So. It’s over. It is really over; and there are no riots in the streets of Chicago and LA, no disappointed citizens packing their belongings together to leave this country for good, no thoughts of anger, of despair. No. Instead there is hope. A light at the end of a long and dark tunnel; after eight years of disappointments, of embarrassments, of failed policies, and of a divided country, there is suddenly a future again that people are willing to fight for, that they are excited to fight for.

It is amazing for me to think about the journey this country has traveled over the past two years. Since I moved to New York, and probably long before, no other topic has been discussed as much as the presidential election. What a long journey it must have been for Barack Obama. From campaigning for the first primaries, to his victory over Hillary Clinton and winning the Democratic Presidential Nomination, to this day of his election and his speech at Grant Park in Chicago tonight.

While I was watching the results come this evening, I couldn’t help but wonder what he must have felt during those last hours of this two year long process. Where was he? What was he doing? New Hampshire. Pennsylvania. Ohio! What went through his head when he saw these election results come in, like we did? Relief? Joy? Pride? Did he possibly even cry when the news channels announced him to be president-elect of the United States of America? All this stress and tension falling off him for a few moments and making room for emotions to take control. Even if just for a split second maybe?

I can only imagine his thoughts and his feelings in those moments. A whole country, the entire world is now looking up to this man. What a responsibility! And how courageous to take on such kind of responsibility, not to shy away from it. What kind of character does it take for someone to endure a two year long campaign, to be scrutinized by the media – every single sentence you say, to be followed wherever you go, and wherever you have gone in your past?

Being an aspiring leader myself, I look up to this man today and bow before him in awe and respect for what he has achieved. For making history. For bringing back hope to this country, and to the world. For standing firm in his beliefs against all odds. For showing strength, courage and fearlessness, when I know that no man or woman, facing the enormous challenges that he will face as the next President of the United States, no man or woman will not also at times feel week, dispirited and fearful during difficult times like these.

But today is not only the day of Barack Obama. Today is the day of the American people. In the past couple of years, Americans I met were embarrassed for their President Bush, for the politics of their country. They apologized for what their country has done to the world. But after eight long years, Americans can finally be proud again; proud to have now an incredibly intelligent, inspiring, and humble man as their leader. I am proud of Obama, and I am happy for all of my American friends who don’t need to feel ashamed anymore, but who can be proud, too. Proud of their new President, and proud of their country, which is no doubt capable of doing much good in this world.

Today, the United States has become a better place. Today, the world has become a better place.

Aujourd'hui, le monde est devenu un meilleur endroit.
Automatically translated into French thanks to WorldLingo
Ainsi. Il plus de. Il vraiment plus de ; et il n'y a aucune émeute dans les rues de Chicago et de LA, aucuns citoyens déçus emballant leurs affaires ensemble pour partir de ce pays pour de bon, aucunes pensées de colère, de désespoir. Non. Au lieu de cela il y a espoir. Une lumière à l'extrémité d'un long et foncé tunnel ; après huit ans de déceptions, des embarras, des politiques échouées, et d'un pays divisé, il y a soudainement un futur encore que les gens sont disposés à combattre pour, pour lesquels ils sont excités pour combattre.

Il est étonnant pour que je pense au voyage que ce pays a voyagé au cours des deux dernières années. Depuis que je me suis déplacé à New York, et probablement longtemps avant, aucune autre matière n'a été discutée autant que l'élection présidentielle. Quel long voyage ce doit avoir été pour Barack Obama. De la campagne pour les premières primaires, à sa victoire Hillary Clinton finie et gain de la nomination présidentielle démocratique, à ce jour de son élection et de son discours au parc de Grant Chicago ce soir.

Tandis que j'observais les résultats viennent ce soir, je ne pourraient pas aider mais se demander ce que s'être senti il doit pendant ces dernières heures de ce long processus de deux ans. Où était-il ? Que faisait-il ? New Hampshire. La Pennsylvanie. L'Ohio ! Qu'est passé par sa tête quand il a vu ces résultats d'élection entrer, comme nous ? Soulagement ? Joie ? Fierté ? Probablement a-t-il même pleuré quand les nouvelles creusent des rigoles l'ont annoncé pour être président désigné des Etats-Unis d'Amérique ? Tous ces effort et tension tombant lui pendant quelques moments et faisant de la place pour que les émotions prennent la commande. Même si juste pour un deuxième fendu peut-être ?

Je peux seulement imaginer ses pensées et ses sentiments en ces moments. Un pays entier, le monde entier regarde maintenant jusqu'à cet homme. Quelle responsabilité ! Et comment courageux prendre un tel genre de responsabilité, de ne pas lancer loin de lui. Quel genre de caractère est-ce qu'il prend-il pour que quelqu'un supporte une longue campagne de deux ans, pour être contrôlé par les médias - chaque simple vous condamne parole, pour être suivi partout où vous allez, et partout où vous êtes entré dans votre passé ?

Étant un chef aspirant moi-même, je regarde jusqu'à cet homme aujourd'hui et ai cintré avant qu'il à la crainte et à l'égard pour ce qu'il a réalisé. Pour faire l'histoire. Pour rapporter l'espoir à ce pays, et au monde. Pour se tenir ferme dans sa croyance contre toute la chance. Pour montrer la force, le courage et le fearlessness, quand moi sait qu'aucun homme ou femme, relevant les énormes défis qu'il relèvera en tant que prochain président des Etats-Unis, aucun homme ou la femme ne sentira pas également parfois la semaine, découragée et craintive pendant des périodes difficiles comme ces derniers.

Mais est aujourd'hui non seulement le jour de Barack Obama. Aujourd'hui est le jour des américains. Dans les années passées, des Américains que j'ai rencontrés ont été embarrassés pour leur Président Bush, pour la politique de leur pays. Ils ont fait des excuses pour ce que leur pays a fait au monde. Mais après huit longues années, les Américains peuvent finalement être fiers encore ; fier d'avoir maintenant incroyablement un intelligent, inspirer, et un homme humble en tant que leur chef. Je suis fier d'Obama, et je suis heureux pour tous mes amis américains qui n'ont besoin d'avoir honte plus, mais qui peut être fier, aussi. Fier de leur nouveau président, et fier de leur pays, qui n'est aucun doute capable de faire beaucoup de bien en ce monde.

Aujourd'hui, les Etats-Unis sont devenus un meilleur endroit. Aujourd'hui, le monde est devenu un meilleur endroit.

Hoy, el mundo se ha convertido en un lugar mejor.
Automatically translated into Spanish thanks to WorldLingo
Tan. encima. realmente encima; y no hay alborotos en las calles de Chicago y del LA, ningunos ciudadanos decepcionados que embalan sus pertenencia juntas para salir de este país para bueno, ningunos pensamientos de la cólera, de la desesperación. No. En lugar hay esperanza. Una luz en el extremo de un túnel largo y oscuro; después de ocho años de decepciones, de vergu|enzas, de políticas falladas, y de un país dividido, hay repentinamente un futuro otra vez que la gente está dispuesta a luchar para, para quien la excitan para luchar.

