October wrap-up

A lot has happened since the last update, but for now I think this is the most important. I was speaking to a friend of mine who was visiting for the weekend and she said the endorsement and supporting article changed the vote of her father, a long-time economically conservative Republican. Good stuff.

Other news. Berlin has offered more talks and programs on the upcoming election than I could imagine. The Amerika Haus Berlin hosted a session with Charles A. Kupchan, a professor of International Affairs at Georgetown. Topic of the evening was how US foreign policy would change with Obama or McCain. From the start Kupchan clarified he believed there was no way McCain could win. He was trailing in the polls, beat in the debates and suffering from the adverse affects of his selection of Palin as running-mate. Interesting talk but it didn't help my overall concern that the presumptive Obama presidency has been a 'choose your own-adventure' for a majority of his most adamant supporters. Both democrats and republicans have attacked Obama for how vague he has been on what he plans to do. To his credit Obama did in the last debate go into detail about his plans for some of the major issues. Interesting night, but nothing too stimulating was discussed. I was waiting for a German to get on the microphone and grill Kupchan about the future of US foreign policy. Unfortunately, it was a night for ex-pats to voice their concerns and a predominately Obama love-in.

Joschka Fischer came to speak at Humboldt about the future of foreign policy as well. I showed up half-an-hour early, but not early enough, the room was fully booked. Students gathered at the door and began chanting "Wir wollen rein!" (We want in!). Fischer was a former left-wing student activists (he also lived in the same 'commune' as some of the members of the RAF discussed in prior entry), Green Party member and one of the more beloved German Foreign Ministers. He is most famous for his grilling of Donald Rumsfeld on the lack of concrete evidence proving the presence of WMD's in Iraq.

Visited Treptower Park earlier in the month.

Park and war memorial built by the Russians after the second world war to honor those that died in the siege of Berlin. Most powerful piece was statue of a Russian solider (center of picture) holding a child and crushing the swastika under his feet. Complete album is here.

Templehof Airport was also closed this month. Major piece of Berlin history and site of the Berlin air-lift. My host took me to a demonstration/memorial on the night of the closing. Many were upset about the VIP party being held by the mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowereit (most famous quote: Berlin is poor but sexy). Plans are for the Airport to be converted into a museum and memorial.