September 5, 2006
MORALITY VS. TOLERANCE:
In Europe, a search for what defines the EU's moral identity: Newer EU members struggle to promote a more traditional morality. (Christa Case and Michael J. Jordan, 9/06/06, CS Monitor)
Europe, it seems, is having a bit of an identity crisis. As leaders from Budapest to Barcelona vie to guide the continent's forward course, the needle on Europe's moral compass is bouncing frenetically between two increasingly polarized camps. [...]On one side are countries like the Netherlands, which has mandated that "Christ" be spelled with a lowercase "c," and Spain, where birth certificates now provide for same-sex parents to be referred to as "Progenitor A" and "Progenitor B."
Recognizing that the choice is between morality or amorality is an important first step, but there's little reason to believe Europe will choose the hard road of the former. Posted by Orrin Judd at September 5, 2006 10:18 PM
Same-sex parents?? Is it now possible for two women to conceive a child? Or two men?
Posted by: ray at September 5, 2006 11:34 PMI think they're still trying to find an identity for the EU (Ewww), let alone one that had some kind of gut check quality.
Posted by: KRS at September 6, 2006 12:38 AMLook at the EU banknotes. Pictured are arches, bridges, and maps. That's it.
Posted by: Gideon at September 6, 2006 1:09 AMWell, St. George or Joan or Charlemagne or even Romulus and Remus would be sure to offend someone.
Of course, they could have put an imam on the notes. It would be a nice portent.
Posted by: ratbert at September 6, 2006 7:44 AMApologies if I've told this before, but a couple of years ago we were invited to a local museum to see a Swedish Christmas tradition called "Santa Lucia" which involves young girls in white dresses carrying candles and singing hmyns and choral music. It was one of the most beautiful and moving things I've ever seen, but the folks from the Swedish embassy that was sponsoring it gave a running explanatory commentary that described it all in terms of what "we used to believe". Very sad.
Posted by: Peter B at September 6, 2006 8:19 AMSeeing Roland on a banknote would send a nice message.
Posted by: lebeaux at September 6, 2006 10:44 AMIsn't it ironic how many Europeans hold Christianity and the values derived from it in contempt, but bend over backwards to avoid offending Muslims?
As long as Europe defines itself as being against the US, it will never know what exactly it is for.
Posted by: Alison at September 6, 2006 10:07 PM