Es asombroso para que piense del viaje que este país ha viajado sobre los últimos dos años. Desde que me trasladé a Nueva York, y probablemente mucho antes de que, no se ha discutido ningún otro asunto tanto como la elección presidencial. Un qué viaje largo debe haber sido para Barack Obama. From campaigning for the first primaries, to his victory over Hillary Clinton and winning the Democratic Presidential Nomination, to this day of his election and his speech at Grant Park in Chicago tonight.

Mientras que miraba los resultados vienen esta tarde, yo no podrían ayudar sino preguntarse qué él debe haberse sentido durante las esas horas pasadas de este dos años de largo procesa. ¿Dónde estaba él? ¿Qué él hacía? De New Hampshire. Pennsylvania. ¡Ohio! ¿Qué pasó a través de su cabeza cuando él vio estos resultados de elección venir adentro, como lo hicimos? ¿Relevación? ¿Alegría? ¿Orgullo? ¿Él incluso gritó posiblemente cuando las noticias acanalan lo anunciaron para ser presidente electo de los Estados Unidos de América? Toda esta tensión y tensión que bajan de él por algunos momentos y que hacen el sitio para que emociones tomen control. ¿Aunque apenas para un segundo partido quizá?

Puedo imaginar solamente sus pensamientos y sus sensaciones en esos momentos. Un país entero, el mundo entero ahora está mirando hasta este hombre. ¡Una qué responsabilidad! Y cómo es valeroso adquirir tal clase de responsabilidad, de no arrojar lejos de ella. ¿Qué clase de carácter toma para que alguien aguante dos años hace campaña de largo, para ser escudriñado por los medios - cada solo le condenó opinión, para ser seguido dondequiera que usted vaya, y dondequiera que usted ha entrado en su pasado?

Siendo un líder de aspiración mismo, miro hasta este hombre hoy y arqueé antes de que él en temor y respecto por lo que él ha alcanzado. Para hacer historia. Para traer detrás esperanza a este país, y al mundo. Para estar parado firme en su creencia contra todas las probabilidades. Para demostrar fuerza, valor y fearlessness, cuando yo sabe que ningún hombre o mujer, haciendo frente a los desafíos enormes a que él hará frente como el presidente siguiente de los Estados Unidos, ningún hombre o la mujer también no sentirá ocasionalmente la semana, dispirited y temerosa durante épocas difíciles como éstos.

Pero está hoy no sólo el día de Barack Obama. Hoy es el día de la gente americana. En los últimos pares de años, desconcertaron a los americanos que satisfice para su presidente Bush, para la política de su país. Se disculparon por lo que ha hecho su país al mundo. Pero después de ocho años largos, los americanos pueden finalmente ser orgullosos otra vez; orgulloso tener ahora un increíblemente inteligente, una inspiración, y un hombre humilde como su líder. Soy orgulloso de Obama, y soy feliz para todos mis amigos americanos que no necesiten sentirse avergonzados más, pero quiénes puede ser orgulloso, también. Orgulloso de su nuevo presidente, y orgulloso de su país, que no es ninguna duda capaz de hacer mucho bueno en este mundo.

Hoy, los Estados Unidos se han convertido en un lugar mejor. Hoy, el mundo se ha convertido en un lugar mejor.

Oggi, il mondo si è trasformato in in un posto migliore.
Automatically translated into Italian thanks to WorldLingo
Così. finito. realmente finito; e non ci sono tumulti nelle vie di Chicago e di LA, nessun cittadini deludenti che imballano insieme i loro effetti personali per lasciare questo paese per buon, nessun pensieri di rabbia, di disperazione. No. Invece ci è speranza. Una luce all'estremità di un traforo lungo e scuro; dopo otto anni dei disappunti, degli imbarazzi, delle politiche guastate e di un paese diviso, ci è improvvisamente ancora un futuro che la gente è disposta a combattere per, che sono eccitate per combattere per.

È stupefacente affinchè me pensi al viaggio che questo paese ha viaggiato in questi ultimi due anni. Da quando mi sono mosso verso New York e probabilmente molto prima che di, nessun altro soggetto è stato discusso tanto quanto l'elezione presidenziale. Ché viaggio lungo deve essere per Barack Obama. Dal fare una campagna per le prime cose principali, alla sua vittoria Hillary Clinton eccessiva e vincere la nomina presidenziale democratica, a questo giorno della sua elezione e del suo discorso al parco del Grant in Chicago stasera.

Mentre stavo guardando i risultati vengono questa sera, io non potrebbero aiutare ma domandarsi che cosa deve ritenere durante quelle ultime ore di questo processo lungo biennale. Dove era? Che cosa stava facendo? Del New Hampshire. La Pensilvania. L'Ohio! Che cosa ha passato tramite la sua testa quando ha visto questi risultati di elezione entrare, come? Rilievo? Gioia? Orgoglio? Possibilmente persino ha gridato quando le notizie scavano canali lo hanno annunciato per essere presidente eletto degli Stati Uniti d'America? Tutti questi sforzo e tensionamento che cadono da lui per alcuni momenti e che fanno stanza affinchè emozioni prendano controllo. Anche se appena per un secondo spaccato forse?

Posso immaginare soltanto i suoi pensieri e le sue sensibilità in quei momenti. Un paese intero, l'intero mondo ora sta osservando fino a questo uomo. Ché responsabilità! E quanto coraggioso intraprendere tale genere di responsabilità, di non lanciare via da esso. Che genere di carattere prende affinchè qualcuno resista ad una campagna lunga biennale, per essere controllato dai mezzi - ogni singolo li sentenzia opinione, per essere seguiti dovunque andiate e dovunque siate andato nel vostro passato?

Essendo un capo d'aspirazione io stesso, osservo oggi fino a questo uomo ed ho piegato prima che lui nel awe e nel rispetto per che cosa ha realizzato. Per fare storia. Per riportare speranza a questo paese ed al mondo. Per levarsi in piedi costante nella sua credenza contro tutte le probabilità. Per mostrare la resistenza, coraggio e fearlessness, quando io sa che nessun uomo o donna, affrontante le sfide enormi che affronterà come il presidente seguente degli Stati Uniti, nessun uomo o la donna inoltre non riterrà occasionalmente la settimana, dispirited e spaventosa durante i periodi difficili come questi.

Ma oggi è non solo il giorno di Barack Obama. L'oggi è il giorno della gente americana. Nelle coppie passate degli anni, gli Americani che ho venuto a contatto di si sono confusi per il loro presidente Bush, per la politica del loro paese. Hanno chiesto scusa per che cosa il loro paese ha fatto al mondo. Ma dopo otto anni lunghi, gli Americani possono infine essere fieri ancora; fiero avere ora incredibilmente un intelligente, un'ispirazione e un uomo humble come loro capo. Sono fiero di Obama e sono felice per tutti i miei amici americani che non devono ritenere ashamed più, ma chi può essere fiero, anche. Fiero del loro nuovo presidente e fiero del loro paese, che è senza dubbio capace di fare molta merce in questo mondo.

