https://pjmedia.com/rogerkimball/2008/07/24/how-do-you-spell-cringe-making-hint-it-begins-obama-in-berlin/feed/PJ Media is a leading news site covering culture, politics, faith, homeland security, and more. Our reporters and columnists provide original, in-depth analysis from a variety of perspectives.en-usWed, 10 Jun 2026 07:49:47 -0400<![CDATA[The next time you go to Berlin, why don&#8217;t you see if Obamania will work for you. Tell the &#8220;tens of thousands of elated Europeans&#8221; who have mysteriously shown up to hear you that you are addressing them “not as a candidate for president, but as a citizen, a proud citizen of the United States and a fellow citizen of the world.” Being &#8220;elated,&#8221; your audience will not pause to point out that no one, not even Barack Obama, is a &#8220;citizen of the world,&#8221; because a citizen by definition is someone who owes loyalty to and enjoys the protection of a specific state. Nor will the elated Europeans depart from their elation long enough to wonder why they had congregated in their vast multitude to hear someone who&#8217;s announced claim on them is only that he is a &#8220;proud citizen of the United States.&#8221; Generally, of course, the combination of pride and the United States is something that makes Europeans grumpy, not elated.]]>Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:01:12 -0400<![CDATA[Roger Kimball]]>https://pjmedia.com/roger-kimball/2008/07/24/how-do-you-spell-cringe-making-hint-it-begins-obama-in-berlin-n115021