Loved it! I recommend reading the full text of Barack Obama's speech in Berlin, but what follows are excerpts that I found particularly important or inspirational.

He started the speech recounting the history of Berlin in regards to the Soviets and the Allied Airlifting that kept West Berlin alive. The overall point of the speech is that all the nations of the world need to be united. We all live in the same world and are dealing with the consequences of each other's actions. He mentions some common threats in the world: terrorism, global climate change, and nuclear weapons.

In this new world, such dangerous currents have swept along faster than our efforts to contain them. That is why we cannot afford to be divided. No one nation, no matter how large or powerful, can defeat such challenges alone. None of us can deny these threats, or escape responsibility in meeting them. Yet, in the absence of Soviet tanks and a terrible wall, it has become easy to forget this truth. And if we're honest with each other, we know that sometimes, on both sides of the Atlantic, we have drifted apart, and forgotten our shared destiny.

I haven't kept a great eye on the relationship between the US and Germany, but the parts I have seen have shown a great deal of animosity between Germany's leaders and the US during the Bush Administration. After 9/11, we had the world mourning with and for us, but the actions of the US has burned away all of that support and goodwill. I would really like to see us fix the problems caused by the Bush Administration and rebuild our friendship with the countries of the world. Go Obama! You can do it!

One of the things I like about Obama is that he's willing to point out flaws in other people and ourselves at the same time. He doesn't adopt the arrogant stance that everything the US does is golden.

In Europe, the view that America is part of what has gone wrong in our world, rather than a force to help make it right, has become all too common. In America, there are voices that deride and deny the importance of Europe's role in our security and our future. Both views miss the truth - that Europeans today are bearing new burdens and taking more responsibility in critical parts of the world; and that just as American bases built in the last century still help to defend the security of this continent, so does our country still sacrifice greatly for freedom around the globe.

This view of America being the problem is prevalent around the world, not just in Europe. Hell, I think it's got a lot of merit! Also, it's impossible to deny that Americans have a pretty poor view of Europeans. The French take most of the brunt of that onslaught, but I've seen clips of The O'Reilly Factor that takes childish shots at Germany's Prime Minister and such without any content. Just schoolyard insults.

You can't expect to insult everyone around you and then be able to get a lot done. Gimmie some more Obama and let's get this country back on track! We used to be THE defacto Super Power in the world... and now we're looked at more like a schoolyard bully.

I only quote this...

This is the moment when we must come together to save this planet. Let us resolve that we will not leave our children a world where the oceans rise and famine spreads and terrible storms devastate our lands. Let us resolve that all nations - including my own - will act with the same seriousness of purpose as has your nation, and reduce the carbon we send into our atmosphere. This is the moment to give our children back their future. This is the moment to stand as one.

... so I can say: The children ARE our future. We need to teach them well and LET THEM LEAD THE WAY. We must show them all the beauty they possess inside.

I know my country has not perfected itself. At times, we've struggled to keep the promise of liberty and equality for all of our people. We've made our share of mistakes, and there are times when our actions around the world have not lived up to our best intentions.

I love this! I'm tired of the arrogant stance that the actions of the US are above reproach. I appreciate that Obama states that while we are trying to do good, sometimes we fail to hit the mark and make mistakes. Mistakes cannot be fixed until we admit to them.

I loves me some Obama!