Oggi, gli Stati Uniti si sono trasformati in in un posto migliore. Oggi, il mondo si è trasformato in in un posto migliore.

Heute ist die Welt ein besserer Platz geworden.
Automatically translated into German thanks to WorldLingo
So. Es sein rüber. Es sein wirklich rüber; und es gibt keine Aufstände in den Straßen von Chicago und von LA, keine enttäuschten Bürger, die zusammen ist ihr Eigentum verpacken, um dieses Land für gutes, keine Gedanken zu verlassen des Zornes, der Verzweiflung. Nein. Stattdessen gibt es Hoffnung. Ein Licht am Ende eines langen und dunklen Tunnels; nach acht Jahren Enttäuschungen, von Verlegenheiten, der verlassenen Politik und des geteilten Landes, gibt es plötzlich eine Zukunft wieder, daß Leute bereit sind, für zu kämpfen, die sie aufgeregt werden, um zu kämpfen für.

Es ist erstaunlich, damit ich an die Reise denke, die dieses Land über die letzten zwei Jahre gereist ist. Seit ich nach New York und vermutlich lange vorher umzog, ist keinem anderen Thema soviel wie die Präsidentenwahl besprochen worden. Eine was für lange Reise es für Barack Obama gewesen sein muß. Von der Werbetätigkeit für die ersten Primärstromkreise, zu seinem Sieg überHillary Clinton und die demokratische Präsidentennennung, zu diesem Tag seiner Wahl und seiner Rede am Grant Park in Chicago heute abend gewinnen.

Während ich aufpaßte, kommen die Resultate heute abend, ich konnten nicht helfen aber sich wundern, was er während jener letzten Stunden dieses zweijährigen langen Prozesses geglaubt haben muß. Wo war er? Was tat er? New-Hampshire. Pennsylvania. Ohio! Was lief seinen Kopf durch, als er diese Wahlergebnisse sah, hereinzukommen, wie wir? Entlastung? Freude? Stolz? Sogar er vielleicht schrie, wenn die Nachrichten verkündeten ihn, um gewählter Präsident der Staaten von Amerika zu sein lenken? Dieser ganzer Druck und Spannung, die weg von ihm während einiger Momente fallen und Raum bilden, damit Gefühle Steuerung nehmen. Selbst wenn gerade für ein aufgeteiltes zweites möglicherweise?

Ich kann seine Gedanken und seine Gefühle in jenen Momenten nur mich vorstellen. Ein vollständiges Land, die gesamte Welt schaut jetzt bis zu diesem Mann. Eine was für Verantwortlichkeit! Und wie man mutig auf solcher Art Verantwortlichkeit, nicht shy weg von ihr nimmt. Welcher Art des Buchstabens nimmt es, damit jemand eine zweijährige lange Kampagne aushält, durch die Mittel nachgeforscht zu werden - jedes einzelne verurteilt Sie Sagen, gefolgt zu werden, wohin Sie gehen und wohin Sie in Ihre Vergangenheit gegangen sind?

Seiend ein strebender Führer selbst, schaue ich bis zu diesem Mann heute und beugte bevor er im Awe und im Respekt für, was er erzielt hat. Für das Bilden von Geschichte. Für Hoffnung zu diesem Land und zur Welt zurück holen. Für das Stehen fest in seinem Glauben gegen alle Vorteile. Für das Zeigen von Stärke, von Mut und von fearlessness, wenn ich daß kein Mann oder Frau wissen und die enormen Herausforderungen gegenüberstellen, die er als der folgende Präsident der Vereinigten Staaten gegenüberstellt, von keinem Mann oder Frau nicht auch glaubt manchmal der Woche, die entmutigt wird und während der schwierigen Zeiten wie diese ängstlich.

Aber heute nicht nur ist der Tag von Barack Obama. Heutiger Tag ist der Tag der amerikanischen Leute. In den letzten Paaren von Jahren, wurden Amerikaner, die ich traf, für ihren Präsidenten Bush, für die Politik ihres Landes in Verlegenheit gebracht. Sie entschuldigten sich für, was ihr Land zur Welt getan hat. Aber nach acht langen Jahren, können Amerikaner stolz schließlich wieder sein; stolz, ein unglaublich intelligentes, ein Anspornen und einen bescheidenen Mann als ihr Führer jetzt zu haben. Ich bin auf Obama stolz, und ich bin für alle meine amerikanischen Freunde glücklich, die nicht brauchen, beschämt mehr zu fühlen, aber wer stolz sein kann, auch. Stolz auf ihren neuen Präsidenten und stolz auf ihr Land, das kein Zweifel ist, der zum Tun vielen guten in dieser Welt fähig ist.

Heute sind die Vereinigten Staaten ein besserer Platz geworden. Heute ist die Welt ein besserer Platz geworden.

Hoje, o mundo transformou-se um lugar melhor.
Automatically translated into Portuguese thanks to WorldLingo
Assim. sobre. realmente sobre; e não há nenhum motim nas ruas de Chicago e de LA, nenhuns cidadãos decepcionados que embalam seus pertences junto para sair deste país para bons, nenhuns pensamentos da raiva, do desespero. Não. Instead há uma esperança. Uma luz na extremidade de um túnel longo e escuro; após oito anos dos desapontamentos, dos embarrassments, de políticas falhadas, e de um país dividido, há de repente um futuro outra vez que os povos são dispostos lutar por, por que são excitados para lutar.

É surpreendente para que eu pense sobre a viagem que este país viajou sobre os dois anos passados. Desde que eu me movi para New York, e long provavelmente antes, nenhum outro tópico foi discutido tanto quanto a eleição presidencial. Que viagem longa deve ter sido para Barack Obama. De fazer campanha para os primeiros primaries, a sua vitória Hillary Clinton excedente e ganhar o Nomination presidencial democrático, a este dia de sua eleição e de seu discurso no parque de Grant em Chicago hoje à noite.

Quando eu estava prestando atenção os resultados vêm esta noite, mim não poderiam ajudar mas para querer saber o que deve ter sentido durante aquelas últimas horas deste dois anos por muito tempo processa. Onde estava? Que fazia? De New-Hampshire. Pensilvânia. Ohio! Que atravessou sua cabeça quando viu estes resultados de eleição vir dentro, como nós? Relevo? Alegria? Orgulho? Possivelmente gritou mesmo quando a notícia canaliza o anunciou para ser president-elect dos Estados Unidos da América? Todos estes stress e tensão que caem ele por alguns momentos e que fazem o quarto para que as emoções façam exame do controle. Mesmo se apenas para um segundo rachado talvez?

