Europea

Manifestation för Kubas politiska fångar

2006-08-03T08:25:00.000+02:00

Fredag 4 augusti
Kl: 12.00-13.00
Vid femte hötorgshuset, ovanför Sergels Torg i Stockholm
Arrangör: Liberala ungdomsförbundet

Insamling till fonden för Kubas politiska fångar och informationsbord med böcker och skrifter om Kubas demokratirörelse.

För mer info om situationen på Kuba: Kubas politiska fångar, Miscelaneos

En sång om Zidane

2006-08-02T10:59:00.000+02:00

Förlusten i fotbolls-VM fortsätter att sysselsätta fransmännen. Det franska bandet La Plage har gjort en låt om Zidanes skallning av Materazzi. Låten kan man lyssna på här.

La caída final de Fidel?

2006-08-01T13:35:00.000+02:00

Det händer stora saker på Kuba. Fidel Castro har för första gången någonsin delegerat presidentmakten till sin bror Raul Castro. Anledningen är, om vi får tro Fidel själv, att han ska opereras för tarmbesvär. Raul är nummer två vid makten och det är för första gången sedan revolutionen 1959 som han blir tilldelad den exekutiva makten såsom ordförande i högsta rådet, i kommunistpartiet och överbefälhavare.

I Miami pågår redan gatufester för att fira Fidels frånvaro från makten och förhoppningarna är stora att det här ska vara början för slutet på den kubanska diktaturen.

Om detta skriver DN , även Le Monde, EL Pais och den kubanska sajten Cubanet.

Impardonable mais explicable?

2006-07-21T19:28:00.000+02:00

VM-finalmatchen slutade i bestörtning och chock efter att Zinedine Zidane hade skallat italienaren Materazzi i bröstet. Ett från min sida förväntat fördömmande av dessa våldsamheter på plan vändes om till att bli ett långt försvarstal för Frankrikes store hjälte. Franska medier gjorde opinionsundersökningar som visade att 60% av fransmännen tyckte skallningen var förståelig och 50% ansåg det även vara förlåtligt. De franska sportjournalisterna kommenterade det hela med: impardonable, mais explicable (oförlåtligt men förklarligt). Helt otroligt att en hel nation bortförklarar öppet våld på fotbollsplanen!

Men vad hände egentligen? Det enda vi får veta av FIFA är att inga uttalande av rasistisk karaktär fälldes. De båda spelarna har i alla fall dömts för böter och avstängning, Zidane även för samhällstjänst och arbete med barn.

Två svenska debattörer kommenterade händelsen på ett, som jag tycker, mycket klokt sätt i DN häromveckan.

Korståg mot friheten

2006-07-20T21:42:00.000+02:00

Påven är aktivare än någonsin när det gäller att sprida konservativa katolska värderingar. Förra veckan höll Benedictus XIV en stor mässa till kärnfamiljens ära i spanska Valencia. Den katolska massträffen tjänade till att stärka den traditionella synen på familjen, med andra ord att inskärpa tvåsamhetens heteronorm ännu tydligare i de stackars spanjorerna. Anledningen till att påven är särskilt oroad för just Spanien är att den spanska socialdemokratiska regeringen legaliserat homo-äktenskap. Reformerna är unika för att komma ifrån ett katolskt land där kyrkan spelat en stor roll de senaste decennierna.

Även i abortfrågan är Vatikanen fortsatt mycket aktiv. Nyligen publicerades en ny kyrklig text som klargjorde att uteslutning ur kyrkan vid abort inte bara gäller kvinnan i fråga utan även hennes familj samt sjukvårdspersonalen som genomför aborten. Tack Benedictus för detta förtydligande - precis vad som behövdes för att öka kvinnors valfrihet!

Att en kyrklig institution på detta sätt motverkar liberala reformer och till den grad blandar sig i politiken är helt barockt år 2006 - i upplysningens tidevarv. Påven borde ha bättre saker för sig än att kringskära homosexuellas och kvinnors hårt förvärvade frihet. Men detta verkar vara något av Benedictus nya kall - korståget mot liberalismen. Ytterligare en anledning att driva sekulariseringens krav hela vägen i Spanien (och alla övriga länder för övrigt) för att helt åtskilja kyrkan från staten - och i synnerhet frånta den all statlig finansiering och subventioner. Politik bör inte sammanblandas med religiösa institutioner.

