UNAMBIGUOUS:

PIGS MUST PLAY (Anthony Lane, 2005-02-07, The New Yorker)

Most Americans know nothing of the location, composition, or purpose of the European Union. There is no shame in such ignorance, for most Europeans are in the same position—rather worse, indeed, given that they are the ones who are meant to be experiencing a pleasant sensation of unity. If anything, the view from the States is more precise: Europe is that Shrek-shaped landmass to the left of the Middle East, and the European Union, or E.U., must therefore be the constitutional equivalent of a group hug, designed to insure that no Finn, say, will ever launch a first-strike attack on a Greek. Europeans themselves, however, cannot even decide where Europe begins and ends. Does it include Turkey, which has taken the first step toward joining the E.U. in 2015? Does it even include Great Britain, a founding member? To most Englishmen, the geography is unambiguous: Europe is what you get if you are stupid enough to venture any farther than Kent.

Hence the recent British opinion poll suggesting that, were the Government to hold a referendum on whether the country should sign on to the European Constitution, the percentage of the population in favor would be a slightly unencouraging twenty-four. Nobody but the Prime Minister knows what the Constitution looks like, or even whether it is a physical document, a lovely idea, or a bill of health, but voters nonetheless felt morally impelled to state that, whatever it is, they don’t like it.

In this regard, as in all others, the British press remains warmly on the side of the people.

You'd think that would be a sensible side for a political party to stand on too, no?

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 7, 2005 5:23 PM