Eu posso somente imaginar seus pensamentos e seus sentimentos naqueles momentos. Um país inteiro, o mundo inteiro está olhando agora até este homem. Que responsabilidade! E como courageous fazer exame em tal tipo da responsabilidade, não recuar longe dele. Que tipo do caráter faz exame para que alguém resista uns dois anos faz campanha por muito tempo, para scrutinized pelos meios - cada único o sentencia palavra, para ser seguido onde quer que você vai, e onde quer que você foi em seu passado?

Sendo um líder aspiring eu mesmo, eu olho até este homem hoje e curvei-me antes que ele no awe e no respeito para o que conseguiu. Para fazer a história. Para trazer para trás a esperança a este país, e ao mundo. Para a empresa ereta em sua opinião de encontro a todas as probabilidades. Para mostrar a força, a coragem e o fearlessness, quando eu sabem que nenhuma homem ou mulher, enfrentando os desafios enormes que enfrentará como o presidente seguinte dos Estados Unidos, o nenhum homem ou a mulher também não sentirá às vezes a semana, dispirited e temível durante épocas difíceis como estes.

Mas é hoje não somente o dia de Barack Obama. Hoje é o dia dos povos americanos. Nos pares passados dos anos, os americanos que eu me encontrei com embarrassed para seu presidente Bush, para a política de seu país. Desculparam-se por o que seu país fêz ao mundo. Mas após oito anos longos, os americanos podem finalmente ser orgulhosos outra vez; orgulhoso ter agora um incredibly inteligente, inspirar, e um homem humble como seu líder. Eu sou orgulhoso de Obama, e eu sou feliz para todos meus amigos americanos que não necessitam sentir anymore ashamed, mas quem pode ser orgulhoso, demasiado. Orgulhoso de seu presidente novo, e orgulhoso de seu país, que não é nenhuma dúvida capaz de fazer muito bom neste mundo.

Hoje, os Estados Unidos transformaram-se um lugar melhor. Hoje, o mundo transformou-se um lugar melhor.

I dag har världen blivit ett bättre förlägger.
Automatically translated into Swedish thanks to WorldLingo
Så. Det är över. Det är egentligen över; och det finns inte några tumultar i gatorna av Chicago och LA, inga besvikna medborgare som tillsammans packar deras tillhörigheter för att lämna detta land för goda, inga tankar av ilska, av förtvivlan. Nr. I stället det finns hopp. Ett ljust på avsluta av en lång och mörkertunnel; efter åtta år av besvikelser av besvär av missad politik och av ett delat land finns det plötsligt en framtid igen som bemanna är villigt att slåss för, att de är upphetsada att slåss för.

Det förbluffar för mig till funderare om resan som detta land har rest över de förgångna två åren. Sedan I som är rört till New York, och long antagligen, för, inget annat ämne har diskuterats så mycket som presidentval. En vilken långa resa det måste ha varit för Barack Obama. Från att delta i en kampanj för de första primariesna till hans seger över Hillary Clinton och att segra den demokratiska presidentnomineringen, till denna dag av hans val och hans anförande på lån parkera i Chicago ikväll.

Stund I höll ögonen på resultaten kommer i kväll, mig kunde inte hjälpa, men att undra vad han måste ha, klädde med filt under de sist timmar av detta två långa år bearbetar. Var var han? Vad gjorde han? New Hampshire. Pennsylvania. Ohio! Gick vad till och med hans huvud, när han sågar dessa valresultat kommer in, något liknande som vi? Lättnad? Glädje? Stolthet? honom gråter eventuellt även, när nyheterna kanaliserar meddelade honom för att vara presidenten-elect av Amerikas förenta stater? All denna spänning och spänning som faller av honom för några ögonblick och dananderum för att sinnesrörelser ska ta, kontrollerar. Om även precis för en del av en sekund kanske?

Jag kan endast föreställa hans tankar och hans känslor i de ögonblick. Ett helt land, den hela världen ser nu upp till denna man. Ett vilket ansvar! Och, hur man tar på sådan sort av ansvar, att inte skygga i väg från den. Vilken sort av teckenet tar det för att någon ska uthärda ett två år delta i en kampanj long, för att undersökas mycket noggrant av massmedia - varje singel dömer dig något att säga, för att följas, wherever du går, och wherever du har väck i din förflutna?

Vara en uppåtsträvande ledare jag själv, ser bugar jag upp till denna man i dag och för honom i awe och respekt för vad han har uppnått. För danandehistoria. För att komma med tillbaka hopp till detta land och till världen. För anseendefirma i hans troar mot alla odds. För visningstyrka, kurage och fearlessness när jag vet att ingen man eller kvinna som vänder mot, vänder mot de jättelika utmaningarna, som han ska, som den nästa presidenten av Förenta staterna, ingen man eller kvinnan ska inte också stundom känselförnimmelseveckan, görat modfälld och fruktansvärdt under svår tidnågot liknande dessa.

Men inte i dag endast är dagen av Barack Obama. Todayen är dagen av amerikanfolket. I förflutnan koppla ihop av år, amerikaner som jag mötte generades för deras president Bush, för politiken av deras land. De bad om ursäkt för vad deras land har gjort till världen. Men efter åtta långa år, kan amerikaner slutligen vara stolt igen; stolt att ha nu ett incredibly intelligent och att inspirera och att kväsa manen som deras ledare. Förmiddag som I är stolt av Obama och I-förmiddag som är lycklig för alla min amerikanvänner, som inte behöver den skamsna känselförnimmelsen anymore, men vem kan vara stolt, för. Stolt av deras nya president och stolt av deras land, som är inget tvivel som är kapabelt av att göra mycket goda i denna värld.

I dag har Förenta staterna blivit ett bättre förlägger. I dag har världen blivit ett bättre förlägger.

Сегодня, мир был более лучшим местом.
Automatically translated into Russian thanks to WorldLingo
Так. Оно сверх. Оно реально сверх; и не будут бунтов в улицах Chicago и LA, никаких разочарованных граждан пакуя их пожитки совместно для того чтобы выйти эта страна для хорошего, никакие мысли гнева, despair. Нет. Вместо будет упование. Свет на конце длиннего и темного тоннеля; после 8 лет разочарований, embarrassments, вылтинных из строя политик, и разделенной страны, будет неожиданно через будущее снова что люди охотно готовы воевать для, которых они возбужены для того чтобы воевать для.

Оно amazing для меня для того чтобы думать о путешествии эта, котор страна перемещала над прошлыми 2 летами. В виду того что я двинул к нью-йорку, и вероятно long before, никакая другая тема не была обсужена как много как президентский выбор. Что длиннее путешествие должно быть для Barack Obama. От агитировать для первых primaries, к его победе излишек Hillary Клинтон и выигрывать демократическое президентское выставление, к этому дню его избрания и его речи на парке Grant в Chicago tonight.

