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.
Not only are those who don’t know the past doomed to repeat it, but they have a better than even chance, as president of the USA, of really screwing up the future.
And this doofus could possibly be the President of the United States.
UGH.
Unbelievable that SOMEONE in his campaign didn’t bother to research the history of that monument.
What an insult to the people of Berlin.
He loves the large-scale stage craft, just as Hitler did.
Seriously, why is he holding a rally in GERMANY? These people are not voters. They’re foreigners who should have no say in our election.
What is it with Obama and mass gatherings? It’s really creepy.
Image in lieu of substance - and for the attention deficit voters it's working.
I will offer this opinion. When I read he was having it at the statue....and then went back to my history books....I started laughing.
The discussions that was going on....was originally just the Berlin Mayor’s office only and the Obama crew. When everything fell into public view...the Chancellor’s office then got into the act. The SPD desperately wanted the speech to continue on...at the Gate. This would have a great theme for Obama and them. Some even speculated of a 40,000 crowd in attendance.
What eventually occured was the Merkel “ace”. Obama wants to meet and have pictures with each European leader (minus Italy of course). So Merkel said sure....but no Gate. So the statue site was the obvious second best pick to go for.
What member of the Obama crew was historical-minded? None. What member of the SPD was historical-minded? None. Full speed ahead on agreement.
At this point...Merkel would even be happy if 100,000 people show up...because it readily identifies Obama to Hitler. She’s created an ad for McCain that would be worth $10 million and normally impossible to create. We will be watching October clips of Hitler on one side and Obama on the other. Confused college students will view speeches of Hitler and Obama...to find subtle differences.
The Merkel plan will likely cost at least four million votes to Obama. We should all pat her on the back at the end...she is the female version of Karl Rove.
One can only hope that the truth about this man comes out. All the excitement and the reality of the Europeans thinking “This guy really is an idiot.” I hope that makes them rethink that being a good orator does not a smart person make.
That’s because he has no substance except “See how many people think I’m great. They must know something you don’t know” and ignore the dimwit at the podium.
Poor, poor judgment - why wouldn’t you look up what the monument was for before speaking in front it?
This guy likes to say Bush hasn’t worked well with our allies and now he has basically insulted the Germans twice.
Oooohhhh good point! To have a massive group of people going into hysterics at the site that Hitler made famous....
On second thought, I really really like Merkel’s idea.
bookmark
I just hope his campaign staff coaches him to say,
“Deutschland, Deutschland, uber alles.
Uber alles in der Welt.”
Come on, he's got to say something in German. He's the new Kennedy.
There was a time where our presidents were well-versed in history. Harry Truman, who never went to college, was a great student of history. Now it is assumed by BO and his ilk that one doesn't really need to know ANYTHING to become president.
They must have not taught American History in the Indonesian school Obama attended. We know it isn’t taught at Ha-vard.
Don’t know about you, but I’m turning to page 6.
This is probably the sum of Obama’s prior learning about Germany:
1) Germany is a country full of white people, therefore it’s a racist country.
2) Germany did perform a valuable service in WWII with regard to the Jews.
3) Germany produces nice cars — but Oldsmobiles are better.
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