Obama Bringing Free-Speech-Zonism to Berlin?
Dear Senator Obama,
I am a U.S. citizen (Denver /New York). I reside often in Berlin, Germany, and have been active in Democrats Abroad. I worked hard on voter registration campaign in Berlin in 2004.
As a friend of your campaign, I want to alert you to a message problem here in Germany. Your speech on July 24th is supposedly “free and open to the public,” but your Website states: "No signs or banners permitted.” Many U.S. and German friends are outraged because this undercuts civil liberties in Germany, where 70% disagree with participation in the war in Afghanistan. The German authorities say that they have not issued the prohibition against signs and banners: your campaign has issued the prohibition, but people will be arrested for disturbing the peace if they bring signs.
At the least, you must state in your Website the precise area in Berlin in which signs and banners will not be permitted. Otherwise, you will send a message to Germans: that your presidency is about “pax Americana,” with no dissent allowed. This will further exacerbate the cultural error of choosing a site for your speech associated with militarism, conquest, and Hitler. I would appreciate a reply.
Elsa Rassbach
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