Пока я наблюдал результаты приходят этот вечер, я не смогли помочь только интересовать он должен чувствовать во время тех последних часов этого двухклассного длиннего процесса. Где был он? Он делал? New Hampshire. Пенсильвания. Огай Огайо! Пошло через его головку когда он увидел, что эти результаты выборов пришли внутри, как мы сделали? Сброс? Утеха? Гордость? Он по возможности даже заплакал когда новостями направятся объявили его для того чтобы быть president-elect Соединенных Штатов Америки? Полностью эти усилие и напряжение понижаясь с его на немного моментов и делая комнату для взволнованностей принять управление. Even if как раз для split второго возможно?

Я могу только представить его мысли и его ощупывания в тех моментах. Вся страна, весь мир теперь смотрит до этого человека. Что ответственность! И как отважно принять на такую вроде ответственность, shy далеко от ее. Что вроде характеру оно принимает для кто-то для того чтобы вытерпеть двухклассную длиннюю кампанию, быть всмотренным средствами - каждая одиночной присудить вам мнение, быть последованным за wherever вы идете, и wherever вы шли в ваше прошлый?

Был aspiring руководителем себя, я смотрю до этого человека сегодня и обхватывал прежде чем он в благоговении и уважении для он достигал. Для делать историю. Для приносить назад упование к этой стране, и к миру. Для стоять твердо в его веровании против всех фор. Для показывать прочность, смелость и fearlessness, когда я знаем что никакие человек или женщина, смотря на преогромные возможности которые он будет смотреть на как следующий президент Соединенных Штатов, никакой человека или женщина также время от времени не почувствует неделю, dispirited и пугливо во время трудных времен как эти.

Но сегодня not only день Barack Obama. Сегодня будет день американских людей. В прошлых парах лет, американцы, котор я встречал были оконфужены для их президента Кустика, для политики их страны. Они apologized для их страна делала к миру. Но после 8 длинних лет, американцы могут окончательно быть самолюбивы снова; самолюбиво для того чтобы иметь теперь неимоверно толковейшее, воодушевлять, и всепокорный человека как их руководитель. Я самолюбив Obama, и я счастлив для всего из моих американских друзей которым не нужно чувствовать ashamed больше, но смогите быть самолюбиво, слишком. Самолюбиво их нового президента, и самолюбиво их страны, которая будет никаким сомнением способным делать много хорош в этом мире.

Сегодня, Соединенные Штаты были более лучшим местом. Сегодня, мир был более лучшим местом.

Vandaag, is de wereld een betere plaats geworden.
Automatically translated into Dutch thanks to WorldLingo
Zo. Het is over. Het is werkelijk over; en er zijn geen rellen in de straten van Chicago en La, geen teleurgestelde burgers samen inpakkend hun bezittingen om dit land voor goed, geen gedachten van woede, van wanhoop te verlaten. Nr. In plaats daarvan is er hoop. Een licht aan het eind van een lange en donkere tunnel; na acht jaar teleurstellingen, verlegenheid, ontbroken beleid, en van een verdeeld land, is er plotseling opnieuw een toekomst dat de mensen bereid om zijn te vechten voor, dat zij opgewekt om zijn te vechten voor.

Het is verbazend voor me om te denken over de reis dit land in de loop van de afgelopen twee jaar heeft gereist. Aangezien ik me aan New York, en waarschijnlijk lang voor bewoog, is geen ander onderwerp besproken zo veel zoals de presidentiële verkiezing. Een welke lange reis moet geweest zijn het voor Barack Obama. Van het een campagne voeren voor de eerste voorverkiezingen, aan zijn overwinning over Hillary Clinton en vanavond het winnen van de Democratische Presidentiële Benoeming, aan deze dag van zijn verkiezing en zijn toespraak bij het Park van de Toelage in Chicago.

Terwijl ik was lettend op de resultaten kom vanavond, kon ik niet helpen maar ben wat benieuwd hij tijdens die laatste uren van dit lange proces van twee jaar moet gevoeld hebben. Waar was hij? Wat deed hij? Van Newhampshire. Pennsylvania. Ohio! Wat ging door zijn hoofd toen hij deze verkiezingsresultaten zag komen in, als wij? Hulp? Vreugde? Trots? Maakte hij misschien schreeuw gelijk toen de nieuwskanalen hem om nieuwgekozen president van de Verenigde Staten van Amerika aankondigden te zijn? Al dit spanning en spanning die van hem voor een paar ogenblikken vallen en ruimte voor emoties maken om controle te nemen. Zelfs als enkel voor een spleet tweede misschien?

Ik kan zijn gedachten en zijn gevoel in die ogenblikken slechts veronderstellen. Een geheel land, de volledige wereld kijkt nu tot deze mens. Een welke verantwoordelijkheid! En hoe moedig om dergelijk soort verantwoordelijkheid over te nemen, niet om voor het terug te schrikken. Welk soort karakter neemt het voor iemand om een lange campagne van twee jaar, dat door de media - elke enige moet worden in detail onderzocht te verdragen zin u, zegt om worden gevolgd waar u gaat, en waar u in uw verleden bent gegaan?

Zijnd een strevende leider zelf, kijk ik vandaag tot deze mens en boog vóór hem in awe en opzicht voor wat hij heeft bereikt. Voor het maken van geschiedenis. Voor terug het brengen van hoop aan dit land, en aan de wereld. Voor status vast in zijn geloven tegen alle kansen. Voor het tonen van sterkte, zullen de moed en fearlessness, wanneer ik dat geen man of vrouw weet, staand voor de enorme uitdagingen dievoor hij als volgende President van de Verenigde Staten zal staan, geen man of vrouw ook af en toe geen week voelen, dispirited en vreselijk tijdens moeilijke tijden als deze.

Maar vandaag is niet alleen de dag van Barack Obama. Vandaag is de dag van de Amerikaanse mensen. In het verleden het paar van jaren, werden Amerikanen die ik geverward voor hun President Bush, voor de politiek van hun land heb ontmoet. Zij verontschuldigden zich voor wat hun land aan de wereld heeft gedaan. Maar na acht lange jaren, kunnen Amerikanen definitief opnieuw trots zijn; trots om ongelooflijk intelligent, het inspireren, en een bescheiden mens nu te hebben als hun leider. Ik ben trots van Obama, en ik ben gelukkig voor elk van mijn Amerikaanse vrienden die niet beschaamd te hoeven te voelen anymore, maar die trots kunnen zijn, ook. Trots van hun nieuwe Voorzitter, en trots van hun land, dat zonder twijfel geschikt voor doen veel goed in deze wereld is.

Vandaag, zijn de Verenigde Staten een betere plaats geworden. Vandaag, is de wereld een betere plaats geworden.

