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Today, we are all Berliners!14. November 2009 – 16:31 by POLITECH |
In 1963, JFK came to divided Berlin and made a lasting speech which will become a symbol of Freedom: “Ich bin ein Berliner“.
These days, the voice of diplomacy and democracy came from our leaders and governments.
Today, 20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the “wind of change” that spread out from Eastern Europe and the Soviet World, Internet and New Technologies are empowering citizens’ voices and each of us to be a JFK making the call for freedom, equality and fraternity louder.
Today, the Internet is revolutionizing the way we do politics and diplomacy. President Obama, compared often to a 21st Century JFK, is not saying anymore “Yes, I can“, but “Yes, We Can“!
The “WE” has replaced the “I” in the age of Internet and politics.
What has been a “physical Wall” separating people yesterday has transformed to millions of “digital Walls” on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or blogs unifying people and transforming citizens and leaders in e-Diplomats.
Today, Twitter is celebrating the “Fall of the Berlin Wall” by setting up a “BerlinTwitterWall“, where each of us can leave our thoughts or wishes for the future.
Today, Iranian students or freedom fighters from all around the world can leave a message or a video on the digital walls of the Internet making what was once described as “The Wall of Shame” in our physical world obsolete.
Today, President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, opened a blog for more transparency and openness of what was 20 years ago the “Iron Curtain” of the Kremlin.
Today, on the Kremlin’s digital wall you can read:
“In the twenty-first century, our country once again needs to undergo comprehensive modernisation. This will be our first ever experience of modernisation based on democratic values and institutions. Instead of a primitive raw materials economy we will create a smart economy producing unique knowledge, new goods and technology of use to people.” (President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, blog).
Today, eDiplomacy and eParticipation is empowering us into Berliners of the world, where walls are no more synonyms of “divisions” and “shame“, but nods of “freedom of expressions“, “collective causes“, “dialogues“, “transparency“, “modernisation“, “exchange” and “collective knowledge sharing“.
In 1942, a famous French poet, Paul Eluard (1895-1952) wrote:
“On all pages read. On all white pages. Stone sand paper or ashes. I write your name: LIBERTY”. (Paul Eluard (1895-1952)).
Today, we are writing on the digital wall of Pep-Net (European eParticipation Network) about the 21st Century’s JFKs and Paul Eluards of the world empowered by the Internet and transforming the way we do politics and diplomacy.
Today, we can be all famous or anonymous JFKs and Paul Eluards and say:
“Wir sind alle Berliner!” (We are Berliners).
Daniel VAN LERBERGHE, POLITECH INSTITUTE (European Center of Political Technologies).
Tags: inenglish
