The European Union and Freedom of Expression
Jack London said: Why your change of heart on Europe (I assune you mean the EU, rather than any holiday destination)? I'm curious. :cry: My change of heart on the European Union (EU) is of central relevance to this campaign so I have decided to post it under this section rather that under the 'Introduce Yourself' section where you asked your question. To start with I must say that I have been pro-European all my adult life, and in the past I was almost fanatical in my support for the EU and the idea of a united Europe. In some ways I would still like to see a politically unified Europe finally emerge. My previous support for the EU rested on the assumption that it represented European Civilisation. Ever since the Roman Empire unified much of Europe during its period of dominance, Europe has had a central cultural thread running through all its nations (including those areas that were not necessarily occupied by Rome). Despite its many wars, and divisions I think Europe has always been, in a very broad sense, a single cultural entity in which ideas (e.g. in science, philosophy, art, etc.) have been transferred between Europe’s many regions and cultures. I saw the science of the ancient Greeks, the ideas of the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, Newtonian Science, the art of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, the benefits and ingenuity of the Industrial Revolution, the desire for progress, etc. as part of my own heritage, even though many of these were born outside my own nation. I saw Europe as an engine of social progress and freedom, with freedom of expression as a central pillar. The turning point really came as a result of the Danish Cartoons issue when one of the central aspect of modern European civilisation, freedom of expression, was not adequately defended by the European establishment. In fact it appeared to me that the establishment was actually attacking this central value. I underwent a great deal of soul searching at this time and I suddenly realised that the European Union, in my eyes at least, was anti European. On this realisation my entire worldview was shattered and I am still coming to terms with the shock and am still reassessing where I stand on a multitude of issues. I have never really been comfortable with the centrality of the European Commission and the lack of any real power for the EU Parliament. I tended to delude myself that the cultural aspects that I mentioned above would bring us together and allow us to become a state with real influence in the world to the mutual benefit of all EU citizens. I now see some worrying trends in society that I blame on the European Union. These include the sense of self-hate that seems to and the apparent rewriting of our history so that it fits with the politically correct ideal. My opposition to the EU establishment has hardened still further in the last couple of days. Today I am ashamed to be a citizen of the European Union. One of its member states, the Netherlands, appears, at least as far as my humble mental faculties can deduce, to have driven a good and courageous woman from its shores. The woman I speak of is Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who I see as a spokesperson for European values and freedoms even though she originates from outside of Europe. I see the actions of her critics in the Netherlands as a microcosm of what is happening in the EU as a whole. From this moment on I will oppose the European establishment, I will call for the withdrawal of my county, the United Kingdom, from the European Union. I believe that the EU has helped to infect the body politic of the United Kingdom with the disease of political correctness and it has contributed, in my opinion, to spreading this insidious contagion. This la-*test*-('") outrage is the last straw. As far as I can see, the European Union does not stand for freedom or true democracy but for a malignant and self destructive philosophy concocted in the perverted minds of those who now run and control it. Sorry for rambling, perhaps you wished you never asked? PS. I still think Europe is a brilliant holiday destination. :D
Jack London said: Why your change of heart on Europe (I assune you mean the EU, rather than any holiday destination)? I'm curious. :cry: My change of heart on the European Union (EU) is of central relevance to this campaign so I have decided to post it under this section rather that under the 'Introduce Yourself' section where you asked your question. To start with I must say that I have been pro-European all my adult life, and in the past I was almost fanatical in my support for the EU and the idea of a united Europe. In some ways I would still like to see a politically unified Europe finally emerge. My previous support for the EU rested on the assumption that it represented European Civilisation. Ever since the Roman Empire unified much of Europe during its period of dominance, Europe has had a central cultural thread running through all its nations (including those areas that were not necessarily occupied by Rome). Despite its many wars, and divisions I think Europe has always been, in a very broad sense, a single cultural entity in which ideas (e.g. in science, philosophy, art, etc.) have been transferred between Europe’s many regions and cultures. I saw the science of the ancient Greeks, the ideas of the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, Newtonian Science, the art of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, the benefits and ingenuity of the Industrial Revolution, the desire for progress, etc. as part of my own heritage, even though many of these were born outside my own nation. I saw Europe as an engine of social progress and freedom, with freedom of expression as a central pillar. The turning point really came as a result of the Danish Cartoons issue when one of the central aspect of modern European civilisation, freedom of expression, was not adequately defended by the European establishment. In fact it appeared to me that the establishment was actually attacking this central value. I underwent a great deal of soul searching at this time and I suddenly realised that the European Union, in my eyes at least, was anti European. On this realisation my entire worldview was shattered and I am still coming to terms with the shock and am still reassessing where I stand on a multitude of issues. I have never really been comfortable with the centrality of the European Commission and the lack of any real power for the EU Parliament. I tended to delude myself that the cultural aspects that I mentioned above would bring us together and allow us to become a state with real influence in the world to the mutual benefit of all EU citizens. I now see some worrying trends in society that I blame on the European Union. These include the sense of self-hate that seems to and the apparent rewriting of our history so that it fits with the politically correct ideal. My opposition to the EU establishment has hardened still further in the last couple of days. Today I am ashamed to be a citizen of the European Union. One of its member states, the Netherlands, appears, at least as far as my humble mental faculties can deduce, to have driven a good and courageous woman from its shores. The woman I speak of is Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who I see as a spokesperson for European values and freedoms even though she originates from outside of Europe. I see the actions of her critics in the Netherlands as a microcosm of what is happening in the EU as a whole. From this moment on I will oppose the European establishment, I will call for the withdrawal of my county, the United Kingdom, from the European Union. I believe that the EU has helped to infect the body politic of the United Kingdom with the disease of political correctness and it has contributed, in my opinion, to spreading this insidious contagion. This la-*test*-('") outrage is the last straw. As far as I can see, the European Union does not stand for freedom or true democracy but for a malignant and self destructive philosophy concocted in the perverted minds of those who now run and control it. Sorry for rambling, perhaps you wished you never asked? PS. I still think Europe is a brilliant holiday destination. :D