اليوم, قد أصبح العالم مكان جيّدة.
Automatically translated into Arabic thanks to WorldLingo
هكذا. هو [إيس] على. هو [إيس] حقّا على; وهناك ما من مشاغبات في الشوارع من شيكاغو ولا, ما من يخيّب مواطنات يحزم انتماءهم معا أن يترك هذا بلم لجيّدة, ما من أفكار الحالة, من قنوط. رفض. بدلا من ذلك هناك أمل. ضوء في النهاية من طويلة ونفق مظلمة; بعد ثمانية سنون الخيبة أمل, من حيرات, من [فيلد] سياسات, ومن يقسم بلم, هناك فجأة مستقبل ثانية أنّ الناس مستعدّة أن يتنازع ل, أنّ هم يكون أثرت أن يتنازع ل.

هو مدهشة ل ي أن يفكّر حول السفر هذا بلاد قد سافر على السابقة اثنان سنون. بما أنّ أنا تحرّكت إلى نيويورك, وعلى الأرجح [لونغ بفور], ما من أخرى تناقشت موضوع يتلقّى يكون مثل كثير بما أنّ الإنتخاب رئاسيّة. ما سفر طويلة هو ينبغي يتلقّى كنت ل [برك] [أبما]. من يشترك لالانتخابات أوّلية أولى, إلى نصرته على [هيلّري] [كلينتون] ويربح التعيين ديموقراطيّة رئاسيّة, إلى هذا يوم من إنتخابه وخطبته في [غرنت] متنزهة في شيكاغو هذا المساء.

بينما أنا كان راقبت يأتي النتيجات مساء اليوم, أنا استطاع لم يساعد غير أنّ تساءلت ماذا هو ينبغي يتلقّى [فلت] أثناء أنّ ساعات متأخّرة من هذا عملية [توو ر] طويلة. أين كان هو? ماذا كان هو أتمّ? [نو-همبشير]. بانسيلفانيا. أوهايو! ماذا ذهب من خلال رأسه عندما رأى هو هذا نتيجة انتخابات أتيت داخل, مثل نحن أتمّنا? راحة? سعادة? كبرياء? هو من المحتمل حتّى صرخ عندما يقنّي الأخبار أعلنه أن يكون رئيس منتخب من [أونيتد ستتس وف مريك]? كلّ هذا إجهاد وتوتر يسقط من ه ل [ا فو] أعزام ويجعل غرفة لعواطف أن يأخذ تحكم. [إفن يف] فقط لمنقسمة ثاني ربّما?

أنا يستطيع فقط تخيّلت أفكاره وأحاسيسه في أنّ أعزام. ينظر بلم كاملة, العالم كاملة الآن حتّى هذا رجل. ما مسؤولية! وكيف شجاعة أن يأخذ على هذا نوع المسؤولية, لا أن يحرن بعيدا من هو. ما نوع الرمز هو يأخذ ل أحد ما أن يحتمل حملة [توو ر] طويلة, أن يكون تفحّصت بالأوساط - كلّ وحيدة حكمت أنت رأي, أن يكون تبعت أينما يذهب أنت, وأينما أنت قد ذهبت في ماضك?

يكون يطمح زعيمة بنفسي, ينظر أنا حتّى هذا رجل اليوم وحنى قبل أن ه في رعب وإحترام ل ماذا هو قد حقّق. ل يجعل تاريخ. ل يحضر إلى الخلف أمل إلى هذا بلم, وإلى العالم. ل يقف متينة في إعتقاده ضدّ كلّ أرجحية. ل يبدي قوة, شجاعة و [فرلسّنسّ], عندما يعرف أنا أنّ ما من رجل أو إمرأة, يواجه التحديات ضخمة أنّ هو سيواجه كالرئيس تالية من الولايات المتّحدة الأمريكيّة, ما من رجل أو إمرأة لن أيضا أحيانا سيشعر أسبوع, [ديسبيريتد] ومخيفة أثناء يصعب أوقات مثل هذا.

غير أنّ اليوم ليس فحسب اليوم [برك] [أبما]. اليوم اليوم من الالناس أمريكيّة. في الزوج سابقة سنون, أحرجت أمريكيات أنا التقيت كان لرئيسهم بوش, للسياسة من بلدهم. هم اعتذروا ل ماذا بلدهم قد أتمّ إلى العالم. غير أنّ بعد ثمانية سنون طويلة, أمريكيات يستطيع أخيرا كنت فخورة ثانية; يتلقّى فخورة أن الآن بشكل لا يصدّق ذكيّة, يلهم, ورجل متواضعة كزعيمتهم. أنا فخورة من [أبما], وأنا سعيدة ل كلّ من صديقاتي أمريكيّة الذي لا يحتاج أن يشعر خجلة بعد الآن, غير أنّ الذي يستطيع كنت فخورة, أيضا. فخورة من رئيسهم جديدة, وفخورة من بلدهم, أيّ يكون ما من شك قادرة من يتمّ كثير الخير في هذا عالم.

اليوم, قد أصبح الولايات المتّحدة الأمريكيّة مكان جيّدة. اليوم, قد أصبح العالم مكان جيّدة.

This morning I read a very interesting interview with Tariq Ramadan, a Swiss born Muslim and one of the leading intellectuals about the Islam. When they came to talk about the freedom of press in European countries, Ramadan said that many Muslims in the Middle East think that the governments are responsible for the caricatures printed in the press, because in their countries the president controls the press. When asked by the newspaper, if he also thinks that many people might not be aware of the fact that there is even in European countries a huge debate about the caricatures, he said that he thinks so, but added one important thing: He said, that we in Europe are not much better in this respect as we see the people in the streets of Islamic countries, who smash the windows of European embassies and demonstrate against “the West”, as the Muslims.

We don’t differentiate either. And I must admit that he is certainly right. One reason for that is the one-sided press in our countries (which is in fact something that Tariq Ramadan mentions in the interview as well). It’s the same as with young people in the press: The bad and ugly is portrayed all day, but nobody talks about those who can be seen as role models - or even just normal people (cause I don’t believe that every Muslim is supporting the violence these days as much as I don’t believe in the common view that young people are supposedly not interested in anything societal and rather watch TV or play video games the whole day than contributing to their communities).

For that reason, I started searching for literature that is presenting me with another view – I’m fed up with the daily bad news that I have to read when opening the newspaper in the morning (or rather looking up the headlines on the Internet). So far I have found two books that I really liked and that gave me a new view on people in countries you usually only hear bad things about. One book was a biography of Wangari Maathai. A very short and simple description of her life, how she grew up, why she started the Green Belt Movement and how she became active in the political arena. The reason why I liked the book was because it was presenting me with a fascinating and courageous African woman who dared fighting against her corrupt government even though that meant that she was constantly risking her life. These are the stories we need to hear! I’m sure there are many more people like Wangari Maathai on this vast continent – journalists, where are you? Find these people and tell us about them!

