As the First Family prepares to fete Angela Merkel and her husband Joachim Sauer during a State Dinner tonight at the White House, which will include a menu consisting of Tuna tartare with rye crisps and petite filet with Maryland crab ravioli and apple strudel, while entertainment will be provided by singer-songwriter James Taylor and the National Symphony Orchestra; it will be interesting to see if President Obama can impress his guests with his German.
Here, then, are a few phrases the president might consider using when raising a glass during tonight’s State Dinner toast.
Heute wieder ein Volk"
``Today once again one people!"
``Die freie Stadt Chicago gruesst die freie Stadt Berlin"
``Free Chicago greets Free Berlin!"
"Ich bin ein Buerger der Welt!" "
``I am a citizen of the world!"
"Wir sind alle Berliner."
``We are all Berliners"
Uber allen Gipfeln 1st Ruh''
``Over all the mountain tops is peace’’ a line once used by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the German poet novelist and playwright.
Of course, if Mr. Obama really wants to flatter his German guests, he could always make reference to George Clemenceau’s last dying words: wünsche, aufrecht vergraben zu werden -- stehend Deutschland gegenüber“.
``I wish to be buried upright-facing Germany.''
-Bill Lucey
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June 7, 2011
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