Ich bin ein... Afghaner?

The international media was all atwitter about Barack Obama's speech in Berlin. What will he say? Will there be a large turnout? Will Obama attempt a JFK-esque statement auf Deutsch? Would he assume too much by doing so?

When it came to Obama's decision to use or not use the German language in his speech, the underlying question was not whether he would have been overstepping his bounds as a mere senator or if the act would have been considered cliché, but why he would choose to do so in the first place? To re-assert that our 'special' relationship with Germany remains 'very special'? To connect with the German people, and not just their politicians?

In the event, he didn't use any German. Which I think is a good thing. Such a statement would hardly carry the impact that it did in the Germany that Kennedy, or even Reagan, for that matter, spoke to when they uttered German phrases in their speeches in front of the Berlin Wall and Brandenburg Gate, respectively. Last I checked, Germany is a united country, well respected in political and economic spheres, and hardly in a situation where allies are in short supply. It is no longer at the heart of the political world divide. The cold war is over. In this light, Obama's speech in Germany sends a different kind of message, that is, in essence, that if he is elected, the isolated Bush years will at last be over. That's important but the equivalent of the dramatic Kennedy or Reagan speeches would have had to take place elsewhere.

Where the compassion and understanding implied by the use of a country's language in a public appearance are really needed is in the Middle East or embattled Central Asia. In particular, the use of some Farsi or Pashto words in key areas of Afghanistan would certainly send an international message of hope for a country whose problems run varied and deep. Such an act would also be consistent with Obama's platform that Afghanistan is the root of the terrorism problem and is thus a worthwhile destination for U.S. troops.

Obama is unlikely to attempt anything of this nature before November 4, the political risks too great. But it does raise the question: How should our next president react to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Comments

[Charlesdegull]

Right on, Ms. Tingstad. Someone should be serious. A potential president speaking a few words of Farsi and/or Pashto shows a depth of political understanding for his audience. After all, if elected, he will be in charge of our foreign policy. It would be a breath of fresh air to have a chief executive with some sensitivity toward the perspectives of those living in other parts of the world.

The president we have now can't even speak English.

As for Fox News and the RNC, people they appeal to won't vote for Obama anyway. His campaign handlers should show more respect for the Obama voters.

[nolabels]

Did you hear/read the speech? The point was to call upon countries that are ALREADY our allies to help us make new friends around the world.
Also, we have some apologies to make in the middle east but they do as well and we simply aren't ready for reconciliation yet. That is going to take time and much more public good will.

[SeriousBlack]

Ms. Tingstad, surely you can't be serious. While your intentions may have been good, just think about it. If Obama were to give an address in which he spoke Farsi or Pashto, Fox "News" would be running the clip excerpts of him doing so 24/7 from now until midnight Nov 4. Not to mention the blizzard of RNC attack ads doing the same, all juxtaposed on top of those pictures of him in Somali garb, etc etc.

And while I wish we lived in a more enlightened society, the reality is that such a thing would lose Obama the election. Period.

[bluestatelib]

Funny how everyone seems to think that they know how to run Obama's campaign better than he does. I think I'll go with his judgment over Abbie Tingstad's.