We're 'fellow citizens of the world'
By Steve Benen Thursday Jul 24, 2008 2:20pmIn Obama's speech in Berlin yesterday, the presumptive Democratic nominee explained early on, "I speak to you not as a candidate for President, but as a citizen -- a proud citizen of the United States, and a fellow citizen of the world."
The last four words seem to have caused a stir at McCain HQ and in far-right circles. Apparently, "citizen of the world" sounds like one-world government or something.
But before conservatives get too excited about this, they may want to remember that Obama's not the first American to use the phrase. An Andrew Sullivan reader noted:
I’ve noticed that McCain, and the right in general, are latching on to Obama’s statement that he was speaking as a “proud citizen of the United States and a fellow citizen of the world.” I see an attempt at cultural warfare in the making, and it should be squelched fast. The argument from the right appears to be that only some squishy leftist would call himself a “citizen of the world,” or that using the term suggests less than a full attachment to one’s own country (even if accompanied by a statement like Obama’s that he’s a “proud citizen of the United States”). A reader over at Politico has already noted that John F. Kennedy used the same phrase in his famous inaugural address in referring to his global audience.
I also did a one minute Google search – and I’m sure I could find more if I did a 15-minute Google search – and discovered that President George H.W. Bush used the exact phrase “citizen of the world” in presenting the national medal of the arts to Vladimir Horowitz, the legendary Russian-born pianist who became a US citizen in 1940. Was he insulting Horowitz as a lefty? I don’t think so. Also, Ronald Reagan introduced himself in a speech to the General Assembly of the United Nations as “both a citizen of the United States and of the world.” Do McCain and the right really want to start this meme?
When McCain & Co. bash Reagan and Bush for using the same phrase, I'll respect their intellectual consistency. But I have a hunch that's not going to happen.
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yes and as such we can kill anyone we want to!
GOP...
I've even run out of words say
intellectual consistency?
intellectual consistency?
You ask too much.
Especially in the intellectual and in the consistency departments...way too much.
intellectual consistency?
intellectual consistency?
You ask too much.
Oh, I repeat myself. I repeat myself.
I thought the first one went *poof*
Oh good! Now Bush can spy on him, since he's a potential turrrrist (being a citizen of the world.)
Oh forget it, he's too busy spying on Americans in their own homes..........
"Citizens of the World"
read............GLOBALIZATION
Watch this vid and get pumped
Obama - Funk Soul Brother
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGeVtzqFlUY
dosido @ 3:
GOP Rule One....wait for it...waaaait for it.
NEVER let the facts get in the way.
you know your country's in the shitter when "fellow citizen of the world" is viewed as a bad thing.
seriously, the only solution to neoconservatives is expulsion from the political process or extinction. these people are simply desperate for war and confrontation.
a fat batch of fucking losers, brought to prominence by the moron-in-chief and his Dickhead sidekick.
fuck you all, you pieces of shit. Fuck you, George Bush and your entire fucked up cabal.
"NEVER AGAIN" is the new American promise. NEVER AGAIN will we allow war mongering psychopaths to run our country. NEVER AGAIN will we allow Republicans to be in control.
NEVER AGAIN.
The desperation of McGrampa grows by the day. Have they started criticizing his tie color yet?
lucid fiction @ 7:
read.........PARANOID
JFK also used the same words in his speech in Berlin, Jan 20th, 1961:
"My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.
Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you."
http://www.famousquotes.me.uk/speeches/John_F_Kennedy/5.htm
Well as a leftist and having lived in 4 different countries so far, I would have to say that yes, having an attachment to any one country is stupid. It's not as if we had a choice on what piece of dirt we were going to be born in.
Obama gave a similar speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2004 when he referred to the United States as not red nor blue. He is, and has been consistently been an INCLUSIVE candidate. THE GOP HAS GOT NOTHING!
Volum @ 13:
And C&L already stated that, on July 25th, 2008.
d'oh.
But, it also seems to me that this is what you say when you campaign abroad, it's all standard. The GOP doesn't know it because they don't give a shit about this "diplomatic behavior" nonsense. They'd rather give awkward backrubs, hold hands and joke about how much we've fucked up the planet.
all hail the hypno toad @ 14:
You are clearly dangerous and subversive and we are now watching and listening.
Nice wording, Senator.
Just how many midwestern small-town, gun-rights anti-immigration bitter voters do you suppose were in the crowd there at the Siegessäule?
Hint: It wasn't this Berlin...or this "New" one.
Jeez.
