Berliners captivated by Obama visit, speech
"People of Berlin, people of the world, this is our moment; this is our time," the Democratic hopeful told an enthusiastic outdoor crowd, which local authorities estimated at more than 200,000.
Turning a critical eye on the United States and implicitly criticizing President Bush, Obama said, "I know my country has not perfected itself" and "we've made our share of mistakes, and there are times when our actions around the world have not lived up to our best intentions."
The Europeans roared with approval.
Speaking before sunset at the Victory Column in Berlin's Tiergarten, to a crowd that stretched close to a mile back to the Brandenburg Gate, the 46-year-old first-term senator, who is extremely popular in Western Europe, recalled the celebration after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall.
He warned that today "the greatest danger of all is to allow new walls to divide us from one another."
"America cannot do this alone. The Afghan people need our troops and your troops," he said.
"In Europe, the view that America is part of what has gone wrong in our world, rather than a force to help make it right, has become all too common," he said. "In America, there are voices that deride and deny the importance of Europe's role in our security and our future. Both views miss the truth."
Obama and his campaign have sought to downplay the campaign aspects of the Berlin appearance and his entire foreign trip this week.
"I speak to you not as a candidate for president, but as a citizen," he said, "a proud citizen of the United States and a fellow citizen of the world."
The line itself echoed President John F. Kennedy's famous "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech here in 1963, when JFK said that "all free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin."
Obama arrived in Germany Thursday morning to much fanfare, as local television stations aired live coverage. Fans gathered in the streets for a glimpse of the U.S. Democratic presidential candidate outside his hotel and as he arrived for a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Josephine Wagner-Quist of Heidelberg was among them.
"We hope that everything goes better in the United States," she said. "Maybe we'll have a little peace."
Inge Evertsson of Sweden, vacationing in Berlin, said he likes the idea of Obama as president because it would represent "a new era. America is still the most important country, and the president has much to decide."
Recent comments
Dude. I don't want America to be loved and liked by the world...
To Anon (neocon hater) | July 29, 2008 at 10:30 a.m.
Comparing Obama and Hitler are we?
Really? Really Utah?...
Richard | July 28, 2008 at 4:51 p.m.
The posters who are encouraged by Obama's interdependent approach...
Interdependence is key | July 28, 2008 at 4:40 a.m.
