March 13, 2008
THOSE MIXED MARRIAGES NEVER WORK:
Liebe Europäer (George Weigel, February 28, 2008, Wall Street Journal Europe)
In a recent article in Die Zeit, former West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt confessed that he wants to "love America again." He listed 10 conditions for a lovers' reconciliation, each reflective of the political, environmental, economic, secularist and multicultural shibboleths of the contemporary European left. Herr Schmidt's romantic yearnings may be requited in the event that Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama is the next president of the United States. Other Americans, however, think that the real issue is this: How can we respect Europe again?Let me suggest the ways.
Americans hold atheists in such low regard that polling suggests the only more potent disqualifier for a presidential candidate would be if they were a Scientologist. We won't respect Europe again until the mustard seed blooms or it becomes Islamic (Musims too outpoll atheists). Posted by Orrin Judd at March 13, 2008 2:46 PM
Europeans aren't actually atheists, it is just that the weak broth up by state-connected/coopted churches fails to inpsire and captivate people. The spirituality is there, it just lacks an outlet. A divison of church of state, just as in the US would be an important first step - tax-financed churches don't cut it.
Posted by: Ralf Goergens at March 13, 2008 3:30 PMThey've had tax-financed churches for centuries, and some of the greatest cathedrals, art and literature arose in that environment.
They have abandoned God. The question is, has God abandoned them?
Posted by: Jorge Curioso at March 13, 2008 6:54 PMHelmut Schmidt is a senile old man; this is the same person who criticized Jimmy Carter's leadership when he was West German chancellor. Would he want the same under Obama or a similar Democrat? Schmidt needs to remember his history, if he can do that.
Posted by: LC at March 13, 2008 7:05 PMIs it me or are their way too many articles from overseas basically concluding that the President will be Obama or Hillary in January. Will they be shocked when McCain stands there in January?
Posted by: KRS at March 13, 2008 11:13 PMTo pick up[ up what Ralf G has written:
As we see in the present Democrat train wreck, is is those who lust after new things, the Catalinarians, who go into politics and, if we are not careful, can wind up running things. The Poor Europeans chewed themselves up so badly so badly in wars that they set themslves up to be turned over to that ilk.
I suggest that before we judge that the imposition of the spirtual jailhouse were an improvement even upon the wreck of old Europe, we consider the words of the Apostle James: "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well. The devils in Hell also believe, and tremble."
Posted by: Lou Gots at March 14, 2008 2:45 AM