Ich bin ein Berliner

"Ich bin ein Berliner" ("I am a Berliner") is a famous phrase from a June 26, 1963 speech by U.S. President John F. Kennedy in West Berlin. Kennedy was underlining the support of the United States for democratic West Germany shortly after communist East Germany had erected the Berlin Wall as a deadly barrier to its citizens escaping to the West.

The phrase and the legend in fiction and popular culture

The British music group Pop Will Eat Itself varied the phrase to "Ich bin ein Ausländer" ("I am a foreigner") as the title and chorus of a 1994 song expressing solidarity with immigrants and condemning anti-immigrant hate speech as inevitably stoking violence, insisting that "freedom of expression doesn't make it all right."

Related Topics:
Pop Will Eat Itself - 1994

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The phrase is alluded to in an episode of The Simpsons entitled "Little Girl in the Big Ten". Lisa Simpson is reluctant to enroll in a gymnastics school in order to help her pass her physical education class at Springfield Elementary. However, after having been inspired by President Kennedy while knocked unconscious she awakes to claim "Ich bin ein Gymnast!". Homer Simpson then remarks that she must have dreamed about Hitler again. Also, in another episode of the series, Abraham Simpson has a flashback in which he hears John F. Kennedy say the phrase "Ich bin ein Berliner", prompting Abraham to yell "He's a Nazi!" shortly before tackling Kennedy. Throughout the series, Mayor "Diamond Joe" Quimby, a caricature of the Kennedys, uses variations of the phrase multiple times when addressing large crowds ("Ich bin ein Springfield Swap Meet patron!").

Related Topics:
The Simpsons - Lisa Simpson - Physical education - Homer Simpson - Hitler - Abraham Simpson - Mayor "Diamond Joe" Quimby

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British comedian Eddie Izzard talks about John Kennedy's "I am a doughnut" speech in his stand-up act "Dress to Kill".

Related Topics:
Eddie Izzard - Dress to Kill

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In Terry Pratchett's book Monstrous Regiment (p. 329 of the hardcover), Samuel Vimes makes a speech in which he says "Ze chzy Brogocia proztfik!", intending this to mean "I am a citizen of Borogravia!". What he actually says is "I am a cherry pancake!".

Related Topics:
Terry Pratchett - Monstrous Regiment - Samuel Vimes - Borogravia

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