Berlin – On a day when the British parliament voted to delay Brexit once again, the flag of the European Union flew proudly in Berlin in front of the Chancellery. As if in victory.
I happened to walk by the Chancellery during this symbolic occasion and take the photo below. As it so happens, the E.U. flag is unfurling briskly in the breeze, as the German flag remains comparatively listless. Internationalism over nationalism, symbolically, and fitting for 21st century Germany, which has staked its future on collective European strength.
Later the same evening, at the Brandenburg gate the recorded words of two American presidents rang out over a crowd assembled to see a light show at Pariser Platz. There was sustained applause for each:
"Ich bin ein Berliner;"
"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall."
Just what do the current British and American leaders think they are accomplishing by pushing for the return to a kind of nationalism that resulted in world wars? They should instead be building on the British and American achievements that have given the world decades of relative peace and brought tyrants to account.
The British must hold a second referendum on Brexit. The first one was demonstrably tainted. Now it's clear what is at stake.
The Americans should get back as quickly as possible to world leadership based on freedom and human rights. May we soon see a successful Amtsenthebungsverfahren.
