Rostem - I can see you got a High Distinction in Europe-Bashing but only a Credit in Logic.
Not at all. I simply point out how I see Europe.
The US and Canada have extremely close ties and share the longest undefended border in the world, but we are not about to unite.
There is a reason for that, even though both nations resemble each other very closely and have super-close economic ties. In a lot of ways US and Canada are a micro EU. We will work very closely, but we are not about to get married.
You Euros are nowhere near as close as the US and Canada but you want to talk about a union. Not in our lifetime.
Yes, Europe is more united today than ever before but that is because there are no external pressures and no crises. This is in no way any kind of a sign for unity since the entire planet is much closer today than what was only 50 years ago.
However, once you get past economics there are no ties that bind.
That is just the way it is with the US and Canada, who share the same language, the same peoples, the same economic status and many other similarities.
Europeans have a 3000 year history of animosity towards each other, have no common language, have disparate cultures and economic standing. Forget it.
Sure, on a trade and economic basis the EU will do fine, but I think you folks have gone about as far as possible.
This is not Euro bashing. It's the truth.
You accuse me of Eurobashing but you did not address the really important points I raised. You whistled right past them, hoping they will go away. The sins of the Germans have not been forgotten in the East, nor have the Belgians or Dutch. Yes, you can trade, but don't get too close. France is not every well liked by any Eurpean nation for a lot of reasons. The little nations have always had much to fear from Germany and France and for good reason. You don't brush that aside after only 60 years of peace. Sixty years of peace is nothing compared to the 3000 years on constant warfare on the European continent.
Don't get me wrong, I would not mind seeing a free and democratic Europe. I just happen to be a realist and don't think we have entered into any kind of age of Aquarius-Kumbayah kind of blissful existance.
War and calamity will again come to Europe. From what direction I do not know, but it's obvious the Moslems could come at you or the bear might wake up again or the starving Africans might get tired of starving.
You just never know.
Let's enjoy the peace and plenty we have, but don't expect it to last forever.
The US paid a terrible price for unity just about 140 years ago and the American states were always much closer than the EU nations will ever be.
So, for you Euros to think it's going to be a cakewalk is just a huge mistake. It's wishful thinking.
Political forum vanguard.