I haven't read all the coverage yet, but I did watch the full C-Span of the Berlin Speech (foggy picture, but some of us really don't have tv). What I'm wondering is why there is no mention of the fact that a speech can be delivered in English to a 200,000 strong crowd of other-language-speakers. Was it translated onto screens for them or something, or do they just have the audacity to be bilingual (or tri, or whatever) over there in europa? After all the criticism Barack got for his modest suggestion that speaking more than one language is kindalike a good idea, this apparent omission on the part of the MSM strikes me as curious.
Please advise, signed guilty French and Italian speaker who still struggles with Spanish
Just more of that "the-US-is-#1-and-everyone-else-can-fuck-off" nonsense.
I know Americans are stupid, but at what point does it sink in that the US is no longer the only game in town? The US is a rapidly declining power that should be thankful foreign governments haven't asked for their money yet.
Get over yourself, America. You're now the world's joke.
Volum @ 13:
Uh...I believe JFK was already POTUS at that point.
Duh.
all hail the hypno toad @ 14:
Pfftt, try telling that to chimpanzees. They'll either rip your balls off or if you're from the wrong community, do much worse.
Dang; Obama may have just lost the anti-one-world-government-conspiracy-nut vote!
Fanon @ 17:
Too late, the f'ers at paypal already caused some problems for me, they locked out my account and called me a terrst. F'ers, and f the bushenney's as well with that crap.
McCain needs to be placed in an assisted living facility, and then be swiftly forgotten about.
all hail the hypno toad @ 24:
Really? Sorry about that, I was just kidding.
Why is it so hard to understand that the overpaid corporate lintballs are hyperventilating over Obama's steamroller? These looter class turds are finally going to have to pay real taxes like the rest of us if he is elected.
Intellectual consistency in this case is a glorious oxymoron. There is no intellect and the faux intellect drivel is wildly inconsistent.
Boundaries are quaint and worthless concepts in a shrinking planet where all depend on each other. My American Indian Movement friends loved to preface all descriptions of place with "in what is now called....", (Free Leonard Peltier). The EU has largely shitcanned 'boundaries' as a hazard and are better for it. South America has a comparable equivalent to the EU called "Mercorsur" (sic), a common cause alliance or economic bloc.
I never declare myself an "American' even though I've lived my entire 52 years here and have never even stepped into another jurisdictional abstraction such as 'Canada' (although I did toss a rock there at West Quoddy Head in Lubec, Maine).Yes I am a citizen of a Planet and damned proud of it. 'America' can shit in it's grotesque vicious ugly hog hat and wear it.
Rah rah rah Nationalism is soo 1990s. The game changed while the buffoons were distracted. Thank you Mr. Obama for your recognition of this aspect.
Yeah, when he said 'citizen of the world' it reminded me of when that wet spot suddenly appeared on George Bush's pants when Kerry used the phrase "pass the global test" during the 2004 debates. It's just one of those phrases that causes the wingnut base to break out in spontaneous orgasms.
VM @ 23:
Ahhh, but as a (not so closeted) free trader he has retained the "too-bad-if-you-lost-your-high-paying-manufacturing-job-overseas-cuz-of-NAFTA-or-CAFTA...it just good business so f*ck off"-vote!
I guess it all evens out.
Just like yesterday the trolls will come here in droves to try to purposely misinterpret what Obama meant as if they can read his mind. Hey trollers, instead of coming here wasting time lying on Obama with non-factual bullshit, try giving us reasons to think about Grandpa....that's OK, common sense isn't common with you bitter, angry people.
My, my, my... McCain is getting more and more frazzled everyday! His speech to the veterans today was pathetic. Disparaging Obama at every turn. No applause from the crowd, nothing. I think many are having second thoughts about supporting McSame. We can't have another Bush in the White House, and many know it.
This is simple.
When some wingnut goes off about Obama's "Citizen of the World" comment, just ask them, 'So you aren't a citizen of this world? Of what world are you a citizen?'
Now now, let's not suggest that McCain should bash Reagan and Aitch-Dubya for suggesting they're also citizens of the world. Let's not get caught up in "intellectual consistency" - and let's instead point out that it's a douchey argument, period.
CafeenMan @ 32:
I always suspected Rush Limbaugh was from Planet Weebo.
'The lost four words seem to have caused a stir at McCain HQ'
Typo or am I missing some sort of meaning?
P.D. @ 31:
Even mainstream conservatives...you know REGULAR people...are tired of the demogoguery, the patriotism baiting. It doesn't work anymore.
The country is tired of being divided. Regular people have TOO many problems...real life problems...having enough money to feed their family, gas for the car, necessities.
The GOP is going down in flames...and they know it.
Johnny2BadObamaCavedOnFISA @ 21:
Is this a new rule that you just invented Johnny? After all your hero McShit in pants asked Obama to travel abroad. You are one desperate fuck.
