Their offence had been to spark a heated debate about whether his comments — that German troops were deployed abroad because of economic interests — were justified. Certainly, Germany is a thoughtful country that has been mulling over whether it is in a war or a "war-like state" (and whether, given its history, it should be in a war at all). It was, however, its highest representative — Köhler — who had called for a discussion on these matters.
Whether or not this aborted debate was the real reason for his stunning resignation (the media were rife with speculation about depression, burn-out and marital difficulties), he quit. Whatever the reason, Köhler was too emotional for his own good. This couldn't be said about his counterpart on the other side of the Atlantic.
Following the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a frantic search began in America: where was Barack Obama's temper? The media tried to get behind the reserved demeanour of a man who takes pride in being Ivy League in manner, as opposed to his predecessor's go-with-the-gut bravado (which was in itself peculiar, since George W. Bush didn't exactly attend an unknown state university in the middle of a desert). As one commentator put it, there was something harder to find than a fix for BP's leak and that was Obama's boiling point. Jokes were made that the only emotion to surface from the president was a slightly clenched jaw and a furrowed brow while he strolled along an oil-infested beach. Eventually, he promised to "kick ass" — to no great effect.
Where does that leave us? In the Old World, a leader is criticised — and quits — for being too emotional. In the New World, a leader is criticised for not being emotional enough. Is there a lesson in this absurdist play?
Indeed, but it is not a moral one. Yes, Obama faces considerable political damage, even if BP is to blame for the leak, and not Americans, for stirring up anti-British feeling. Yes, there will be dire consequences for British pension funds. Yes, BP should have picked a different spokesperson. Yes, Köhler left the people of Germany on their own, at least symbolically. This is a classic absurdist situation, the conundrum being: it is what it is. Or, to paraphrase the ancient Stoic Epictetus: freedom is achieved not by the fulfilling of one's personal desires, but by the restraint of them, for the common good.
