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This Happened

This Happened — June 26: JFK "I'm A Berliner" Speech

President John F. Kennedy delivered his famous "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech on this day in 1963.

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Where did President Kennedy deliver his speech?

President Kennedy gave his "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech in West Berlin, at the Rathaus Schöneberg (Schöneberg City Hall) in front of a crowd of thousands.

What was the purpose of President Kennedy's speech in Berlin?

The purpose of President Kennedy's speech was to express solidarity and support for the people of West Berlin, who were living in the shadow of the Berlin Wall and facing the threat of communism during the Cold War. The speech aimed to reinforce the United States' commitment to the defense of democratic values and the preservation of freedom.

Why did President Kennedy say "Ich bin in Berliner"?

In his speech, President Kennedy used the phrase "Ich bin ein Berliner," which translates to "I am a Berliner" in English, as a powerful symbol of unity and support. By stating his solidarity with the people of Berlin, he sought to emphasize that the United States stood with them in their struggle against the division imposed by the Berlin Wall.

How did the "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech affect the Cold War?

President Kennedy's speech played a role in strengthening the resolve of the Western powers and inspiring the people of West Berlin. It symbolized the United States' determination to support and defend democracy, even in the face of communist aggression. The speech became a lasting symbol of hope and resistance during the Cold War era.


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Ideas

Look At This Crap! The "Enshittification" Theory Of Why The Internet Is Broken

The term was coined by journalist Cory Doctorow to explain the fatal drift of major Internet platforms: if they were ever useful and user-friendly, they will inevitably end up being odious.

A photo of hands holding onto a smartphone

A person holding their smartphone

Gilles Lambert/ZUMA
Manuel Ligero

-Analysis-

The universe tends toward chaos. Ultimately, everything degenerates. These immutable laws are even more true of the Internet.

In the case of media platforms, everything you once thought was a good service will, sooner or later, disgust you. This trend has been given a name: enshittification. The term was coined by Canadian blogger and journalist Cory Doctorow to explain the inevitable drift of technological giants toward... well.

The explanation is in line with the most basic tenets of Marxism. All digital companies have investors (essentially the bourgeoisie, people who don't perform any work and take the lion's share of the profits), and these investors want to see the percentage of their gains grow year after year. This pushes companies to make decisions that affect the service they provide to their customers. Although they don't do it unwillingly, quite the opposite.

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Annoying customers is just another part of the business plan. Look at Netflix, for example. The streaming giant has long been riddling how to monetize shared Netflix accounts. Option 1: adding a premium option to its regular price. Next, it asked for verification through text messages. After that, it considered raising the total subscription price. It also mulled adding advertising to the mix, and so on. These endless maneuvers irritated its audience, even as the company has been unable to decide which way it wants to go. So, slowly but surely, we see it drifting toward enshittification.

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