. . . AND PROPS TO GEORGE WASHINGTON

The Proposed European Constitution:

PREAMBLE

Our Constitution ... is called a democracy because power is in the hands not of a minority but of the greatest number.

Thucydides II, 37

Conscious that Europe is a continent that has brought forth civilisation; that its inhabitants, arriving in successive waves from earliest times, have gradually developed the values underlying humanism: equality of persons, freedom, respect for reason,

Drawing inspiration from the cultural, religious and humanist inheritance of Europe, the values of which, still present in its heritage, have embedded within the life of society the central role of the human person and his or her inviolable and inalienable rights, and respect for law,

Believing that reunited Europe intends to continue along the path of civilisation, progress and prosperity, for the good of all its inhabitants, including the weakest and most deprived; that it wishes to remain a continent open to culture, learning and social progress; and that it wishes to deepen the democratic and transparent nature of its public life, and to strive for peace, justice and solidarity throughout the world,

Convinced that, while remaining proud of their own national identities and history, the peoples of Europe are determined to transcend their ancient divisions and, united ever more closely, to forge a common destiny,

Convinced that, thus "united in its diversity", Europe offers them the best chance of pursuing, with due regard for the rights of each individual and in awareness of their responsibilities towards future generations and the Earth, the great venture which makes of it a special area of human hope,

Grateful to the members of the European Convention for having prepared this Constitution on behalf of the citizens and States of Europe,

[Who, having exchanged their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed as follows:]

Prompted by this post by AOG, I thought I'd read the new European constitution. I still intend to do it, but I couldn't get past the preamble. Leaving aside the leaden language and the resolute turning away from actual European history ("reunite" the continent? Are they nostalgic for Hitler or Napolean?), I was most struck by this paragraph: "Grateful to the members of the European Convention for having prepared this Constitution on behalf of the citizens and States of Europe". The European Convention is the body, chaired by Valery Giscard d'Estaing, that drafted the convention. On behalf of the population of Europe, they have not only thanked themselves, but actually made it a part of the actual constitution.

Posted by David Cohen at December 10, 2003 2:35 PM