Open letter to Senator Barack Obama on the chance
to rebuild the friendship of Europe and America
Dear Senator Obama, happened over here. But while the States of America for fostering the
Americans - as the other allies - had been friendship between the people of our two
Dear Mr. future President,
forced to fight and kill during the war to countries. The former foes of the
Europe has not slept much last night. save Europe from going under - the battleground of World War II had become
People all over were up and sleepless friendship they offered not long after the friends. And the friendship had become
until finally around five o‘clock in the war ended came voluntarily. No one solid and genuine. And never was there a
morning our time the news was secured: forced anyone to be friends with the hostile feeling towards America in our
You will be the 44th president of the former enemies. Yet friends your family or amongst our friends.
United States of America. We countrymen became to us. And to me - And yet, friendship is a vulnerable
congratulate you and the people of born in 1960, well after the end of the war thing. As much as you can love each
America on this historic victory! - this miracle has never failed to astound other, as much hurt can be inflicted if
More than once in this long campaign me. When you saved Berlin from being things go wrong. A lot went wrong in the
Europe has held it‘s breath. But nothing starved out by the blockade I was not last seven years in the friendship between
took our breath away just as much as the even born. But to this day the gratitude of Europe and America, and a friendship
final hours in the count, until at last the the German people to you for this founded on solid common values like
hopes were not shattered but fulfilled: remarkable effort to save the freedom and civil and human rights and respecting
There will be a new beginning in the era the dignity of the people of Berlin international laws started to deteriorate so
of the United States of America, there remains alive in our hearts. We have more rapidly that no one could follow course.
will at last be the change that so many than we can describe to be thankful for. On September 11 Europe watched in
Americans have waited for for so long. The feeling of friendship soon became a anguish and shock the horrors inflicted on
Yet - not only Americans. Europe has mutual one. As early as 1955 my parents innocent people in America. The whole
yearned for this change to take place, has dared to cross the atlantic to visit America of America had been attacked in our eyes
hoped for the dream to come true and has and the former foes now turned friends. and there was no doubt as to the solidarity
held thumbs so hard, that knuckles ached My father became an assistant professor we would show you in every possible
and flesh turned white. Now we can at Hofstra University, Hempstead, Long way. If friends are hurt so terribly, you
release our grip and relax: It has been Island, New York, and spend a year in will be at their side. No questions asked
done. America with his wife and their first and no compromises accepted. You had
‚Old Europe‘, someone said, who we child. When I was born and turned two in the friendship and solidarity of Europe on
disliked intensely. Not because he 1962, again the family traveled to the and after 9/11 like no one else had on
misunderstood practically everything that States, visited with friends and former earth.
Europe is and stands for, but for colleagues and enjoyed the splendor of But while we stood with you, weeped
misunderstanding so many other things, your beautiful country. At that time my genuinely with you and encouraged you
like humanity, rationality, fairness, father had joined the board of the Carl- where we could to combat the terrorism
legality and friendship. The friendship Schurz-Gesellschaft a society formed to that had entered your life, we stared in
that was between our nations and foster the bond between Americans and disbelief at the development under the
continents was declared null and void. Germans. And the society - named after Bush Administration that started to
Declared such by people who themselves the german born American ambassador mistake friend for foe. And fought not
had no idea what friendship meant and under Abraham Lincoln and later minister only potential terrorists but many
was really all about. of the interior in 1877 - cared for decades innocent friends that traveled to the
I come from a German family. My very dearly to those Americans who United States and were horribly wronged
father was drafted as a soldier at the age served over here in Germany stationed at entering the country. The number of
of 17 in the last years of World War II. with their troops in and around the ordinary people from Europe that were
When the war was over, Germany was in harbour town of Bremen and for no sound reason held for hours at
ruins - both physically and mentally. The Bremerhaven. Thus traveling to the immigrations, even incarcerated and
youths that had to fight a war they could United States became as natural in our deported the next day to Europe grew and
not understand were now faced with the family as having Americans over to grew. Airlines were forced to take them
beginning of adulthood that seemed even dinner or bid them welcome on festive home on the next days plane with the
less comprehensible amongst the ruins of occasions. And the 4th of July has always threat of penalties up to $ 10.000 should
a ruined country. It was not long though been a special day of celebration for those they refuse. Practically unaware by the
that American soldiers that had come to who had learned what freedom truly is all ordinary Americans the borders of your
conquer came to help and came to the about. In 2003 my father, who previously country started to become a trap to many
rescue of those they had initially to fight. had been president of the Carl-Schurz- who once were deeply in love with you
A bond started to grow between the two Society for many years, was awarded The and wanted nothing but to visit - only to
that was genuine and seemed a miracle in Outstanding Civilian Service Medal of the find themselves confronted with
the light of the atrocities that had Department of the Army of the United suspicion for being foreign, locked away
Open letter to Senator Barack Obama on the chance
to rebuild the friendship of Europe and America
in cells beneath the airport building and traveled on to Florida. For the next five trade for making a living. But the Bush
transported at gunpoint to waiting planes days I helped move house in a country Administration was not willing to alter
24 hours later. This shocked us deeply. that seemed to be at war. On 96 TV- course. Anyone foreign - and often even
And many apologies of American channels a war presumably waged against American - was a potential enemy to your
Ambassadors over here to such terrible the Iraq was present 24 hours solid. country. And was to be treated as such.
