The Moderate Voice - Latest Comments in Obama: Go to Mecca, not Berlin

Re: Obama: Go to Mecca, not Berlin

DLS — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:35:39 -0000

Another tractor attack in Jerusalem. Welcome to the real world, Obama and fans.

Re: Obama: Go to Mecca, not Berlin

DLS — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:00:35 -0000

Why doesn't he visit Israel and Saudi Arabia (Riyadh)?

heh, heh

Re: Obama: Go to Mecca, not Berlin

runasim — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:29:59 -0000

How long before someone suggests Obama should go to Munich instead of Berlin, Egypt instead of Jordan, China instead of Europe and ad nauseum? And by the way, shouldn't he go to Turkey and India?

I thought the phenomenon to inspire awe was the rise of Obama. Now I see that the real phenomenon consists of the bizarre and outlandish reactions to him.
Suddenly everyone is an expert, who knows so much better what Obama should do than Obama. does.

I can't figure out where this fixation comes from. Meanwhile, McCain is jumping up and down trying to get attention in any way he can , and no one advises him what he should say and where he should go..
Why is that?

Re: Obama: Go to Mecca, not Berlin

Silhouette — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:26:26 -0000

I find the constant berating of the french offensive, and really quite neoconish....childish even..

France is a fiercely independant nation that isn't afraid to speak its mind. I can see why some americans object to that... Some americans seem to get really huffy and even nervous around overtly sovereign nations like France. Their drive to dominate is seeping through the cracks of "patriotism"..

We should respect other nation's rights to have opinions that differ from ours and their rights to govern themselves as they see fit. The ONLY time the US should interfere with other nations is if there is gross and ongoing human rights violations and this should be done via diplomatic or sanction means only. The UN would work if only the US would cooperate in the ideals of individual sovereignty instead of its apparent agenda of domination..

Re: Obama: Go to Mecca, not Berlin

elrod — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:19:39 -0000

It strikes me that if Obama were admitted to Mecca it would only stoke all those suspicions that he's a Muslim.

Berlin makes sense for a couple reasons. First, the point is to highlight the transatlantic alliance that frayed so bad under Bush. Second, Berlin is not on the border between East and West, but is a crossroads of the new Europe, where people from Poland, Czech Republic and elsewhere mingle with Germans, French and British. Germany, like most European countries, thinks very highly of Obama. It doesn't carry the "wimpy" connotations of France. And it's decidedly more "European" than London. I think Berlin is perfect.

As a Jew, I find the concern trolling over the Siegerssaule to be quite obscene. It is not a "Hitler monument." It's the site of Berlin's annual gay pride parade (called Christopher Street Day). It's the largest gathering place in the Tiergarten, which is like Central Park. The notion that hundreds of thousands of excited Germans somehow conjures up the Nuremburg rallies is disgusting. Does Godwin's Law apply?

Re: Obama: Go to Mecca, not Berlin

jasperjava — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:49:59 -0000

What jdledell said is right. Of course, a substantial number of idiots actually believe that Obama IS a Muslim.

Re: Obama: Go to Mecca, not Berlin

Silhouette — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:49:07 -0000

I can see the author's objections. Germans are sensitive and more than a bit hardened about becoming mesmerized by speechifiers like Obama. They made a little boo-boo getting swept up in that kind of thing before and they're more likely than any nation, except maybe France, nowadays to cast a critical and discerning eye at substance instead of fluff.

So yeah, better keep Obama out of Germany...

Re: Obama: Go to Mecca, not Berlin

continuum — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:49:01 -0000

Tony, as pointed out by Tony, do you just bloviate and just not really bother understanding anything you write. In your rush to make a point, you fail to understand the political realities of life in Saudi Arabia (ie. Bush's oil buddy's family owned country).

Re: Obama: Go to Mecca, not Berlin

ChrisWWW — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:46:03 -0000

I would think that would be a security nightmare.

Re: Obama: Go to Mecca, not Berlin

jdledell — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:37:43 -0000

Tony - Just for your edification, non-muslims are barred from entering Mecca & Medina. Roadblocks are forcefully enforced.