The second book that I read in December already is a book called: “We are Iran: The Persian Blogs” (the German subtitle is even more interesting: Rebellion against the Mullahs – the young Persian Weblog-scene). The book basically consists of hundreds of quotes, taken from weblogs of young Persians who similarly to Wangari Maathai risk punishment for publishing their opinion on the Internet. Nasrin Alavi uses these blogs to present the reader with a completely different picture of Iran: Young women who write about love, friendship and their admiration for Shirin Ebadi (another one of these great people we should hear more about!); young people who are fed up with the politics of the ayatollahs in Iran and who clearly say: “our enemy is not the US, our enemy is our own government!” and students who fight for human rights and the freedom of press.

While western newspapers only report about Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s newest speeches in which he either denials that the Holocaust ever took place or offends western governments in some other way, this book allows us a glimpse behind the curtain of hateful speeches and gives us an understanding of the struggle and endeavors of ordinary young people in Iran.

Let me cite a book review that I found on amazon.com:

Any who would understand the people and culture of Iran must read We Are Iran: The Personal Blogs: it gathers the country's Internet diaries and translates them from Farsi to provide quite a different view of the ordinary people's sentiments and experiences. Much of what comes to the U.S. in newspapers comes from reporters or politicians: We Are Iran comes from the people - in particular, from an educated, youthful, literate segment of the country which doesn't condone Islamic fundamentalism and which is eager to embrace a new era. Supplementing these blogs is commentary on these people and their concerns, providing the background and cultural insight necessary to appreciate the voices and their place in modern Iranian society.

Of course, there hasn’t only been positive critique for the book. As one critique points out: “The vast majority of Iranians do not have access to the web. As in most countries, Iranian bloggers represent the views of a very limited demographic group - affluent and otherwise privileged individuals." When reading the book, we have to remember this. But I’m nevertheless extremely happy to have found this book. I wish, more people who are quoted in the book were given the chance to appear in western newspapers and magazines – I’m sure it would help a great deal for a better understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims. To end with the words of Tariq Ramadan:

“If it should come to a clash of the cultures, both sides will lose. If it comes instead to a dialogue of the cultures, then both sides will profit. We must understand that whether we win or lose, we will do it together.”

Usually a year ends with reflections. But for me, it seems as if I postponed this moment of the year to the beginning of the new one. Over the last days, I’ve started reflecting about a lot of things (and I say I started as I have the feeling that this phase will still last some time). I’ve reflected about personal things - such as myself, what I want to achieve in 2006, about love and friendship - but also about “external” things, such as “the world in general”, TakingITGlobal, youth participation and youth structures in Germany…

This weekend I attended a seminar organized by the Servicestelle Jugendbeteiligung to give input to the NAP-Report, a paper, which provides the German government with feedback to the German National Action Plan for a World suitable for Children (Nationaler Aktionsplan für ein kindergerechtes Deutschland 2005 – 2010). We were about 20 selected young people from all over Germany, divided in three groups to give input to the chapters “youth participation”, “living standard” and “international responsibilities” (another seminar will deal with the other three topics of the NAP next weekend, these are “equal opportunities through education”, “growing up without violence” and “promoting a healthy life and environment”). Due to my background in international youth work and especially my knowledge about the MDGs, I was invited to participate in the third group about international responsibilities. We were a great team of young people between 16 and 24 and I’m generally very satisfied with the recommendations we came up with. One thing I’m especially happy about is that the group decided to recommend our government to support and promote the MDG and Youth Report. But even though I enjoyed the policy work, the weekend made me realize again that I’m slowly getting old and soon won’t be “youth” anymore. I also felt strange at some times given the vast experience I was able to gain over the past years and I strongly believe that I shouldn’t participate in such meetings anymore, rather should I support younger people to get involved (for a similar experience check my blog about the World Youth Congress 2005). I also realized that I’m getting old when I returned home yesterday evening: Two nights with barely five hours of sleep, alcohol in the evenings and full working days – I seriously can’t do this anymore… ;- )



Beyond these personal reflections, there are, however, also a few things that are more general and which I would like to share here:

First of all, I must say that I’m positively surprised by the fact that the German government initiated (and funded) this process, which gave young people the opportunity to give feedback to the report and provide concrete recommendations of how to expand or concretize it (the recommendations we developed this weekend will be handed over to our Minister of Youth in March and will then be discussed within the government). Looking back at the past 3-4 years, this has almost become a standard procedure in Germany, but more generally in Europe I think. For example, in 2002 I attended a German youth conference (organized by the same Ministry) to give input to the European Commission’s White Paper on Youth. Also, at the end of 2004, young people from all over Europe were invited to give input to the European Youth Pact. More and more, giving young people the chance to provide input to policies that are directly made for them, is becoming a standard procedure in Europe.
Given this fact, one of the recommendations we developed in our group this weekend, and which I strongly believe in, is that the German government should play a leading role in guiding developing countries in the same direction. Showing developing countries, how youth policy is made in Europe and providing them guidance in how they can work towards setting up similar procedures is something that Germany should see as a responsibility towards children and young people in other countries.



Beside the official seminar, I had the chance to discuss, brainstorm and plan with a few other TIG members and youth activists from Germany the future of TIG in Germany and “the good, bad and ugly” about German youth structures. It is amazing for me to meet people like Hodg or Marc, who are so full of enthusiasm for TIG and want to support us in getting TIG more widely known and used among young people in Germany. At the same time, though, there were quite a few people who had visited TIG before and were simply overwhelmed with the vast opportunities the site offers – so overwhelmed that they never came back. While I’m happy that we are meanwhile a small, but enthusiastic group, which is interested in translating TIG into German, I must say that there are limits to promoting TIG in Germany if this problem is not being dealt with.
While TIG is growing in other regions, Western Europe has a well-established culture of youth participation and it is much more difficult to convince young people here about the value of TIG. I also think that Western Europe is much more inward-looking than most developing countries. While European young people repeatedly say that they are interested in the world and care about the well-being of people in other countries, most youth organizations are still dealing with local or regional problems – and not so much with international ones. This is of course an opportunity as much as a problem for TIG.



It will be very interested for me to see into which direction German youth structures will be heading in the coming years. A growing resistance among newly set up youth organizations (but also government structures I imagine) in Germany towards the National Youth Council, which is not able to react in any way flexible, the growing need (at least in my view) to focus on international work and the growing interest of the Ministry of Youth to involve young people in policy making – all these challenges will have to change the existing youth structures in some way sooner or later. Let’s see when and how these changes will happen :- )

A few days ago I finished reading (the German translation of) the book “The Burden of Memory, the Muse of Forgiveness” by Nigerian Nobel Prize Laureate Wole Soyinka. It is not an easy book to read. The texts are lectures that Soyinka gave at Harvard University in 1997. But I managed to last through the whole book, probably in hope for more lines about this one thought that Soyinka already describes very early in the book... The questions he raises all focus around the three words: truth – reconciliation – reparation.

