Kennedy - I am a Berliner - Ich Bin Ein Berliner

IRONHIDE434 Says:

Nov 16, 2008 - i understand. but people laughed because a berliner is also a jelly donut. so there was a joke in there

RockerSoccerChick1 Says:

Nov 16, 2008 - "I am a donut." and the crowd went wiild! as i said, it's 70% how you look 20% how you say it and 10% what you say

Ltillema Says:

Nov 17, 2008 - Ich bin ein berliner does not mean I am a jelly donut. Do your research before you just believe the urban legends. really look it up or go ask someone who is fluent in german.

meg92xx Says:

Nov 17, 2008 - i agree with raunchy1978. The end of communism mostly came under JFK's reign. Fair play

Bahia82 Says:

Nov 17, 2008 - So funny how people claim to love kennedy and think he was great, but he was also called a communist and a socialist while running for office, and called a lot worst. then he gets killed and now everyone luvs him, its similar to MLK, every now claims to luv him but those alive back then know the truth. I wonder what you people would say about these 2 gents if they were alive now.... I doubt it would be good things

meg92xx Says:

Nov 17, 2008 - Not saying he was a saint by any means. But he sur did a bloody good job trying to pevent the spread of communism..? And thats not just hear say.. thats fact. Would love to hear your views if u dont agree

RockerSoccerChick1 Says:

Nov 18, 2008 - Ltillema... Ich bin EIN berliner is "i am a donut" not really... jelly. but a donut all the same. by adding the indefinite article "ein" he implied he was a non-human berliner which could mean donut. but people would understand him that he meant 'a person from berlin'. it's like if i went to france and said "Comment es tu?" instead of "Comment ca va" i would be understood but wouldn't make clear sense.

meg92xx Says:

Nov 18, 2008 - Thats fair enough i aintt prtendin to know german all i am saying is he did a great job of preventing communism and as for his speech everyone knew what he meant.

AkaRenaissance Says:

Nov 18, 2008 - I AM A DONUT.

blackricky Says:

Nov 18, 2008 - I...am...a donut :)

baphometswrath Says:

Nov 19, 2008 - Doughnuts!!!!!

feeblezak Says:

Nov 19, 2008 - rofl

unicornofDOOM Says:

Nov 20, 2008 - Berliner is a type of doughnut from Berlin, sometimes filled with grape, plum or even peach jam.

daveisdragon Says:

Nov 20, 2008 - JFK did very little to bring the end of communism. If anything, he gave it more power from the Bay of Pigs fiasco. Putting embargos on Cuba persuaded Cuban citizens to side with communism and Russia. Communism killed itself because it cannot be a sustainable system in a global economy. Isolationism . . .

Ltillema Says:

Nov 20, 2008 - The citizens of Berlin do refer to themselves as Berliner; what they do not refer to as Berliner are jelly doughnuts. While these are known as "Berliner" in other areas of Germany, they are simply called Pfannkuchen (pancakes) in and around Berlin.

Ltillema Says:

Nov 20, 2008 - The indefinite article ein can be and often is omitted when speaking of an individual's profession or residence but is necessary when speaking in a figurative sense as Kennedy did. Since the president was not literally from Berlin but only declaring his solidarity with its citizens, "Ich bin Berliner" would not have been correct. Also read my comment farther up. Berliner is not a donut in and around berlin.

PachecoOwnz Says:

Nov 20, 2008 - If it wasn't for this man chances are my parents wouldn't be here today.

hiebs3 Says:

Nov 21, 2008 - wow, did you read that straight off wikipedia, and pass it off as your own opinion? it is irrelevant what area calls it what. what he said in german was either "i am a berliner", or "i am a berliner (donut)" regardless of what city you live in. it is funny because jfk did not know he was saying he was a donut to most the people in germany who watched on tv.

Neinoderja Says:

Nov 21, 2008 - He might have stolen that from Wikipedia, but he is right. If you spoke German or lived in Germany you wouldnt have laughed at JFK, because you would have known what he meant. The fact that they mean the same thing is meaningless in the context of the speech.

deagla Says:

Nov 22, 2008 - lol..the freeworld..what a loaded term that is!

ard767 Says:

Nov 22, 2008 - It was 45 years ago today that this great leader was taken from us. His greatness came not from his charisma but from his vision and his ability to inspire people. "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." That's what real patriotism is all about... You may be gone Mr. President, but you will never be forgotten. Salute and RIP.

Calvarienberg Says:

Nov 22, 2008 - He was beyond question one of the most capable presidents the United States were ever able to offer to the world. This speech holds a legendary status in my country and among those Germans, who grew up and lived in a divided post-war Germany. Whenever I hear his words "Ich bin ein Berliner" in his clearly accentuated German, it still gives me the creeps. He declared his solidarity not only with the West, but also with the East Germans in the GDR. What an impressive statesman.

Calvarienberg Says:

Nov 22, 2008 - By the way, a "Berliner" is in actual fact a special donut, with icing sugar around it and a sweet marmalade centre. Very delicious.

Calvarienberg Says:

Nov 22, 2008 - Of course the people of Berlin and all the other Germans watching or hearing that speech did understand, that Kennedy wasn't referring to the same-named donut but to the citizen of the city - the Berliner.

winfriedstar Says:

Nov 22, 2008 - nazis lol no no arent nazis