In nomine patris et filii et spirituus sancti, Amen.

Stoppa flyttcirkusen!

2006-05-08T21:13:00.000+02:00

Det ser äntligen ut att finnas ett slags window of opportunity för att stoppa den kostsamma flyttcirkusen som Europaparlamentet gör till Strasbourg varje månad. Så här skriver Cecilia Malmström i sitt senaste nyhetsbrev:

En smärre skandal uppdagades i förra veckan när Europaparlamentets budgetkontrollutskott närmare granskade hur EU:s pengar har används 2004. Vid en närmare titt på kostnaderna för parlamentets lokaler i Strasbourg, visade det sig att det verkar som om Strasbourg stad har överfakturerat parlamentet 2,7 miljoner euro om året i flera år, kanske ända sedan 1981. En utredning har omedelbart tillsatts. Strasbourg stad tillbakavisar indignerat alla uppgifter medan vi som i åratal har kämpat för att Europaparlamentet skall vara på ett enda ställe - Bryssel – vädrar morgonluft.

Under EU-valet 2004 drev jag bland annat frågan om att avskaffa flytten och göra om parlamentet i Strasbourg till ett europeiskt universitet i stället.
Dra ditt strå till stacken för ett effektivare EU och skriv under uppropet på www.oneseat.eu .

Mario Vargas Llosa

2006-05-04T22:35:00.000+02:00

Idag föreläste Mario Vargas Llosa i Aula Magna på Stockholms universitet om sin passion för litteraturen. Säkert är att ingen lämnade salen oberörd. Många av oss fashinerade av Vargas Llosas inspirerande passion för litteraturen, hans nyanserade vackra språkbruk och liberala visioner. Nästan lika många lämnade salen röda av ilska för att Vargas Llosa vågade försvara invasionen av Irak, demokrati kontra diktatur samt förklara sin avsky för nationalism. Åsikter som kan verka vara mainstream i en europeisk debatt.

Men Vargas Llosa är något så unikt som en liberal författare från Sydamerika. På en kontinent som just nu upplever en ny våg av vänsterregimer som tävlar i att nationalisera naturtillgångar och hylla den kubanska diktaturen har liberalismen blivit till ett skällsord. Därför är Mario Vargas Llosas politiska och litterära gärning desto viktigare.

Italiani, è tempo di cambiare

2006-04-07T08:24:00.000+02:00

The Italian election is approaching and it's time to dismiss Berlusconi. None of the Italians I've spoken to in the last couple of years seem to like him, but then...who the heck voted for him?
This week end we will get the answer.

Schlagerpolitik

2006-04-04T21:37:00.000+02:00

Schlagerstjärnan Roslana har valts in i det ukrainska parlamentet för Jusjtjenkos parti Vårt Ukraina. Hennes kommentar är att Ukraina behöver färre Sovjetpolitiker och mer frihet. Samma frihetliga anda kan tyvärr inte tillskrivas årets svenska schlagervinnare.

Vad gör du nu för tiden...

2006-04-04T21:30:00.000+02:00

Efter nästan ett halvårs uppehåll är det åter dags för bloggen.

Eine kurze Zitternacht

2005-09-18T19:32:00.000+02:00

The elections in Germany seem to be more or less decided. The long night waiting, predicted as "eine Zitternacht", a trembling night, will probably not take place. The result is quite clear by now: SPD 34%, CDU 35%, FDP 10%, Grünen 8%, Linke 8%. On German television Chancelor Schröder is seen celebrating a victory, claiming to stay on his post. The Liberal party state they will not go into any coalition with the SPD (a so called trafic light coalition, red, yellow and green) and would rather stay in opposition. This leaves a coalition of SPD, Grüne and Linke, not a very pleasent thought for those of us who believe in German reforms. But as you say in German: das letzte Wort ist noch nicht gesprochen...

Politics as fun as football?

2005-09-13T23:22:00.000+02:00

A huge number of Germans watched the TV debate between Gerhard Schröder and his adversary Angela Merkel last week. A total of 21 million people watched the show that was broadcast on four channels at the same time. This is as many Germans that watch the champion ship of football… Watch the debate here (only in German).

