When is a Donut Not a Donut? When It's JFK
Dear Mr. Maxa,
This comment comes from two native Berliners who enjoy your program on a
regular basis. However, we disagree with your comments regarding the
statement President Kennedy made in Berlin shortly after the Wall was built:
"Ich bin ein Berliner." You used it as an example of improper foreign
language use.
In German, as in other languages, the meaning of multi-descriptive words
should be interpreted in context. Accordingly, the reference to being a
"Berliner" in Kennedy's expression of support for the beleaguered city would
not make a native listener think of "Berliner" in terms of a bakery product.
(The word is short for "Berliner Pfannkuchen" -- a donut without a hole, but
usually with a filling in the center.) In normal conversation, relating to
origin, one would say, "I am from Berlin," like you would say, "I am from
New York." But to emphasize identification with, or belonging, it's totally
correct to say "Ich bin ein Berliner," as President Kennedy did, which was
acknowledged by the masses with thunderous, appreciative applause.
Kennedy made his speech on the balcony of the Schöneberg Rathaus (Courthouse
of the Schöneberg district), which is a few miles from where the Wall used
to be and which served as the meeting place for the free Berlin Government
assembly after it was evicted from Berlin's central courthouse. For us, all
this brings back many unpleasant memories about passing through Checkpoint
Charlie with trunk loads of consumer items and groceries for relatives on
the other side of the Wall, things normally unavailable to East Berliners at
that time.
Regards,
Gisela and Walter
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