developments ended with the helpless Tanks, military operations, combatting Ruthlessly and without compromise.
confession that even an Ambassador groups in deserts - it was clear: America Amongst friends that is a tormenting
could do nothing against the dark forces was on the battlefield. And in all Home treatment that has the ability to break
that had come over your country in the Depots we tried to get duct tape for the friendships if practiced too long. And the
form of a Dept. of Homeland Security cartons we had to pack we ran into the last five years that I did not travel to the
and ruthless immigration officers seeing a same situation: There was no duct tape to United States of America have been bitter
potential enemy in practically every be had. It had - nationwide - been bought and full of pain. What the Bush-
foreigner wanting to visit your country. off the shelves by American citizens Administration never understood:
Many times on business travels across fearing the deadly gas-missiles a Sadam Keeping away from friends you once
Germany I have sat at Frankfurt Airport Hussein was going to shoot off any day - loved is nothing that positively excites
and watched with envy groups of and that could reach the United States of you. It hurts as much as a separation in
American youths that had just arrived America within 45 Minutes. Or so your marriage hurts. It leaves you numb,
from the U.S., chatting away happily on Commander-in-Chief told you. Coming troubles you again and again. And the
what was clearly a relaxed holiday visit to from Europe that was much closer to Iraq wish to go back, the longing to return,
Europe. Why was it I wondered that we and already could not be reached by does not diminish. And yet you know you
embraced you on your arrivals with open Hussein‘s missiles, it was easy to know can‘t because the friends you would
arms and made you welcome? Because this was a lie. But if you play your gladly want to see again behave so at
you were our friends. You do not turn a propaganda right, and the Government did odds with all the fundamental values you
friend away and you do not molest a nothing less, you can incite fear in people both once had, that any conversation on
friend when he comes to visit. Your to such an extent that they will even buy issues goes horribly wrong.
youths took this for granted and were duct tape to seal their windows in the case Yes, it was a good thing Sadam Hussein
never molested when entering Europe. of the impossible attack with weapons was removed. Having once in 1982 been
Rightly so. We however, traveling to you that do not exist. trapped with two Iraqi political refugees
as the friends we had become in the many There was no war then in that February in the Embassy of Iraq in Bonn, fearing
decades since that horrible war, suddenly 2003. The invasion of Iraq only began in for hours for our lives, held at bay at
and for no reason turned enemies-to-be, March 2003. But sitting in the departure gunpoint in the Ambassador‘s office who
were watched with suspicion, far too hall of Miami Airport on February 16th, told us that this was not German but Iraqi
often molested or even more so turned 2003, watching in disbelief and dismay territory and he could do anything with us
away. Were we no longer your friends? the war operations going on on the as he pleased as we could call no one and
Why then did we genuinely feel our screens of the public television sets - it no one would come to our aid, knowing
solidarity with you when the Twin felt, as if the war was long already of the cellar that was commonly used in
Towers came down killing thousands of waging. And I came to the bitter torture and confinement and having saved
people? Not only the American innocence conclusion that this was in no way the us only by cold-bloodedly bluffing my
was shattered on that day. The attacks America I had been in love with. And that way out saying that if we were not
shattered our lives too. And the bombs in I no longer felt comfortable, free and unconditionally released by 4 p.m. the
Madrid and London killing more people secure in a country that had always stood German Foreign Office would surround
over here proved well that we both were for just that: freedom and security. I took the building with police - when in fact the
in this together. There was no good or my bags deeply disturbed, boarded my German Foreign Office never even knew
bad in this friendship. But there was a plane and left for Europe. When weeks we had been trapped - there is hardly
phobia running through your country later the Iraq was invaded and war was anyone so pleased in the removal of
under which even we the true friends had indeed waged, I vowed I would not return Sadam Hussein, whose terror was cause
to suffer badly. That hurt. It hurt deeply. to America as long as the Bush to those dreadful life-threatening hours in
I last visited the United States in Administration was serving office. I kept the Iraqi Embassy in Bonn, as I.
