June 2, 2005
NEVERMIND THE BOLLOCKS, WE'RE THE TRANSNATIONALISTS:
Why Europe will self-destruct just like the Soviet Union (Garth George, 02.06.05, NZ Herald)
That the breach happened in France comes as no surprise, for the French are probably the most nationalistic, insular and xenophobic of all Europeans.The court action to suppress courtroom videotapes by the undercover Rainbow Warrior killers, Mafart and Prieur, is simply further evidence - although none is needed - of the selfishness and arrogance of this insufferable race.
It would have been interesting if Germany had held a referendum instead of deciding the constitution issue in the Bundestag. But Gerhard Schroeder wasn't as silly as the doddering Jacques Chirac. He probably knew that a referendum would be doomed to failure in a country in which neo-Nazism flourishes mainly as a result of European Union racial liberalism.
And I wonder, too, what the results might have been had Austria and Italy asked their populations to decide. Greece, too, with Turkey knocking on the EU's door.
In Britain, which to its credit has remained more at arm's length from the EU than most, Tony Blair seems sure to think twice about the referendum planned for next year because there is nothing surer than that the Brits would deliver an even stronger "no" than the French.
How anyone can believe that this assortment of nations can form such an intimate relationship and make it last is beyond me, although I'm sure it makes perfect sense to the post-modernist utopianists who devised it and built it.
They seem to think that history can be ignored, that nationhood, race, ethnicity and culture developed and nurtured over thousands of years can suddenly be subsumed to a perceived "good".
They seem to think that in this New Age of political correctness, ancient rivalries - often virulent hatreds - can be overcome and forgotten as if they had never happened. The whole of European history says bollocks to that.
But, once again, the post-modernists hold sway, the multiculturalists who believe that all cultures are equivalent and thus can live together in harmony. World history says bollocks to that, too.
Posted by Orrin Judd at June 2, 2005 12:00 AM
Glad to see that 'bollocks' is an acceptable word here! I'm tempted to use it again!
To say that "The whole of European history says bollocks to [ancient rivalries - often virulent hatreds - can be overcome and forgotten as if they had never happened]" is not entirely true. The Britain you refer to consists of several countries with ancient rivalries - often virulent hatreds - dating back hundreds [Europe isn't really thousands of years old, but I forgive the typical American overstatement] of years. Ok, so these rivalries are not entirely forgotten and certainly have not been subsumed (witness the recent Scots devolution and the popularity of the Nationalist Party, and the rise of the Welsh language), but I don't think anyone would say that the union has not been a successful one (collectively speaking).
That Britain is regarded as a single entity in the world, and that well-informed blogs such as yourselves, didn't realise the irony of listing Britain as an example in this, shows that it can work.
I am not a big fan of more integration into Europe but I believe in a single currency (and several other aspects of the EU) and I don't believe they have anything to do with national identities and being subsumed into a larger political entity. I'm no history buff, but I believe the silver thaler used to be a common currency in Europe long before the formation of the current geopolitical lines in Europe. Was it not this that inspired the US currency (dollar=thaler)?
Anyway, never mind the bollocks! - J.Lydon c.1977
Robert Conquest predicted a few years ago that the "one Europe" concept would never work because it was based on an Idea that, like the Soviet Union, was destined for failure when it collided with reality.
Also a few years ago, Milton Friedman predicted the Euro would last less than 10 years.
Both of these elderly gentlemen might still be alive to witness their predictions come true. As usual.
Posted by: Matt Murphy at June 2, 2005 6:03 AMMr. Jardine, the article is from the New Zealand Herald. It is not an American newspaper, thus the hyperbole is a "typical (Kiwi) overstatement."
Posted by: Mikey at June 2, 2005 7:39 AMPlus, by Britain we mean England. Asking us to take seriously the Welsh, Scots, Northern Irish and Cornishmen is a little much, given that the English don't.
And, of course, by England, we mean London.
Posted by: David Cohen at June 2, 2005 8:15 AMOrrin -
Nice pop culture reference in the title. The EU should last about as long as the band did.
Posted by: Bruce Cleaver at June 2, 2005 9:07 AM"I'm no history buff" qualifies as nuanced understatement.
Posted by: Genecis at June 2, 2005 9:18 AMcherie blair
Posted by: at June 2, 2005 11:18 AMDavid:
Yes, we know you do. It keeps us amused.
The other day someone told me about a lovely American lady in a Cardiff guesthouse, who asked the landlord "where the nearest Tube station was."
Apparently she wanted to pop up to the Lake District for elevenses then onto the Edinburgh for lunch.
Bless her. Small country. Sadly not that small.
Posted by: Brit at June 2, 2005 12:08 PMthe british do love their word games; the amount of grief i received from a london cafe for ordering a "jelly donut" was unbelievable. bastards :)
Posted by: cjm at June 2, 2005 1:23 PMUh Brit, she was just testing you....
Posted by: Barry Meislin at June 2, 2005 4:05 PMbrit,
the answer she was looking for (to "where's the nearest tube station") is "in my pants". like barrym said, it was a test.
Posted by: cjm at June 2, 2005 4:56 PMIf it had been an Englishman running the B&B, the correct response would have been a raised eyebrow and:
"Ealing Broadway, Madam. It's just a 120 mile walk east along the M4."
As it was a Welshman he probably just sang her a song about rugby.
Posted by: Brit at June 3, 2005 5:30 AMdamn the welsh and their incessant singing. they are almost as bad as the irish that way :) gives drinking a bad name
Posted by: cjm at June 3, 2005 1:17 PMIf Europe collapses, it won't be for the same reason as the USSR.
Europe has a problem with farming that is too productive, not with farming that isn't productive enough.
Posted by: Harry Eagar at June 3, 2005 8:50 PM