Angie vs. Gerhard

2005-09-13T22:57:00.000+02:00

The German parliamentary elections are approaching and the debate is heating up. The main political battle will be between the largest ruling party SPD and its main adversary CDU. But despite the classical outlook of the election debate the German political climate has changed considerably. A new left party consisting of former communists and outbreakers from the SPD is attracting voters from the eastern parts of Germany. The possibility of a so called "great coalition" of CDU and SPD is also being discussed. A lot can still happen before Sunday the 18th…

Read about previous Germans elections results here.

Doomsday is approaching

2005-09-13T22:24:00.000+02:00

Tomorrow the Swedish parliament will have a vote on asylum policy and a possible amnesty for refugees and asylum seekers. During the last months, huge campaigns have been organized in favour of amnesty for refugees. The idea is to allow asylum seekers who have been turned down, to remain in Sweden. It is an ad hoc solution to solve the catastrophic situation that many refugees are living. Because of a rotten asylum policy with an eternal processing of applications and extremely delayed answers to the applicants, many refugees live in constant insecurity about their future. The proposal of amnesty would allow all recent applicants a residential permit. This would not help the problem in the long run but save the lives of many people suffering under a bad system.

At this very moment the government is still negotiating with its coalition partners concerning the budget proposal. The coalition parties, the Left party and the Greens, have long since promoted the amnesty for refugees and are now pressuring the Social democrats on the issue. According to recent media reporting the Left party has given in to the government while the Green party is still struggling to achieve the amnesty. The parliamentary vote will take place tomorrow morning at 9 am. The assembly’s public seats will be full of spectators from several human rights organisation watching over the MP’s, encouraging them to vote for the amnesty. Tomorrow is a kind of judgement day; the Members of parliaments have a unique chance to show their stand on a central human rights issue. This decision will be vital for the lives of thousands of people who are done nothing wrong but seeking refuge in Sweden, getting stuck in our disastrous asylum system. It’s now or never.

When summer is over

2005-09-13T21:50:00.000+02:00

After a long and inspiring summer I will take up bloging again. Among the books I have read during the last months there are especially two I would like to recommend. The first one I’ve mentioned before: Atlas shrugged, by Ayn Rand. Not only a fantastic novel about the struggle of a few against the madness of so many. In Atlas shrugged you can find Rand’s entire philosophy, not only her political ideals but also her principles when it comes to philosophy, human rights, morality, friendship and love. A truly addicting novel…which, in the end, makes you regret that it is “only” 1200 pages long…

The second book to recommend is also by Rand; Fountainhead. After reading Atlas shrugged I could hardly imagine to find equally inspiring reading. But I did. Fountainhead is a story about entrepreneurship and morality, about integrity and individualism. Here Rand goes a lot deeper into the characters of the book than in Atlas shrugged. Their personalities are more complex and are allowed more deliberation of their own. Again, a book that is very hard to let go of…

Let them out!

2005-06-08T23:44:00.000+02:00

Finally! Swedish politicians start talking about labour immigration. Can it really be true that we will enjoy the clear win-win situation that immigration means? People looking for jobs would be allowed to come here (!) and in return we would all profit from a growing economy and a smaller black labour market if we would give these people work permits.

The Spanish example of an amnesty for illegal immigrants shows how many people actually are willing to work for their living as long as they are allowed to stay in Europe. 700.000 people showed up during the Spanish amnesty which lasted three months. They all received work permits and were allowed to stay if they could prove they had a job, an address and where not punished for a crime. Thousands of people transferred from an illegal life in insecurity to be taxpaying citizens with respected rights, just over night. I wonder how many people who would turn up in a Swedish amnesty…50.000? Or 100.000? It’s worth trying.

Sexual favours for the court

2005-06-08T23:35:00.000+02:00

A Swedish judge of the Supreme Court has been caught buying sexual favours of a prostitute, which is illegal in Sweden. But nobody seems to object that he keeps on judging cases involving prostitution. No matter what you might think of prostitution as such the judge has obviously committed an illegal act.

Apparently judges are themselves standing outside of the legal system that entails all the rest of us. So how does the court think that this will affect peoples trust in trials about sexual crimes? How will this affect our trust in the judicial system?

Good Luck France

2005-06-08T23:17:00.000+02:00

"The French voters want to keep the 35 hour labour week in a world where Indian engineers are willing to work 35 hours a day. Good Luck."

