Obama speech inspires the world
PEOPLE of the world, look at Berlin, where a wall came down, and a continent came together, and history proved that there is no challenge too great for a world that stands as one. The fall of the Berlin Wall brought new hope, but that very closeness has given rise to new dangers, dangers that cannot be contained within the borders of a country or by the distance of an ocean".
These were the words of Senator Barack Obama, Democratic presumptive presidential candidate, that evoked wide scale interests in Europe and the United States. He delivered his extraordinary eloquent speech at victory column of Berlin's Tiergarten Park in front of more than two hundred thousand Germans on July 24. It was a defining moment for Senator Obama. It was the emotional high point of a trip that demonstrated that Obama has stamina for the fall campaign and star power to draw a big, enthusiastic crowd in a foreign land. This is for the first time a presidential candidate has spoken outside of his country during presidential campaign session.
Obama had originally decided to speak in front of the iconic Brandenburg Gate where US President John F.Kennedy was photographed and expressed his solidarity with the people of the divided Berlin: ich bin ein Berliner (I am Berliner) during his trip in 1963 after the Berlin wall had been built in 1961. The Gate was also the site of a speech in 1987 by another US President Ronald Reagan who urged Soviet leader Michael Gorvachev to tear down the wall and end the cold war.
Senator Obama said that people of all nations must stand together to face challenges of the 21st century from terrorists to global warming to genocide. We cannot afford to be divided. This was directed against the incumbent President George W. Bush whose image in Europe is at the lowest level.
The presence of more than two hundred thousands Germans ,which stretched almost a mile from the Sieges Saul, an ornate victory column commemorating German victory in 19th century wars, to the Brandenburg Gate, the symbol of divided Berlin during the cold war, makes a contrast story to what was observed during Bush's visit in 2005. Senator Obama has assured European that the United States would become a better partner, but called on European countries to uphold their responsibilities. The walls between races, tribes, natives and immigrants, Christians and Muslims and Jews cannot stand. These now are the walls we must tear down reflecting the terminology of Ronald Regan.
His speech was broadcast live from Germany while in the United States all important TV channel like CNN, MNSBC and Fox News gave full coverage to the speech. Mainstream newspapers in the United States also gave front-page coverage.
His meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown were productive. It may be noted that Senator Obama made a point to meet with the leaders of the opposition political parties in Europe to know their mind on global issues. In Paris, he was almost given the status of President when he jointly addressed the press with the French President who described him as his friend. This is be unusual indeed in international parlance.
Although he received criticism from his opponent and Republican Party, but Edward Haley, a specialist in politics and international relations at Claremont McKenna College in California holds different opinion. He said: "The tour of world capitals and hot spots represented a test that was necessary to pass. It looks as if he's done far better than just passing. He's aced this tour. If there was any doubt of his stature on the world stage, I think he's more than answered that. He hasn't put a foot wrong in any of these places".
Senator Obama's rise from Illinois Senate to pinnacle of glory after a speech at the Democratic National Convention four years back is unprecedented. He was received respectfully by the world leaders from Afghanistan to Tel Aviv to Great Britain during his first visit as Senator from 20 to 26 July.
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