Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!seismo!hao!cires!nbires!ut-ngp!werner From: werner@ut-ngp.UUCP Newsgroups: net.jokes Subject: RE: Berliner and jelly doughnuts. get the definitive from a Kraut. Message-ID: <435@ut-ngp.UUCP> Date: Fri, 22-Jul-83 01:59:26 EDT Article-I.D.: ut-ngp.435 Posted: Fri Jul 22 01:59:26 1983 Date-Received: Sun, 17-Jul-83 00:36:26 EDT Lines: 42 credentials: born , raised , and educated in Krautland. now then: JFK's statement was perfectly flawless in its meaning to give you an idea of the difference betweeen the 2 versions " ich bin Berliner" and " ich bin EIN Berliner " think of: I am (a) Hamburger ( or New Yorker ) it can be funny to be from Hamburg also, right, but the funny part is the double meaning and not an error. As a matter of fact, the difference is really, that the "ein" implies that the statement is made with a certain pride and emphasis, and under the conditions of the recent constructions of the Berlin wall (August 13, 1961), it is also a rallying call implying a warning that nobody should talk down or mistreat the place he identified himself with. One should also remember that the to a casual question, where are you from, you might answer "I am American", but if asked in the middle of a controversy and you want to emphasize your identity, you are likely to say: " I AM AN AMERICAN", emphasizing every word. And a final comment. Kennedy is much respected and loved in Germany for his couragious, open and convincing way. Of course, he also was "cute" and men and women reacted to that, but, to help you imagine what his statement really meant, imagine that the American president would have visited the Falkland islands, in the middle of the Argentine invasion and had stated "I am as British as you, so anyone messing with you better watch out". Forgive the geography and the differences in historical circumstances, and don't flame at me about it. I couldn't think of any event in US history, which allowed me to draw a closer parallel, where I could have the German chancellor visit and give an encouraging speech. Neither the Vietnam nor the Civil war seem to fit. "Ich bin ein Heidelberger" ---Werner--- Werner (UUCP: { decvax!eagle , ucbvax!nbires } !ut-ngp!werner or: { allegra, ctvax, gatech, ihnp4, rice, vortex } !ut-ngp!werner ) (ARPA: cs.werner@utexas-20 or werner@utexas-11 )