Fantastic quote from Thomas L. Friedman in New York Times about the bad timing of the French to lose the appetite for hard work, quoted in Dagens Nyheter 8/6 2005. I lived in France when they invented the 35 hour labour week in 2000. Only five years later they have to change it. Why not just let people work as little or as much as they want? Ever thought about that?

Blog-challenge about books

2005-06-05T22:22:00.000+02:00

There is a so called blog-challenge going on amongst Swedish bloggers. I was challenged by Johan Norberg to answer questions about books.

1. How many books do you own?

I own about 500 books. Most of them concern politics or political science and also classics, ancient literature and poetry. I am lucky to have a father with a huge library which is spread all over my parent’s house and from which I borrow books from time to time. His collection accommodates about 3000 books, with everything from classical philosophy to modern science.

2. Latest book purchase?

A Swedish book called Skilda verkligheter (Separate realities) by Marianne Fredriksson. Her writings are often inspired by Jungian psychology and since I’m a fan of C.G. Jung I enjoy her books a lot.

3. Latest book you've read?

I am still reading Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, haven’t had time to finish it. I have another 800 pages of the total 1200 to read. I’m planning to finish it during summer.

4. Five books that have meant a lot to you (and your favorite part in those books)

Since I seldom read books more than once I will name books that have made an important impression on me and that I go back to often to read parts of them again. I also added the mentioning of a favorite part in the books.

* The Aeneid by Virgil, the fantastic epic in Latin. The verses and rimes are extremely beautiful and it also provides an interesting illustration of what was believed to be the historical background to the Roman Empire. My favourite part is when Aeneas descends to the rein of Hades, the kingdom of the dead.

* Atlas shrugged by Ayn Rand. One of the most inspiring and encouraging books I have ever read. After only a chapter you feel you can change the world with your bare hands. A manifesto to the capacity of free thinking and creation of mankind. My favourite part (so far) is when Francisco slaps Dagni in the face for suggesting that she would perform less well in school in order to stop her classmates’ jealous comments.

* Weit ist der Weg nach Osten (Long is the road to the East) by Marion Gräfin Dönhoff. A splendid historical account of the former German territories in the Esat and how the German foreign policy towards Eastern Europe was designed after the war. My favourite part is when she describes how she road horseback all the way from Königsberg (the former capital of East Prussia) to Western Germany to escape the invasion of the Red Army.

* Bröderna Leijonhjärta (The Brothers Lionheart) by Astrid Lindgren. How can a book for children be so relevant for the grown up world? This book should be spread in masses to all totalitarian regimes. My favourite part is where Skorpan asks his older brother why he keeps on fighting against the evil and he answers “because I you don’t fight for what you believe in you become only a poor weakling”.

* Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés. Again a book inspired by Jungian psychoanalysis. Full of old myths and stories which contain a lot of wisdom about human behaviour. I can’t name a favourite part because it all depends on what mood you are in.

5. Five bloggers that I would like to see responding to these questions.

Europoint, Joel Gombin, Hyllengren, Alicio and Esbati.

The future of Kosovo

2005-06-03T13:20:00.000+02:00

Yesterday I participated in a seminar about the future of Kosovo organized by SILC. I make some comments about the seminar in Ditari, the Albanian news programme, which is broadcast at 17.30 today in the Swedish radio channel P2.

Hold your horses

2005-06-03T13:08:00.000+02:00

European newspapers are filled with comments about the French and Dutch referendum. Some talk about a huge crisis for the European Union, others speak about rising nationalism and populism in politics. Experts and analysts are desperately trying to describe what has happened and produce the most intelligent answers to the questions arising. I am not convinced that the two negative results in France and the Netherlands have to be seen as so catastrophic. Neither am I convinced that this has to be the end of the ratification process. Should not all citizens have the chance to pronounce themselves in this issue, be it through a referendum or ratification in parliament? Is a NO in one member state going to stop all others from even giving their opinion? I am not so sure about that. I think that today’s main editorial in the Swedish paper Dagens Nyheter gives a pretty balanced analysis about what we know so far and how we can deal with the issue. I think we should give ourselves some time to figure out how to proceed. Our European project is not running away. It has taken us 50 years so far, to create it, so we can afford two weeks of reconsideration.

What has Europe ever done for us?

