 Obama in Germany! |
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So I didn't get to do any of the sightseeing I thought I was going to do in Berlin, but I did get another pretty cool opportunity instead: Barack Obama was giving his first (and only) speech in Europe today in Berlin, and I went! He's an amayingly charismatic speaker, and he didn't once consult notes or a prompter for what to say: amazing. While it wasn't a particularly policy-laden speech, he did at least mention a number of issues that I'm pretty enthused about: nuclear disarmament, opening talks with Iran, addressing the genocide in Darfur, and immigration reform were among them. It seemed very well-received among the Berliners in the audience, but that's to be expected after 8 years with someone as incompetent about foreign policy as GW.
Tomorrow I leave (bright and early) on a train for Frankfurt, where I then catch a flight to Qatar. I stay over night in Qatar, then fly another 11 hours to Cape Town, South Africa, where unfortunately it's in the dead of winter. Oh well.
Me and Edward, the Canadian
I met Edward at the bar I was at last night, and randomly bumped into him at the speech... weird coincidence!
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July 24th 2008 - Mom: Wow! Obama
Today I have been listening to NPR which has been playing excerpts of his speech and commentary. I am so impressed with him! How neat is that to know you got to see and hear him in person! There was a huge crowd there, wasn't there! Travel safely and happily. Love, Mom
July 24th 2008 - Amabo: Obama speach
And a crowd of cheering Germans would never make a bad choice.
In his speach he said "No walls can stand between people".... Wow! That would have been really meaningful back in the 80's. Or wait, maybe he meant the border fence down Mexico way...
July 27th 2008 - Joalby: aww
Dude, I'm kinda sad you didn't get to do the sightseeing but were I in your situation I woulda done the same thing. How fricking cool is that. Being an ambassador for the UN refugee campaign, I'm so glad he touched upon the Darfur conflict and talks with Iran.
If I get accepted I might be living in Iran for a year but that remains to be seen and it's still a few years off.
July 30th 2008 - Ellen: jealous
Okay, I can't even see Obama when he's in Dallas, and you just happen to be in Germany when he gives this record-breaking-crowd speech. That would make all the drawbacks of the trip worthwhile, for me anyway. This is the first time in my life that I've actually been excited about a Presidential candidate.
Hope we get to hear in person a recap of all your adventures sometime after you come home. Love, Ellen
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