Obama And The Berlin Wall

One of the few regrets I harbor is that when I was stationed in Germany in the early 80's, I did not take the opportunity to travel to West Berlin and subsequently enter East Berlin through Checkpoint Charlie.  Fortunately, the wall is now gone because of the legacy and work of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.  Some people hate to give them the credit they are due, but the fact remains, they were the two western leaders leading the charge.  It was not Gorbachev standing at the Brandenburg gates telling the East Germans to tear down the wall.

Rather than acknowledge history, Obama made it a "me too" opportunity.

"Few would have foreseen ... that a united Germany would be led by a woman from Brandenburg or that their American ally would be led by a man of African descent. But human destiny is what human beings make of it"

He's right, few would have foreseen it.  When the wall came down, the question of who would be President or Chancellor twenty years later hardly mattered.  The destruction of the wall certainly had more to do with who would be Chancellor than who would be the US President, but that wasn't on anyone's mind that day.  Freedom was on their minds, not the color of a future President.

The destruction of the wall and the fall of the Union of Soviet SOCIALIST Republics had absolutely nothing to do with who we would someday choose to be President and for him to insert himself into this historic event is the height of narcissism especially.  To not mention the efforts of Reagan and Thatcher is akin to ignoring the participation of America and England in the Normandy invasion

The Wall is gone because of the efforts of others.  It was Reagan's policy to confront the Evil Empire and force its hand.  It was the agenda of liberal Democrats to appease the Soviets through the limp-wristed policy of "detente" so that we could be "friends".

Obama couldn't even be bothered to travel to Berlin, instead, merely sending a video of some remarks that lasted but a scant few minutes.

This passes for statesmanship?  If this is what is passing for smart diplomacy these days, the process has been horribly dumbed down.

VW

Comments

[John Hampton]

Perhaps he didn't want the public to see his sorrow at so many around the world commemorating the fall of communism.

It is interesting that Obama didn't pass up his oppotunity to give his famous "Ich bin ein Speechmaker" speech in Berlin during his election campaign last summer. Some estimated a crowd of 200,000 at that event. However, what our very own media failed to report to us here in the United States when that took place, was that the size of the crowd was very likely due to the scheduled free concert performed before and after his speech by reggae artist Patrice and rock band Reamonn, the two most popular rock/pop performers in Europe before and after his speech. There was also plenty of beer and bratwursts.

[Rob]

Don't forget Pope John Paul II. He was also very involved in the eventual downfall of the Eastern Bloc.

In the case of Poland I would give him top billing.

Reagan, Thatcher and John Paul II.

NOT Obama.

[BobF]

Obama never passes up an opportunity to make an event about him. I though it interesting with all those world leaders there, he only sent Hillary and a video. I'm wondering if they had been leaders from Muslim countries, would he have attended in person?

[Violence Worker]

Rob, You are correct. I should have also mention Pope John Paul II.

VW

[Dale]

I agree with BobF if it was a muslim country he would have more than likely made a personal appearence and probably bow to the heads of state again too. Why is it so hard for the rest of the country to see what a low-life,liar,con-artist obama is. oh well sadly they'll realize it too late.

[John Hampton]

Der Spiegel reported on 16 October that Obama was too busy to attend the commemoration activities.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,655632,00.html

They were right. He was too busy (and uninterested) in celebrating freedom because he's too busy trying to destroy it.

[John Hampton]

He wouldn't go to Berlin to celebrate freedom and commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall but he did have time to tour the Great Wall of China. Interesting.