Obama In Berlin: A New Day, A New Hope

As I write these words a huge throng is gathering in Berlin to hear Senator Obama. They are sending America a message: Elect a leader the world respects and we will show you that America is still loved.

How ironic that in our greatest hour of need since the Civil War, following the worst presidency in the history of our country it is a young black American who has stepped forth to lead us all back into the light. The persecuted have come to the rescue of the persectuors. Good has been returned for harm, forgiveness for transgression. Dr. King, are you watching? You won sir.

Hope! Change! Respect!

We are watching history unfold. This life-long Republican white man is moved, humbled and changed.

Tens of thousands of people who have been highly critical of our country gather to hear an American political figure. They are not burning our flag. Instead they wait, as we do, for the new day.

God bless you Senator Obama. Thank you.

Frank Schaeffer is a writer and author of "CRAZY FOR GOD-How I Grew Up As One Of The Elect, Helped Found The Religious Right, And Lived To Take All (Or Almost All) Of It Back"

Follow Frank Schaeffer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/frank_schaeffer

Comments

[blaqntelligence]

Thank you Mr. Schaeffer,
Each time I read your posts, read of your support of Senator Obama, and why, it warms my heart.
We supporters do not regard him as a "god", a "savior", the "messiah", or the "second coming".
As citizens, we are appalled at the depths to which America have sunk.
The country that could produce a george bush has also produced a Barack Obama.

[paco833]

Swooooning

[SACVET]

Obama's Berlin address yesterday was inspiring. His values are rooted in a belief system that used to be known as the promise of America. Essentially he acknowledged the Bush administration has only forwarded an agenda that served special corporate interest to the detriment of the broader interest of all peoples of the world. Our country, the next administration, must renew its commitment to the promise of America which formerly inspired hope in all peoples by our walking the walk not just talking the talk. America must reject an administration which will only dress up the status quo with cliches that rarely offer solutions to existing real problems.

[neoprimordial]

It could become "our greatest hour of need since the Civil War," but right now I'd say it's not worse than the Great Depression. The irony still holds, however. I wish you had written more of your thoughts on Obama's Berlin speech and such, but what you did write is engaging, if a bit idealistic for my tastes at the moment.

It was stirring to see so many people--hundreds of thousands--in-synch and supportive of Obama, and the fact that they were overwhelmingly Germans made it even more incredible and iconic--and crowds to rival that of Nelson Mandela himself. Could anyone have imagined this scene at the 1932 Olympics in Berlin? And when he said that he loved America, and said it like he meant it, it really warmed my heart--and people were actually applauding a bit when he did.

I think we must always keep in mind that Obama and all of us are human beings, not angels, or demons. Obama inspires strong feelings in both directions, but he is ultimately a man and a human being, and he would not be where he is if people like you and me and a lot of others on this blog didn't put him there. It was his decision to try, but it was our choice to give him the chance, so thank *you* and everyone who supports him.

[going2ireland]

More! More!

What a wonderful posting! This oughta be the HuffPo pick!!

[leftLibertarian]

Impeach the criminals Bush and Cheney - otherwise all hope for justice is lost.

[sherbug]

Frank, you and millions of others share the same sentiments. However, our current President and the presumptive Republican nominee do not share your high opinion of Obama's speech in Berlin. They are now about the business of creating soundbites that will instill fear into those Americans who vote based on fear.

Now Obama should be feared because he said he was a citizen of the world. McCain finds that questionable language in that Obama is a citizen of America. I think the argument could be made that we all are dual citizens of the world and of our respective countries. McCain also thinks Obama was unAmerican when he said America has made mistakes and there is room for improvement in the way America deals with its citizens and the citizens of the world.

But I, like you, Frank, appreciate the goodwill that Obama fostered. When I saw the crowds that came out for Obama yesterday, I was proud he represented America. For the first time in a very long time, I am really proud of my country.

[wanttruth]

Sen. Obama was eloqent as usual and very presidential. Go Obama 08!!!!

[Mogamboguru]

PAYING RESPECT TO OTHERS IS THE KEY.

When Bu$c and the Neocons came to power, they made disrespecting other people, other religions, treaties, contracts, and even their OWN CONSTITUTION the key of their approach to politics.

Frankly spoken, they behaved like uneducated, greedy brats, who claimed the right to bully the world whenever, wherever, about everything.

Did anybody REALLY wonder the world reacted to that the way it did?

How can an american soldier, who routinely kicks in iraqi doors, arrests fathers of families and blows up whole neighborhoods really wonder, that the people of the country Iraq - BTW heirs of one of the oldest civilizations in the world! - take up arms and fight back LIKE CRAZY?

How can a people who APPROVES such an unearthly BAD administration as GWB's after four years, expect anything but disrespect from the rest of the world?

