Hillary Clinton was in Berlin and claims the "liberation" of Berlin as part of a larger struggle and presents her unique view on 9.11.89

"But there wasn't anything inevitable about it. And there is nothing hat we can take for granted about that history. The circumstances that surround us today are a culmination of an effort by Europeans and Americans that spanned generations. And, yes, the end to the Berlin Wall was an iconic moment. It was an hour when the hopes and prayers and sacrifice of millions came together in an unwavering exclamation of freedom. But it did not begin with the mistake of a flustered Communist spokesman in East Berlin, or even the peaceful masses that took to the street that evening. It had been building over years." .. "Now, as in the past, we know that the work ahead will not be quick, and it will certainly not be easy. But once again, we are called to take ownership of our future, and to affirm the principles and the sacrifice of the generations who helped us reach the milestone we commemorate. The ideals that drove Berliners to tear down that wall are no less relevant today. The freedoms championed that night are no less precious. And the rights and principles that brought us to this hour are no less deserving of our defense." 

 I was wondering what was between the lines, why her speech irritates me so. Of course it just a matter of style. German speeches are often more reflective, we don't speak about us and the hopes and prayers and sacrifice of millions rhetorical kitsch.

"As one who came of age amid the barriers of oppression, Chancellor knows of what she speaks. But tomorrow, when she walks through the Brandenburg Gate, she will do so as a free daughter of Brandenburg, and the leader of an emancipated people."

Ironically I never realised before our Chancellor leads me. I thought her task was to define the basic policies for the ministries. You'd probably speak of service and duty, not leadership. I never asked her to lead me. She was born in Hamburg,  and I would expect a "Free Daughter of Brandenburg" to be either a houseboat or a mule.

Why is it so difficult to accept chance as a part of history? What is all this visionary leadership for but a myth for those who do not understand the functioning of an administration? Nov 9 I listened full length to the Schabowski (the flustered Communist spokesman) press conference, it makes you realise the banality of history.

I wonder how to predict these incidents. Unlike the collapse of the Soviet Union some events are predictable, ten years ago it was common knowledge that internal financial markets were about to collapse, and it was widely known that radical islamists target the United States. Today we know that a larger earthquake is about to happen in Istambul, the patent system is broken, we know that flu would strike again, climate change, peak oil, not to mention the ever accelerating universial decline of German forests and the dangers of sound film. 

"And we need to form an even stronger partnership to bring down the walls of the 21st century, and to confront those who hide behind them: the suicide bombers; those who murder and maim girls whose only wish is to go to school; leaders who choose their own fortunes over the fortunes of their people."

It requires training but now I am mostly immune against such emotional speech and furthermore I think persons in her office have to be sober-minded. I am not amidst enemies, why does she tell me so. A person in her office has to accept that her own troops kill boys and girls whose only wish is to go to school, she has to accept that her office makes her target of attacks, she has to accept that larger catastrophes happen. If there was anything as leadership she needs to calm  people down to withstand psychological warfare as terrorism.

 A few weeks ago I met an Afghan student in Berlin. As a sidenote, while I was eating Pizza he remarked, the Americans just didn't care about civilian human loss in their military operations. So as I had to cheer to him up (win his "heart and mind") I just told him once Berlin was bombed to the ground and still it is very nice place to live and stay.

Oh, and of course Berlin was liberated by the Russians, Soviets. They also liberated Afghanistan, later taken back by Afghan freedom fighters who... You get the picture, get real, realpolitik.