Obama's remarks at the Siegessäule

Barack Obama didn't give a speech in Berlin, he made remarks. They were remarkable remarks too, like this one

That is why the greatest danger of all is to allow new walls to divide us from one another.

The walls between old allies on either side of the Atlantic cannot stand. The walls between the countries with the most and those with the least cannot stand. The walls between races and tribes; natives and immigrants; Christian and Muslim and Jew cannot stand. These now are the walls we must tear down.

There is something about repetition in speeches, err 'remarks'.
- cannot stand x3
- Look at Berlin x3
- this is the moment x8



Just as interesting is the Siegessäule. According to www.visitberlin.de

Originally constructed on the Königsplatz (now the Platz der Republik, in front of the Reichstag) as the national monument to Germany's "Wars of Unification", it was built to plans by Heinrich Strack from 1864–73 to commemorate victory in the Prussian-Danish war. After further victories against Austria and France, it was supplemented with Friedrich Drake's 8.3m-high golden Victoria (also known as Golden Else). During the Third Reich, a fourth column drum was added, bringing the total height to 67m. In 1938/39, the monument was moved to the Großer Stern crossroads in the Tiergarten, as part of the redesigning of the "Capital of the German Reich".

Surviving the war without major damage, it was restored in the 1980s. It features a columned hall with reliefs by Alexander Candrelli, Karl Keil, Moritz Schultz and Wolff depicting portraits and battle scenes. These were removed at the behest of the Allies, but reinstated in the 1980s. The glass mosaic created by Anton von Werner also depicts battle scenes. Golden gun barrels from the spoils of war decorate the column shaft. A viewing platform on the column offers a wonderful panoramic view of the city.

It's one of my favourite monuments and so much worth a visit. I must return to Berlin one day.



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I was scheduled to fly to Melbourne today, but the rescheduled flight was cancelled. The options were to leave in the evening, thus defeating the purpose of being in Melbourne today (a football function at 5pm); or to leave right away this morning with little notice, rush packing, and depriving Kane of a morning walk before I departed.

Neither were suitable, so now I'm going on Saturday morning instead. These things happen I guess.