”) was one of the proudest statements a person could make in light of all the troubles the people of Berlin had suffered in the aftermath of both World Wars and the partitioning of the city by communism. Reagan went there and, against the warnings of his advisors, stood up to call for Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall if he was serious about ending the Cold War. Give it a year and David Hasselhoff was standing atop the wall and warbling some horrific song while people from both sides chipped away and tore the wall down. Thank God for Reagan. Thank God for Hasselhoff.
Now there’s another American politician in Berlin and, while he might not be President, he is close to it. Barack Obama’s whirlwind tour of the world has made its stop in Berlin where he did like those before him and stood before an audience of Germans that hung on his every word. Anyone walking through Berlin on the day of the speech would be forgiven for thinking they were in an ultra-liberal state in the North-East of the United States. Barack Obama campaign material covered the streets and there was a general sense of excitement in the air. For a visiting politician from the other side of the world, who may not even be elected head of state, it was quite remarkable. Although, when it comes to Barack Obama, nothing is that surprising anymore.
The trip to Berlin has been something of a coronation of Barack Obama on the world stage. His calls for international unity in dealing with the world’s problems, and the breaking down of social barriers, are reminiscent of those other President’s that have stood before large crowds in Berlin before him. For Kennedy, it was bouncing back after the horrors of war and destruction. For Reagan, it was tearing down the Iron Curtain and ending the divide of communism in the city. For Obama, it is a call for ending the petty bickering between nations and social groups. It is particularly poignant for any incoming President to say something like this, considering the damage the Bush Administration has done to reputation of the US in Europe. The back-and-forth between the US and its European allies in the run-up to war in Iraq and in response to combating global warming created a lot of ill-will towards the US and a new wave of anti-Americanism that is one of the biggest challenge any new President will have to face in terms of foreign relations.
If the response to Barack Obama is anything to go by, the Germans are willing to let bygones be bygones. In fact, quite the opposite, if Barack Obama was running for government in Germany is seems highly likely he would win hands-down. His support level international is well higher than his level domestically. Across Europe, people are crossing their fingers and watching the other side of the ocean hoping that Obama will prevail and usher in a new era of European engagement with the US.
Looking at Obama standing before a crowd of drooling onlookers in Berlin, it reminds me over a movie I saw recently. On the weekend I went to see “The Dark Knight”, one of the hottest new movies of the year. And throughout the movie a recurring theme comes up: as a man, they could destroy Batman but as a symbol he is incorruptible. The same may be true of Obama. He may get by on the symbolism of change he represents, but what happens when Obama has to make decisions that may be unpopular? At that point he becomes less than a symbol; he becomes a man and a politician like any other.
At least we can be happy Obama doesn’t get around town in a leather costume. It works for Batman, but it would truly corrupt Obama’s symbolism.
Now there’s another American politician in Berlin and, while he might not be President, he is close to it. Barack Obama’s whirlwind tour of the world has made its stop in Berlin where he did like those before him and stood before an audience of Germans that hung on his every word. Anyone walking through Berlin on the day of the speech would be forgiven for thinking they were in an ultra-liberal state in the North-East of the United States. Barack Obama campaign material covered the streets and there was a general sense of excitement in the air. For a visiting politician from the other side of the world, who may not even be elected head of state, it was quite remarkable. Although, when it comes to Barack Obama, nothing is that surprising anymore.
The trip to Berlin has been something of a coronation of Barack Obama on the world stage. His calls for international unity in dealing with the world’s problems, and the breaking down of social barriers, are reminiscent of those other President’s that have stood before large crowds in Berlin before him. For Kennedy, it was bouncing back after the horrors of war and destruction. For Reagan, it was tearing down the Iron Curtain and ending the divide of communism in the city. For Obama, it is a call for ending the petty bickering between nations and social groups. It is particularly poignant for any incoming President to say something like this, considering the damage the Bush Administration has done to reputation of the US in Europe. The back-and-forth between the US and its European allies in the run-up to war in Iraq and in response to combating global warming created a lot of ill-will towards the US and a new wave of anti-Americanism that is one of the biggest challenge any new President will have to face in terms of foreign relations.
If the response to Barack Obama is anything to go by, the Germans are willing to let bygones be bygones. In fact, quite the opposite, if Barack Obama was running for government in Germany is seems highly likely he would win hands-down. His support level international is well higher than his level domestically. Across Europe, people are crossing their fingers and watching the other side of the ocean hoping that Obama will prevail and usher in a new era of European engagement with the US.
Looking at Obama standing before a crowd of drooling onlookers in Berlin, it reminds me over a movie I saw recently. On the weekend I went to see “The Dark Knight”, one of the hottest new movies of the year. And throughout the movie a recurring theme comes up: as a man, they could destroy Batman but as a symbol he is incorruptible. The same may be true of Obama. He may get by on the symbolism of change he represents, but what happens when Obama has to make decisions that may be unpopular? At that point he becomes less than a symbol; he becomes a man and a politician like any other.
At least we can be happy Obama doesn’t get around town in a leather costume. It works for Batman, but it would truly corrupt Obama’s symbolism.
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