I am german and live in what one of your now-infamous politicians once called "Old Europe". But OLD EUROPE, as well as the rest of the world - has learned ONE THING in her history: If you pay a person, a country, a religion or, a treaty RESPECT, you will be rewarded TENFOLD.

BUT in case you treat them with DISRESPECT - be prepare to get paid back your disrespect tenfold, too.

IT'S JUST THAT EASY.

[AlwaysFairDem]

My German Friend...I could not agree more with you. 8 years of arrogance has produce strife but you would think Americans will realize that but no...they are all under the bus to realize where this country is going with ARROGANCE tattooed in their forehead. You see...America does not want its people to be smart and educated. If all of our people were as educated as most European's, we would have seen the direction of America and the rest of the world to have been different.

[going2ireland]

It is so nice that you have become a constant here on HuffPo. Once in a while, someone from outside the US will come here and make a comment, but rarely do they stick around for the long haul.

I hope you stick around for a very long time - us Americans need to know what the view is from the outside looking in!!

[SadButWiser]

Frank, it is the America that we love that Obama has rekindled in our minds and hearts. It usually takes too long to rebuild anything, but not this time. We the citizens of the world are willing to forgive and like you again if you vote for him, or anyone like him, but not for Bush or anyone like Bush.

[Boris]

I watched McCain today saying he would rather give the speech as President than as Senator. Implying it was inappropriate for Obama to be talking to those 'furriners'.

But the whole time, he looked like a little kid saying...:Barry got a bigger ice cream cone. Everyone likes him better...boo hoo.'

[Pupadup4oBama]

someone else said it well - and I'm paraphrasing quite a bit here...
McCain and Obama are having a pissing contest - Obama is pissing farther and McCain's just coming up a little bit short (so to speak...:))

[going2ireland]

This was the one I read yesterday from someone (would give credit where credit is due, but did not make note of the poster - sorry!!)

"Yep, he (McCain) is the oldest baby on Earth...and we all know damn well that whatever Obama does McCain is going to attack it by saying the opposite. It's all a pissing contest with him, and if Obama pees farther than him, McCain will attack Obama for not sitting down to pee."

[EricHayes]

The response to Obama's speech today has to be the biggest black eye in Bush's political career.

[kwijibo]

Why not have Barack's speech stand on its own? Why detract from it by bringing George Bush into it? It was a wonderful speech and shows Obama's greatest strength, the ability to deliver a polished, well-honed speech after weeks of practicing it. It contrasts to his greatest weakness, extemporaneous thinking and extemporaneous comments.

[leftLibertarian]

Because Bush is a criminal who should be impeached and locked in a prison.

[IslandGyal]

rotflmao

[clmiller50]

Win or loose Senator Obama has done himself proud, I have read hundreds of blogs and not one of us could handle what he and John McCain has gone through.

[creationwaits]

Bush isn't the worst president in our history by any standard I can think of. Remember Woodrow Wilson? He gave the country real fascism. Golly, if Bush even did anything like FDR's Blue Eagle campaign today there would be protests like you'd never believe. And how about Andrew Jackson for a president who does whatever he wants regardless of legality?

Really, I would like to know how you judged Bush our worst president ever. Made a lot of mistakes - you bet. But we've had much worse.

[IslandGyal]

Bush and legality should NOT be in the same sentence....

[flanardiente]

Woodrow Wilson didn't overextend the armed forces to near-ruin, and he was fighting a world war. FDR didn't bankrupt the country (the Republicans had already taken care of that). Andrew Jackson (not one of my favorite people, being half-Indian) didn't front for corporations. James Buchanan didn't gut the Constitution. Herbert Hoover, for all his faults, was not a coward. Andrew Johnson was a drunk and probably the second-most least qualified person to be President in our history--never lost a city. W's done it all, in only eight glorious years.

[going2ireland]

It is Dubya's stupidity that makes him the worst. With his "bushisms" many a person, be they
American or a foreign leader, have cringed at many, many of the things he has said.

[sheisme]

American flags being waved and not burned. Could we want for more? I was humbled and proud today.

[DAVESEAN]

wonderful article...­........wh­ile Obama was speaking my partner was shedding tears.........she was really excited to see Obama that well recieved....she reminded me about how the main street media were always trying thier best possible to hide protest abroad against bush........OBAMA IS A BLESSING TO AMERICA.....MY NIGERIAN PROFESSOR FRIEND CALLED ME TWO DAYS AGAIN WISHING AGAINST WISH THAT OBAMA WOULD HAVE BEEN NIGERIAN..­.POSTULATI­NG THAT HEWOULD HAVE BEEN MORE USEFUL AS A NIGERIAN PRESIDENT.......HE ALSO SAID...OBAMA IS NOT BEING APPRECIATED IN AMERICA THE WAY HE SHOULD BE BUT 40/50 YRS FROM NOW .....NATIONS WILL CARRY LEGEND OF A SON OF A GOAT HERDER WHO LEFT HIS FACE IN THE SANDS OF TIME