Comments on: Europe Turns Right

By: william jonas

william jonas — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 21:48:28 +0000

WVally and van der Galien, you both have the certainty and inclination of socialist utopians. And as I like to point out, the first impulse of every utopian is make the people obey the government.
Forces unknown to you and I perhaps not yet realized in our time will determine the shape and destiny of future societies and populations.

By: Assistant Village Idiot

Assistant Village Idiot — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 14:28:35 +0000

That does seem to be the long way home, then. Europeans are now more favorable to the same ideas as the American center-right but not to Americans themselves. Sigh. That will have to do for now, I suppose. Narratives die hard.

By: Michael van der Gali√´n

Michael van der Gali√´n — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:34:14 +0000

WVally: that sounds like a tremendous future. In fact, something worth setting up.

By: wvally

wvally — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 04:01:22 +0000

I am a science teacher in America, and I envision a future where our young people join together in a science and technology focused online educational environment, with instant translation of content to multiple languages and myspace style interaction between kids from around the world. Kids and classes would be grouped together not based on physical locations, but by interests. I think that the only real way for the “old” and “new” worlds to truly reconnect is through person-to-person interaction, not through media and governmental intermediaries.

By: Keryl K

Keryl K — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 02:41:45 +0000

Actually, most Americans do not waste their time disliking Europe. If anything, we wish those nations well. Just in an offhand and indifferent sort of way.

Anti-American sentiment may have a political value in Europe. (I will take your word on that point.) In the USA, a politican who focused a speach on ‘Europe’ – pro or con – would mostly be greeted with ‘heh? what’s that about?’???

By: snavetrebor

snavetrebor — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 23:27:14 +0000

Is there such a thing as a “Dutch Studies” student here in the U.S.? I’m guessing no, and that pretty much tells you all you need to know about how much Americans think about Europe in an average day. I got kids to feed, to quote Dave Chapelle.

By: Ewt

Ewt — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 21:03:18 +0000

There is certainly a anti US sentiment in Europe. But as a pro US Dutch citizen I think a large part of it has to do with the fact that “Large trees catch a lot of wind”. If you look at the news you will always see something about America, half of Europe’s (and the world’s) media are of American origin.

The media brings a very fragmented unclear world in our home, and loves to show US involvement in it. On the other hand you hardly ever see something about Chechnya or the horrors that are caused by the . This cannot deliver anything other than a distorted view of the world.

The European people are also very anti war, most of them simply do not believe anything good can come out of a war, altough we are the biggest example that a war is sometimes needed for freedom.

But as somebody who triggers a lot of discussions about this, with friends, family and college’s, I cannot say that more than a few dumbasses believe that what we see on the news is reality or have a grudge against the American people. I also don’t believe, in the Netherlands at least, that the Anti Americanism originates from the fact that Europe used to be dominating on the world stage. Dutch civilians don’t care about that.

Also there are a lot of people that don’t like the current policy of the US but strongly believe in the American Dream and the American people. Even tho the majority is socialist, and points to the government for everything, there are some people that want less government and more change and self responsibility.

By: Ken in SC

Ken in SC — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:40:23 +0000

To those Europeans who ask why Bush was re-elected, one should say that the Democrats did not offer a reasonable alternative. In America’s two party system, we have the stupid party and the crazy party. It’s usually best to vote for the stupid party because they seem to cause less harm.

By: william jonas

william jonas — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 14:47:55 +0000

Some great arguments here. However (Mr van der Galien) “Europe has had it ( become tired) with Socialism”? Is sort of akin to a cancer victim declaring I have had it with cancer.
Europe is all talk and no action. They are doomed.

By: David Becker

David Becker — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 11:43:19 +0000

I wish I had a dollar for each time I heard this ridiculous argument “X gets elected not because of Omething, but in spite of it.” Polls don’t count. People lie in them and vent base and angry frustrations. Elections do count and are the only meaningful source of information by which public likes and dislikes can be judged.