In the run up to the 2008 US presidential elections, Barack Obama’s plans to speak at Brandenburg Gate in Berlin sparked a wave of controversy in Germany. Many politicians, including Angela Merkel, thought that the historic monument, a powerful symbol of Germany’s division and unity, shouldn’t be misused as an electioneering platform for a US politician.
The degree to which Germans consider Brandenburg Gate to be imbued with a sacred historical significance was well displayed by the victory celebration held yesterday for Sebastian Vettel, the Formula 1 Wunderkind.
What better way to consecrate the landmark than with screeching tires and a few skid marks?
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