Left&Left @ 30:
Nice ageist rhetoric. Adds so much to the debate. Like there's not enough real issues to get McCain on. It ain't that hard.
If someone came on here to bang Obama's skin color, you'd go ape-shit.
Amazing hypocrisy.
I like the phrase! We are all in this together and we all share one earth, so WTF? We are responsible for our earth and for one another. If we all focused on what we have in common rather than our differences, this just might be a better world for all our fellow citizens of the world.
Left&Left @ 37:
tsk tsk
Fanon @ 26:
Yep, a Brit friend wanted a pair of Oakleys but without the Brit price so asked me to buy them for him. He paid me via paypal but when I tried to withdraw the funds they sent me an e-mail saying I was a suspect for terrorism and they had locked my account. Right, like $200 is worth laundering you f'ers.
Johnny2BadObamaCavedOnFISA @ 21:
Uh, so? do you only become a citizen of the world if you're President? that seems odd.
I don't ever expect McCain to either be intellectual or consistent. Them days is waaay past gone.
pissed off patricia @ 39:
That is the far most sickest sentiment I have ever heard! Who would we make movies about dropping bombs on if we all got along?!? Think of the out-of-work actors before you say stupid shit like that.
You want to know who ACTUALLY used the phrase 'New World Order'?
George Bush. That's right. George 'Dubya' Bush's FATHER.
Look up his September 1990 speak. You can still see clips of it on youtube.
The Bush Family crime syndicate, and their bootlick, Johnny McSame, probably shouldn't have brought up that particular phrase....
... But I'm glad they did.
Let them choke on their own words.
As a citizen of the Pan-Galactic Federation, am I considered an extreme librul or just a nutcase?
The will be faux outrage from the rabid right over the citizen of the world comment. It's an election year. The GOP and their surrogates gotta have something to distract Americans from the deficit, the economy, the war and gas prices.
I think all Americans should be "made" to travel.
Most Americans are "intellectually" inbred because they have not been exposed to the world as it exists. They only get what is fed to them by an MSM spouting the corporate slant on the world. They are quite content with this since they really don't give a s*^t about anything that doesn't pertain to their own insular little world anyway.
I have lived in 7 different countries in the last 25yrs and have had the opportunity to visit dozens more. And even after my last tour of duty in the Middle East; the people are much more like us than they are different.
if , we are all citizens of the world , then why must we invade countrys and destroy other citizens of the world , afganistan comes to mind ,
Johnny2BadObamaCavedOnFISA @ 21:
Okay that really did make me laugh out loud. Are you serious? As if being president gave one the big okay to use the phrase in public? Come on, you didn't really mean that did you?
Left&Left @ 37:
Wow. What a load. I can see where cogent argument is way, way over your head so maybe you should just stop reading my posts and they will stop confusing you.
Oh and my history on this site is long and well known. My guy Edwards was gone early but my vote won't go to any Republican...ever. So drop the sophomoric invective and ad homonym, grow up and maybe we can talk.
Surging Blue Lensman @ 46:
Wouldn't that make you a Klipton, Klaxin or Vulcan or something?
Sue @ 42:
No, you don't give the opposition ammo during an election. Not odd at all.
It's nice that you find those quotes from the great leaders of the past but it shows you are stuck in your naïve pre-9/11 mindset. We can't afford the luxury of being citizens of the world due to the threat of islamobamafascism.
Kilgore Trout @ 48:
+1 with a vengeance. You are so right.
CafeenMan @ 44:
Should I go sit in the corner? Do I get no dessert tonight. Do I write an "I'm sorry" letter to Blackwater and Halliburton?
pissed off patricia @ 50:
Yep. Just ask John "Global Test" Kerry.
grampa @ 54:
I can afford it!
Left&Left @ 37:
No, what you heard was the sound of the Republican shills slamming the door to their final fall-back position. If they couldn't get him for looking UN-statesmanlike on this trip, the fallback position was to accuse him of looking TOO statesmanlike, and thus being ARROGANT. (The elitist tag didn't stick, and the 'exotic' tag (as a euphemism for 'black') was a non-starter. But if he ends up being TOO popular, you can always get him on 'arrogant.')
Okay, so, because Obama drew a HUGE crowd in Europe, he's arrogant now. Almost as if drawing a huge crowd is a show of opulence. I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop, and Fox News starts drawing parallels between Obama 'wearing his huge crowds the way a rapper wears bling.'
grampa @ 54:
That seems like a racsist remark. You are watching to much Faux and CNN.
who cares about logic and context?
it's just another orange that Bobo can put in the towel and beat Anjelica Huston with.
nothing more and nothing less.
the right is all about putting welts and bruises on the arguments of the opponents.
I mean, what the hell ELSE are they going to do?
