Is it really big enough and important enough for The Obama?
Posted on 07/20/2008 9:58:32 AM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
After receiving a hailstorm of criticism for considering Brandenburg Gate for a public speech, as well as official German dissuasion, Barack Obama moved the venue to the Siegessäule monument. Obama will speak about “historic” US-German relations, but once again, Obama’s own grasp of history has been proven deficient. Not only does the site contain a monument to Prussian victories over other American allies in Europe, its placement was decided by Adolf Hitler — in order to impress crowds in his idealized version of Berlin called Germania:
Still, even as the issue of his speech’s location has now been settled, a number of politicians in Berlin are still dissatisfied with the site. The Siegessäule — or Victory Column — was erected in memory of Prussia’s victories over Denmark (1864), Austria (1866) and France (1870/71). The column originally stood in front of the Reichstag, Germany’s parliament building, but was moved by Adolf Hitler to its current location in 1939 to make way for his planned transformation of Berlin into the Nazi capital “Germania.”
“The Siegessäule in Berlin was moved to where it is now by Adolf Hitler. He saw it as a symbol of German superiority and of the victorious wars against Denmark, Austria and France,” the deputy leader of the Free Democrats, Rainer Brüderle, told Bild am Sonntag. He raised the question as to “whether Barack Obama was advised correctly in his choice of the Siegessäule as the site to hold a speech on his vision for a more cooperative world.”
Andreas Schockenhoff of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats said, “the Siegessäule in Berlin is dedicated to a victory over neighbors who are today our European friends and allies. It is a problematic symbol.”
Hitler didn’t just move the monument to its more central location. He had a taller column built for it as well, to emphasize its message of German military domination over Europe. He saw it as a message to Germans of their destiny — as well as to other Europeans as their destiny as well. It was never meant as a symbol of peaceful, multicultural co-existence.
Team Obama has outdone themselves on symbolism with this choice. They’ve managed to make their hosts uncomfortable for a second time with their choice of rallying point, and perhaps more so this time. If one wanted to talk peace, what worse location could one choose than Adolf Hitler’s favorite monument to militaristic domination? One has to wonder how France, Denmark, and Austria will feel about Obama rallying German masses under the Siegessäule. Deja vu?
Obama could be excused for his gaffe, except for two reasons. His team certainly understood the historical weight that the Brandenburg Gate would have lent his event, so why didn’t they bother to ask the Germans about the Siegessäule? Quite obviously, the Germans understand the meaning and subtext of the monument, and most of them wonder why Obama does not. Maybe this is a better example of clueless Americans traveling abroad than those who can only say Merci, beaucoup.
The more basic question is why Obama feels the need to conduct a campaign event among Germans. Meeting with foreign leaders makes sense for a man with no foreign policy experience whatsoever, but that doesn’t require massive rallies among people who aren’t voting in this election. In his rush to look impressive for no one’s purposes but his own, Obama has made himself look ignorant and arrogant all over again.
“superiority “
Something Obanana thinks of himself compared to us simple people . or should I say bitter .
Ich Bin Ein Beginner.
NOT this election, however who knows what plans are hatching for the next.
Once we elect a non citizen, the door is wide open.
His need for adulation and attention is mind-boggling. Here's someone who has never really done anything of note in his 46 years and yet he craves adoration and praise for the masses.
I just can't believe that we are the only ones noticing this.
Obama is like that show “Girls Gone Wild” but it should be called “BO’s Ego Gone Wild.”
It's repulsive.
Really great men and women rarely mention their great deeds. In fact, they appear to be embarrassed when people bring them up.
This guy displays the total opposite - and he hasn't done anything except run for office!
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Obama and his staff don't have a clue about geography, either, unless his plan is to be Leader of the Entire World - starting with Africa. Look at the sign on Obama’s podium. Do you see the United States anywhere on that map?
Africa is front and center?
This guy is an imbecile! And an arrogant one at that!
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=377782956&blogID=415573303
Is it really big enough and important enough for The Obama?
Most Americans including myself assume the German government is just as thrilled with an Obama election as the German people, based on the press reporting it.
If one thinks about it, Obama is a neophyte and talks about military cutbacks, with the German government very concerned about Russia and the role of NATO, I'm sure they are nervous.
Like I said, interesting point
An insult to Alfred E.!
In the comments section, “Tom_Shipley” is asking what the people themselves feel about this location. I found a little discussion on it, but it appears the registration for posting is closed.
If anyone reading this feels it’s a decent enough link to post in response to “Tom_Shipley”, feel free:
http://www.eurotrib.com/?op=displaystory;sid=2008/7/18/95056/2922
Obama would have met with Hitler for talks with no pre-conditions. He is simply making that point for the world to see.
of politics
There was a movie many years ago about a high school teacher who brainwashed students at his school in order to make the point that they shouldn’t follow charismatic leaders who have socialistic ideas. Don’t remember the name, but at the end of the movie, he showed a picture of Hitler speaking to rabid adoring crowd.
I think an ad juxtaposing Hitler and Obama would be very effective.
maybe they should add in a torch light ceremony to cap off the event
B.Hussein Obama should stick to the history of Islam. He probably has a pretty good handle on that.
I'd hope so. Obama is nothing more than a true fascist.
Ping to a very good article with some interesting comments posted about it.
I find Obama to simply be inexperienced and unprincipled.
There’s a cult around him who can’t defend him when asked about his views, about his ACORN past, about his corrupt cronies (e.g. Rezko), about his policy reversals (e.g. accepting federal funds for his campaign, immunity for telecoms), about his gaffes (e.g. “57 states” and “8 to 10 years” in the Presidency).
I don’t see how he can politically survive the general election. That’s the *one* national event that gets actual scrutiny from both the public and press...
...which is why I’ll be surprised if he even gets the Dems’ nomination next month at their convention in Denver.
How is Obama going to flip a Red State over to Blue? If he just wins the same 2004 and 2000 Blue States, then he loses as surely as Gore and Kerry lost.
And that’s not racist, either. White guys didn’t vote for Gore or Kerry or Obama for the same reasons: they didn’t demonstrate the right character and values for the Heartland.
...all of which explains why Dems are floating trial balloons for Sam Nunn and Colin Powell and Hagel for VP...they are desperately trying to come up with a VP candidate who can flip a Red State to Blue...something that neither Hillary nor Obama have demonstrated to date.
FUNNY!!!
What a Maroon.
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