The former U.S. President, Barack Obama was celebrated with a gig in Cologne, frenetically. This is probably also his successor in the White house. Elizabeth Schumacher was there.
The fascination of the Germans for Barack Obama seems to be unbroken. At least that was the impression of this Evening: Nearly 15,000 people had gathered in the Cologne Lanxess-Arena, to hear what had to say of the former President on climate change, feminism, and leadership culture.
The atmosphere was just before his appearance at a rock concert. The Fans came from all age groups. Many tried to make as close as possible to the stage, and Instagram images. For me as an American in Germany, it was a bit surreal to see the enthusiasm with which the storms of a former U.S. President here, can trigger, while often only a few dozen of the Curious to come together, if somewhere German Chancellor Angela Merkel shows up.
“I think he is one of the most influential, most interesting, most intelligent figures of our time…and very empathic, especially when you compare him with Trump,” says the 35-year-old Alex. And the American Sarah, who lives in Germany for eight years, says: “in 2008, I hear Obama twice in Texas in the campaign speeches, and his energy was incredible. I’m so happy to see him again and to hear his unwavering message of hope and optimism, right now, where it is so needed.”
The desire to remember a time when the leadership of the United States was less xenophobic and allies, not in front of the head thrust as now, was on this Thursday evening abundantly clear.
Inauguration of Trump 2017: reason and logic do not ignore
Obama: You have to listen to
Obama did not mention his successor by name, but his criticism was unmistakable. The Form of his appearance was a speech less than a casual entertainment. When he was asked what he thought of the current Administration, he said, you have to listen to “what’s bothering people and what makes them difficulties, you have to listen to what they have to tell people who are different than you.”
As he stressed how important it is to involve women and minorities in decisions, surged ears to deafening applause, as in many other Places.
Later, Obama said, in a further indirect criticism of Trump, it was dangerous for democracy when you deny basic facts and “reason and logic are ignored”. With a Smile, he admitted, but: “Nobody becomes President of the United States, if he has awareness of a healthy self.”
Obama’s motorcade in Cologne: The enthusiasm in Germany is unbroken
“So someone we don’t have in Germany”
The Interviewer, the author Cristián Gálvez, was done visually by Obama, but called the Ex-presidents, to justify one of the most controversial decisions of his tenure, which has darkened like no other its balance sheet: namely the drone strikes in Yemen, which have also led to civilian casualties. Obama said, they would have less is collateral damage, as if he would have sent soldiers, but the one of the most difficult decisions of his term in office had been. “When I say, I accept the world as it is, but just the way it should be, then that is not a moral philosophy, but fantasy,” the Ex-President.
The event in Cologne had the vague title of “World Leadership Summit” talks, the call for civil society to Act, in a Form that is common in the USA, in Germany, but still rather unknown. Maybe that is also why more than half of the audience left the hall as soon as Obama had finished.
“I saw him in 2008 when he spoke in Berlin, and I think his Charisma and his message to come from anywhere,” says the 37-year-old Holger in Addition to and radiates. “But I think he is a political Rockstar. We are not fascinated by him in Germany, so someone, we just have to have.”