CafeenMan @ 52:
Arisian, actually. We were thinking about making Obama an honorary member but that wouldn't be doing him a favor - the McLame camp would have too big of a hay day with it.
Republicans: We are outraged whenever it suits us. If Obama is wearing a flag pin, I'm sure they can find a source of apoplectic outrage over it.
Help is on the way!
Remember that slogan from the Republicans in 2000?
Eight years later. We fucking really need help!
Thanks Mr. Bush. You are a true leader. He he he he!
pissed off patricia @ 56:
I think Blackwater would be particularly moved by your gesture. :)
pissed off patricia @ 56:
Much worse:
Write Ben Stein a 500-word love letter written in all-caps, alternating each letter with a different color crayon and do a 3'x6' oil-on-canvas portrait of Glenn Beck in a smoking jacket. That'll learn ya.
Johnny2BadObamaCavedOnFISA @ 53:
If that's the rationale, then Obama is going to have to sit at home and not say or do anything until election day. Though of course that too would be "ammo" for the other side, which is willing to turn ANYthing and EVERYthing he says or does into a negative. This is the crowd that turned Obama's message in a visitor's book at a Holocaust Memorial into a cheap shot, for chrissake.
Surging Blue Lensman @ 62:
What galaxy is Arisia in?
They do whatever they can get away with if it benefits them. The lies are staggering but effective. They turned John Kerry into a chicken hawk traitor and Bush Jr. into a war hero. They can do anything we allow them to get away with. That's obvious.
Now they can't explain the lack of investigation into the Anthrax attacks on American soil. They can't explain letting Bin Laden go at Tora Bora. They can't explain the connections between the Bin Laden Family and The Bush Family and CIA. They can't explain a few other things as well. But us "lefties" are too polite to call them out on it. Sad state of affairs.
Numinous @ 45:
That calls for some Ministry.
Johnny2BadObamaCavedOnFISA @ 38:
So you can read everyone's mind now? And BTW, many of your "friends" have come to this site attacking Obama because of his color....they're just too cowardly to come right out and admit it. And please give up the "Edwards is my man" shit, he's gone and he told you to vote for Obama. LOL. I won't continue to argue with you based on hypotheticals...you're clearly in a desperate position of WEAKNESS.
grampa @ 54:
There are meds that will help you with your paranoid psychosis and xenophobia.
Orangutan. @ 69:
Not these "lefties"; not THIS "lefty". Now, the "lefties" on the teevee are another story. They been told their homes will be burned to the ground, metaphorically speaking, naturally!, should they step out line and ask these questions.
Wait...what lefties on tv?
Bonkers the Presumptuous Fist Jabber @ 66:
Smoking jacket open or closed? I mean, it could be considered 'cruel and unusual' punishment if you go too far.
RancidVenison @ 70:
Good stuff there!
Pericles @ 59:
If he'd drawn a small crowd, they'd be saying he was irrelevant. If he'd not gone, he would be uninformed and naive. If he speaks in private, he's not being forthcoming and is holding "sham" interviews. Let's face it no matter what he does or says, Obama will be wrong in their eyes. There are about 25 percent of the people in this country who still think Bush is doing a heckuva job. Those are the people Fox, McCain, and Limbaugh are speaking to. To my mind, the fact that Obama is pissing of the likes of them means he must be doing something right.
Left&Left @ 71:
And another thing...people like you who come here with this after the fact bullshit proclaiming that you still support Hillary, Edwards or Kucinich(all of whom endorsed Obama) are just using those people as an excuse not to vote for the Democratic Primary winner. Your repeating of O'Reilly, Limbaugh, Hannity propanganda would make the most extreme righty proud. COME CLEAN, YOU ARE A FOX BOY JOHNNY....PERIOD.
“I speak to you not as a candidate for President, but as a citizen – a proud citizen of the United States, and a fellow citizen of the world.” -Obama
this line could be taken the wrong way. it is a big stretch though to try to fit this square peg into the round whole of globalization--even if obama is a supporter of globalization.
i had no problem with it and i think it says something about the desperation of the
reichright, and might be a winner for obama in the long run. i think most americans are tired of being the vilified members of the int'l community, and felt great that--after a long winter--there is a candidate that inspires and repairs america's tattered image (and this is coming from someone who is not a big obama supporter).CafeenMan @ 68:
This one, of course! We were here long before the confluence with Lundmark's Nebula. When I say "we", I'm speaking in general terms. The Children of the Lens are actually a child race of the Arisians.
And Obama's pretty big around here too but I'm not seeing a lot of American flags.
Left&Left @ 77:
i think you get waaaaaaaaay ahead of yourself sometimes L&L...
not to mention the inaccuracies