2005-05-30T21:06:00.000+02:00

The European Movement has composed a small film about the achievements of the EU. I agree with the message except for the regional funds, they are not what I'd call the positive effects of the EU.

In stead of always asking what Europe has ever done for us, maybe we should ask ourselves what we have ever done for Europe?

The Erasmus generation

2005-05-30T14:30:00.000+02:00

The French voted no to the European constitution. Some voted against it because they are against globalisation, some because they want to stop Turkish membership to the EU, some because they want an EU with more social harmonisation. I don't agree with any of these arguments. Contrarily, the EU should promote globalisation and free trade, continue enlargement and leave its hands from social policy.

Federalists all over Europe are mourning because the European project has been hit by nationalist propaganda. Where is the vision of a Europe united in diversity? Well, it is not in the hands of Jacques Chirac at least and it is not in the hands of the Swedish left-wing who were dancing in the streets of Paris claiming that we can now drop the ratification process in Sweden. So what happened to the desperate need for having a Swedish referendum about this constitution? Well, maybe the argument about democracy was not as important after all, since it is dropped this easily.

But the Chirac generation will not stay in politics for much longer. A new generation is waiting behind the corner: it is the Erasmus generation. A generation that has grown up with Ryan air and travelled all around Europe. A generation that has studied and lived in several European countries and speaks several languages. A generation with a strong vision about the future of Europe. So just wait and see, we will solve the problems as soon as we get the chance.

Public schools for revolutionaries

2005-05-24T10:10:00.000+02:00

A Nato summit is taking place in Åre in northern Sweden today. Sweden is acting host since we are members of the Nato PFP (Partnership for Peace). Hundreds of protesters have gathered to manifest their aversion towards Nato. The mayor of Östersund has surprisingly decided to open up public buildings to host the protesters. He argues that the manifestation is comparable to a sports event! So public kindergartens and schools are offered as a shelter for organisations such as RKU, the communistic revolutionary youth. The regiment I5 in Östersund was also supposed to serve as accommodation for the protesters but luckily the military staff refused. Imagine youngsters promoting armed revolution who are strolling around in the offices of the Swedish army. I can see why the staff felt so awkward about it…

No sunshine socialism

2005-05-24T09:34:00.000+02:00

Either Castro has become more tolerant or he is finally getting old and weak. The large opposition meeting in Havana, Cuba, last Friday was tolerated by the Cuban regime. The dissidents met in a private garden in the capital, listened to a message from US President Bush and made a declaration that demanded the release of political prisoners and the abolition of death penalty(for those who understand German you can see interviews with Cuban dissidents here). The assembled dissidents described the Cuban regime as stalinistic, totalitarian and anti-democratic. That is very far from the so called Sonnenscheinsozialismus (sunshine socialism) which is a common European picture of the communistic island. Not least in the Swedish debate we still find political parties defending the Cuban regime. But even though Cuba has a very comfortable climate there is not much of sunshine for those who spend year after year in prison or those who see their children being refused education because their parents are promoting human rights. In order to achieve a change I believe the US trade embargo should be lifted and EU policy shifted towards clearer support of dissident activities. Today only the Czech and Polish embassies in Cuba dare to oppose the Castro regime. But we should be 23 more countries backing them up!

Europe united - at last

2005-05-19T23:47:00.000+02:00

In a time of disagreement over the European economy and hassle about the common foreign policy, Europe seems to be united in at least one aspect: it's dislike of the French. Finally, our dear old continent can agree on one thing...

Don't touch them, Fidel!

2005-05-19T22:42:00.000+02:00

Tomorrow on the 20th of May is a big day. Large parts of the Cuban opposition are gathering for a meeting within the framework of the so called Asamblea. The Assembly to Promote Civil Society in Cuba is a formation of more than 350 civil society groups from all over the island. A fierce declaration of democracy is planned for the reunion - that is, if it will ever take place.

Meetings to promote freedom of speech and democracy have turned out bad before. Cubas notorious dictator and likewise president Mr Castro is not a very big fan of these kind of "western creations". On the Cuban paradise island, he believes, everyone lives in perfect communistic happiness. How could anyone not be satisfied with free healthcare and schooling and an infant mortality lower than the US?

If you just bother scratching a tiny bit on the surface of the Cuban luster you will quickly discover 400 political prisoners, relentless persecution of dissidents and a society in despair in a country run down to the bottom by command economy of the classical Soviet recipe.

