Ich bin ein Berliner

American Rhetoric ^ | June 26, 1963 | JFK

[norwaypinesavage]

"It is like saying I am a American vs. I am American."

I understand it a little differently. Many cities in Germany have a specialty food, unique to the city. The food is given the name of the city. Like hamburger is the specialty food of Hamburg (and it is not ground beef, its scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and brain soup). The food is identified with the "ein", while residency is identified with the absence of a qualifier. Thus "ein Berliner" is a jelly doughnut, while "Berliner" is a resident.

[djwright]

I think most Americans would understand the mistake better if he had said "I am a Frankfurter, or I am a Hamburger".

See we have words in English named after German cities. A Berliner is a type of pastry like a Franfurter is a type of sausage.

I think Teddy might go for the "I am a Limburger" line.

[The Great RJ]

Let them come to Berlin. JFK-1963

Let us retreat to Okinawa Sen Murtha 2006

[Romanov]

Just be leary of any bearded guys telling the oppressed to "break lose of the shackles that bind them." It's a trick! ;)

[Erasmus]

Durn good thing JFK wasn't in Hamburg or Franfurt. Or Wien.

[Past Your Eyes]

Well, I don't know about Plaistow, Littleton and Berlin. Plaistow is in Rockingham County which is at least Red. Littleton? I don't think so. Berlin? Not really, considering all the frogs that live there. Bob Danderson is the Republican mayor and, hopefully, my next congressman. Don't know much about Somersworth or Exeter but you left out one of the Bluest places in the state: Hanover/Lebanon (Dartmouth).

For a state that was sposta be a "Free State", things don't seem to be working out too well, do they?

[stefan10]

that´s not really true.

it wasn´t really a mistake because berlin and in many parts of germany use a different word for the cake. In berlin people call it Pfannkuchen.

In the rhineland and in parts of northern germany it is called berliner while in southern germany it is called krapfen.

It is true that the words ich bin berliner completely avoided the joke.

[TChris]

(If I could ever master posting pics on here, I'd post one)

RE: Posting pics

1. The image must be available on a web page

2. Use this syntax to post the image: <img src="http://www.somesite.com/folder/image.jpg">
3. For example: <img src="http://weihnachts.rezeptbibliothek.de/images/berliner_579.jpg"> results in this:

   

[Charles H. (The_r0nin)]

It is like saying I am a American vs. I am American. You would not say I am a American.

Yes, you would not say "I am a American," but hopefully because, being a native speaker of the English language, you would know that English grammar requires "an" in front of a noun that begins with a vowel. Many people might very well say "I am an American," on the other hand...

[Little Bill]

Hanover, Oh Yes, I have to be certified to EPA section 9 every six months. I made the error of parking next to some people from Dartmouth. On my truck is: God Votes Republican, 37%'r, FReeRepublic.com, Howard Dean Is A Commie, Viet Nam Veterans against Kerry, and Liberals The Other White Meat, I got Keyed, New Truck.

This was in NH at Oak Brook Recreation area. Everyone who was there aside from those people complimented me on my moderation and bipartisanship.

[Past Your Eyes]

ROFL! But, sorry about your truck. Them lieburralls is real compassionate and tolerant, ain't they?

No idea where Oak Brook is. Must be down in the southern part of the state.

Hey, where's a good place to get some of those good VRWC bumper stickers?

I just bought a Marine Corps flag today. I'm going to put it on my tractor for the 4th of July parade in N. Woodstock/Lincoln along with a big sign that says

REDEPLOY MURTHA

I told my minister I was going to do that and he just laughed and shook his head.