Ich bin ein Berliner Speech Quotes
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Source: Ich bin ein Berliner Speech
Speaker: John F. Kennedy
Today, in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is "Ich bin ein Berliner."
Context
This line was spoken by John F. Kennedy at the Berlin Wall (June 26, 1963).
In the 1960s, Germany was more divided than present day pop music fans. West Germany and East Germany were like Taylor Swift and Katy Perry, and Berlin was Ellie Goulding, trapped in the middle.
The Berlin Wall was a very literal, tangible symbol of this divide. Kennedy believed that the Wall represented the evils of communist oppression, but what the citizens of Berlin really wanted was freedom.
Kennedy expressed his solidarity with them by self-identifying as a citizen of Berlin. He was a Berliner in spirit—even if he wasn't the best German speaker.
Check out this cool mini-documentary of his trip to Germany.
Where you've heard it
You've heard this if someone is expressing solidarity with a cause, or if someone wants a jelly doughnut.
Wait, what? Yup—many people believe that Kennedy, in an unfortunately mistranslation of "I am a Berliner," accidentally said "I am a jelly doughnut."
But that isn't true, and is just another addition to the urban legends surrounding this famous president's life and death.
Additional Notable References:
- In Mongolia, money literally talks. In 2007, they issued a coin emblazoned with JFK that says, "Ich bin ein Berliner" at the push of a button.
- The 2015 French freedom of speech motto "Je suis Charlie" recalls "Ich bin ein Berliner."
- The motto is part of Eddie Izzard's best JFK impersonation.
- Crabtree Brewing Company once whipped up an "Ich bin ein Berliner" beer. If you asked us, they missed a chance at giving it the even punnier name of "Ich bin ein BEERliner." (Or bierliner, if you want to use proper German.)
Pretentious Factor
If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.
Today this grand statement of identifying with Berlin or jelly doughnuts is a bit dated unless you actually happen to be from Berlin. But it's a fairly riotous way to show solidarity with your German friends.