The main event (see 3 min. video on BBC):
“Yes, there have been differences between America and Europe. No doubt there will be differences in the future. But the burdens of global citizenship continue to bind us together. A change of leadership in Washington will not lift this burden. In this new century Americans and Europeans alike will be required to do more, not less.
Partnership and cooperation among nations is not a choice, it is the only way, the one way to protect our common security and advance our common humanity.
That is why the greatest danger is to allow new walls to divide us from one another. The walls between old allies on both either side of the Atlantic cannot stand. The walls between the countries with the most and those with the least cannot stand. The walls between races and tribes, natives and immigrants, Christians and Muslims and Jews cannot stand. These, now, are the walls we must tear down.”
Meanwhile, backstage (TAZ:”Obama Dich unser“):
14:08 Uhr, Hinterausgang des Adlon: Obama kommt ins Freie. An der Hintertür des weißen Chevrolet bleibt er kurz stehen und hebt zweimal seine Hand. Dann steigt er ins Auto. Ein Mann afrikanischer Herkunft in der ersten Reihe fängt zu klatschen an, andere stimmen ein.
14:13 Uhr, Behrenstraße: “Das war ja wohl eine Verarschung”, sagt ein älterer Mann zu seiner Frau. “Wir sind extra aus Bremen gekommen und haben gerade eineinhalb Stunden gewartet”, erzählt er.
Links to what’s happening at Spotlight Online:
- Mike Pilewski on Obama’s Near East trip: McCain’s Nightmare
- Analyzing Obama’s language: Yes, we can
One Response
Mike Pilewski didn’t find the speech impressive, and he was there. The stage was too low, the weather too hot and the message too weak. “There was no party, no fireworks.” Doesn’t sound like an Amerikafest. See his criticism here: http://www.spotlight-online.de/doc/34925