Throughout the book Soyinka refers to South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission and sometimes to the similar institution in Nigeria, which has dealt with the atrocities of former dictatorships such as the one of Sani Abaja. In these commissions, truth is perceived as the road to reconciliation: If only the perpetrators admit their atrocities and speak out the truth, reconciliation is possible and in most cases accepted by the victims. But what role does reparation play, asks Soyinka? He questions, weather reconciliation can take place without reparation and he refers to the Holocaust as one example – reconciliation without reparation would have been impossible to imagine in case of the Holocaust.

The point that he wants to make in the book is that reparations should be paid for the slavery system during colonialism and I think this is an interesting point. Interesting not in the sense that I say: Yes, that’s what Africa needs. Rather interesting in the sense that it makes me think.
I’ve been reading a few customer reviews on Amazon about the book and in fact, most people there (although, all Americans) are arguing against any form of reparation. Let me quote a few lines to discuss what I find interesting about the idea:

“[…] though we lament the truly horrific thing that was done to black Africans, their enslavement, and though we must never forget the truth that, for all it's humanistic rhetoric and ideals, our Western Civilization perpetrated this evil, we must also recognize that it was Western Civilization which was responsible for ending the horror. We must recognize that the generations which committed these acts should not be judged by our modern standards and that, in any case, they are long gone.”

“[…] the more important question for Black Africa and for it's intellectual leaders like Mr. Soyinka is: Does this obsessive focus on the past help to create a brighter future for Africa? Although it is a truism, the future is not about the past. In making the case for monetary damages, the author alludes to Holocaust survivors and their quest for reparations and for restoration of lost bank accounts. There's no need to rehash the issue of actual victims and actual wrongdoers, the more significant fact that he's missed is that European Jews did not sit around waiting for these damages to be paid. They seized the moment, fled to better lives in America and established their own nation in Israel. They moved forward and are a stronger, better people for it.”

There is one thing I agree with: No doubt, Africa shouldn’t be looking back – it should be looking forward, because this is the only possible way out. However, I wonder about one’s ability to simply forget the past. The person I just quoted is saying that European Jews didn’t just sit around waiting for the damages to be paid. It is true that they didn’t, but nevertheless: would Jews today really be as strong, if the world, and Germany in particular, would have just offered the truth for reconciliation? Weren’t the reparations paid to European Jews an essential part of the reconciliation process? I believe it’s not even a question only to be asked the victims. As a German, I would still feel a tremendous guilt for my grandparent’s generation if Germany had never apologized in such a way for its past as it did (I still feel guilty btw, but to a much lesser extent – I guess, this is part of my German identity). In the same sense, I would feel guilty and ashamed as a Japanese in front of any Chinese person as Japan missed to apologize in the same way for its atrocities in China during WWII.

Africa, however, never had the chance for such reparation and even the awareness within the colonizing countries seems to be missing. Maybe it is just due to my general bad memory when it comes to history, but was there ever a time when Europe was reflecting about colonization? I just remember taking a course about migrants at university about two years ago. During this course, we did a city tour “on the footsteps of migrants in Hamburg”. One stop during this tour was the Africa House – a trading center from which once Germany decided much of its politics in its colonies in Africa. Amazing for all of us during the tour – the same company which was leading the center 100 years ago, is still having its headquarter in the house today. Accustomed to reparations that were paid to Jews, we were all shocked that nobody ever questioned the integrity of this company and that no reparations were ever asked for.

Another quote:

“The course that Mr. Soyinka counsels, backward looking, grudge nursing, scab picking, entitlement claiming, as it is, must surely be a recipe for continued stagnation and even decline in Africa. The cold hard truth is that the West will send aid to Africa, not for reasons of guilt or of obligation or of cosmic moral justice, but for that most basic, most Western, of all reasons: because Africans represent a huge underutilized customer base for Western business. It is the height of folly for the best minds of Africa to waste their time on such a notion as Western reparations to Africa. It's over. You have your freedom. You run your own countries. Your destiny is once again in your own hands. Enough of looking without for the answers to your problems; look within; to do otherwise is to remain dependent on the West.”

Looking within. A lot of problems that African countries face today are remains from the colonial time. Of course we can say: but nevertheless does the continent have to live with it now and move ahead. “Yes – but”, I would respond:

Last summer, my ex-boyfriend broke up with me in a very ugly way. I was hurt for several months, I couldn’t think clearly let alone look ahead into the future. It was only until the day I forced him to meet with me and talk to me, tell me the reasons (that he didn’t have) for breaking up with me. Soyinka is right when he says that victims need to know the truth at least. It is only after a victim has faced its tormentor that it will be able to move on with its life. But Africa never even had this chance of facing its tormentor.


I don’t know if this all makes any sense. It’s a huge topic and would probably fill a whole evening to discuss. It’s also a very philosophical topic and actually goes way beyond the question about reparation pays to Africa. To me, and that’s why I lasted through the whole book, the general question about the relationship between justice on the one hand and truth, reconciliation and reparation on the other hand, is just a really interesting one. As I just said, I had to remember my own personal situation last year and there are surely several other situations in my life when I wanted to know the truth, if not even a “reparation” or compensation for what I experienced. Sometimes such compensation is more important for us than we want to admit.

Sorry guys for the catchy subject line.... I had an actually very nice experience yesterday that I wanted to share with you - especially because it made me ask myself a few questions…

Yesterday evening I took the airport express bus to pick up a friend, who is visiting me for a couple of days, at Toronto's airport. I was the only person on the entire bus. After we drove for a few minutes, the bus driver was asking me if I would like to have some ice cream. As I was actually pretty hungry and knew that I had nothing to eat at home I told him that I would love to have some ice cream if he had some. He then told me to follow him and we left the bus to a nearby street-vendor, where he bought me a delicious scoop of vanilla butter-scotch ice cream -yummy ☺ !

After I had told him that I would love to have some ice cream I felt quite awkward though for a moment. I was remembering the words of my mum, that probably every girl is been told when a child: "Never say yes if an older man wants to buy you ice cream!". I later regretted and felt ashamed that I had this thought at all. I mean this guy was so nice, he didn't know me at all, but he wanted to get some ice-cream for the late night drive out to the airport and so he invited me, his only passenger, for a scoop as well. But instead of being grateful, the first thing that came to my mind after agreeing, was that he might want to buy me ice-cream to kidnap me afterwards… how ridiculous!

However, it's weird how little things like this sentence keep stuck in your mind. I believe I'm old enough now to take care of myself, but still I remember these words of my mum and apparently they still seem to make me distrust people who just want to be nice to me. Isn’t it sad?

What would interest me is if guys ever feel the same way? I could imagine that it's a problem that only girls have, as we get educated in a way that make us be afraid of men, who must always be seen as possible rapists. I really don’t like to think that way, but if you are always told as a young girl, that there are men out there who want to kidnap and rape you, then you don’t easily forget about this. Are there any guys here who want to share some thoughts on this question? Maybe it’s also just a cultural thing and girls from other cultures are not being educated in that way?