February 2003 helping friends move my word and I was not alone on this. And yet. Hundreds of thousands of
house. At that time the phobia had Many, many Europeans have made the innocent people - children, women and
become intense and traveling to the U.S. similar vow and have not returned, men - have been killed in the cause of the
had lost all it‘s appeal. It was a must, not dumping the numbers of European Iraq invasion that was set up to remove
a want. I entered the United States in tourists to America to a historical low that one man and left as a result so many
Washington D.C. with the immigration incited much anxiety amongst those im dead. And more than 4.000 young
officer being unfriendly and hostile. I America that rely on a flourishing tourist American soldiers lost their lives in the
Open letter to Senator Barack Obama on the chance
to rebuild the friendship of Europe and America
deserts and bomb-torn streets of Iraq. be friends. Remembering the The San Francisco Chronicle, The Miami
Whatever for I ask myself and cannot battlegrounds of World War II, accepting Herald, Time Magazine, Newsweek and
find a satisfying answer. You have lost differences that do not touch the others. I hope this finds your approval.
more than 4.000 of your promising fundamental values of civil rights and
youths - youths that could have been at internationally accepted laws, and
Frankfurt Airport chatting away happily working together for peace in a world that November 5, 2008
on the verge of a visit to friends, knowing has become so small for all of us. With all
to be embraced amicably by the country due respect for the need to continue to
they visit. It all, it seems, went horribly combat terrorism I wholeheartedly and
wrong. For you, for them and for us in yearningly look forward to being able to
Europe. And even if we shunned away travel again to America with a light heart,
from you refusing to visit these last years free of fears of molestation and
with all the criticism we had for the misunderstandings that have tormented
invasion of Iraq - it must be known to our friendship for so many years and far
you, that every single soldier that was too long. The day is nearing, of that today
pointlessly killed on the battleground of I am confident.
Iraq hurt us deeply. We kept count, and You will be the 44th President of the
counted, and counted in utter shock - and United States of America. We offer and
had nothing in our hands to stop this promise you our friendship - and hope for
horror. yours and that of your people in return.
It is for this reason that we stayed up And to all my friends and colleagues that
last night and held our breath and are too have been just as critical in the last years
relieved to feel the tiredness of a night as I have, who too have shunned away
without sleep. We know of course that and refrained from visits and who may
taking up office will leave you with wonder if we will be able to rebuild this
almost insurmountable tasks. Two wars, a friendship that we both once had and that
battered planet, a financial crisis second was battered and often bruised so badly in
to none as you pointed out. But the the last seven years, I answer full of hope
change that you have promised America and conviction with your dynamic words:
is a promise of change for Europe too. Yes, we can.
And a living perspective for all of us to We can. The time has finally come
come together again and renew a where we can. And we will.
friendship that was founded so solidly by Let‘s.
young men giving their lives on the
shores of Normandy and those who Wishing you and the United States of
followed them and helped rebuild Europe. America success for the difficult tasks
We were taught by them democracy and that lie ahead of you - and ahead of us all
civil rights and human values. Values that
seemed covered up if not even lost in all Yours truly and sincerely
these last years. The chance is now to Jens M. Lucke
uncover them, revive them and make
them the outstanding bonding elements of (Journalist, author - and friend)
a renewed friendship between Europe and
the new United States of America.
Europe has not slept much last night.
But we are wide awake in the awakening P.S.: Feeling the importance of
hope of friendship coming back where discussing the rebuilding of our friendship
both our values will again be treasured. and the reason why things went so
The hostility at immigrations undoubtedly dismally wrong with all Americans, I
will stay with us for some time. For those shall forward this open letter to the
who invented it may be gone by January following publications within the U.S.:
2009, yet it will take much longer for The Boston Globe, The New York Times,
those who inflicted it to learn the new The Washington Post, The Wall Street
ways of the civilized world. Where once Journal, The Chicago Tribune, The
again friends are friends and friends will Denver Post, The Los Angeles Times,