So let's be aware of what happens on that beautiful island tomorrow. The Cuban opposition can't afford to be decimated once more. This time, Castro, we won't let you crush them.

The eagerness not to offend

2005-05-10T21:37:00.000+02:00

Yesterday was the ninth of May and Europe-day. The date is celebrated in the memory of the ending of the Second World War in 1945 and is also the day of the publishing of the Schuman declaration in 1950. The even number of 60 years since the war had inspired the Russian president Putin to organise a hell of a party in Moscow. Most of the famous (such as Bush, Schröder and Chirac) and infamous politicians (such as the Polish ex-dictator Jaruzelski) were invited. The only ones turning the fancy invitation down were the Estonian and Lithuanian presidents. They refused to celebrate a date that only brought further tyranny to the Baltic region. To them the ninth of May just meant a simple change from Nazi ruling to Soviet despotism. Except for the Estonian and Lithuanian all the other statesmen showed up to Putins party. But planning the event the Russian president must have picked the wrong year. The whole happening looked more like a celebration in the year of 1945 than 2005. The red square was filled with statutes of Stalin and happy Russians were dancing under huge banners of the disreputable hammer and sickle. The celebration of the defeat of a cruel tyrant with the symbols of another horrible ruler. That is what you can call abuse of history.

So why did they all go to this awkward party in Moscow? Why did they all happily turn up and accept to march under red flags? Everything without even mentioning the millions of victims caused by communist horror or the problems of democracy and human rights in today's Russia. The Economist has a good wording for this behaviour; eagerness not to offend. This was exactly the same kind of conduct that allowed Hitler to strengthen his power. Are we going to be as blind as in 1933 again? What about Grozny and Minsk? What about the Russian democrats? The honouring of the 60th anniversary turned into bowing for a new autocrat with atavistic dreams. Attending the celebration in Moscow could only have been motivated if joined with a sincere call for democracy in the Eastern part of Europe.

Thank you Mr Marshall

2005-05-08T23:02:00.000+02:00

This week end has been marked by the commemoration of the end of the Second World War. My thoughts have been in Germany with the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the peace. The Germany of today, reunified and deeply integrated into the European Union still appears to be somewhat a miracle, when looking back 60 years. In May 1945 Germany was nothing more than a heap of ruins. My family that lived in the south-western parts of the country were lucky, spared from the bombings and with access to farming land they managed to survive. Thanks to a radical economic policy and generous American aid Germany could recover and start building a new democratic state. That was and is still the best policy for rebuilding a failed state: economic growth and a stable constitutionalised democracy. Luckily the American minister of finance Morgenthau was not listened to. His plan, the infamous Morgenthau plan, was meant to destroy every industry left in Germany and leave it a peasant land with a infrastructure of the Middle ages. That would probably have made Germany to some kind of no man’s land and would definitely not have helped Europe to recover from the war. Fortunately Roosewelt withdrew his signature and in stead the Marshall plan won some ready listeners. Mr. Marshall’s recipe for Germany should be used more freely for today’s failed states in the Balkans and Africa. Because economic growth combined with democracy is still the secret formula for success.

The Swedish Greens - eyes wide shut

2005-05-08T09:23:00.000+02:00

The Swedish Greens have at their congress of this week end rejected a proposal to skip the EU-exit clause. Again. Those of us who hoped to finally see a modernised Green party with people as Schörling and Silva in the front are disappointed. In stead the retrogressionists from the old era of Gahrton will reign the party. How come that the Swedish Greens can't see the advantages of the EU for environmental policies that the rest of the European greens can see? Are Joschka Fischer and Daniel Cohn-Bendit smarter than Maria Wetterstrand and Peter Eriksson? No I hardly think so. But the Swedish Greens don't seem strong enough to take the fight against the party's reactionary green militants. Their members are in desperate need of a target board. Nowdays it becomes harder to attack marcet economy and globalisation because the benefits of liberal economy are becoming indisputable. Backstabbing the Swedish government also becomes tricky as the Green party cooperates closely with the Social democrats. Consequently the new scapegoat is the European Union and everything that comes out of it. They can't afford loosing this target for agression. So the solution is keeping their eyes shut and trying to deny the world outside. They will need to shut their eyes really hard then because reality keeps knocking on the green door.

Europa and the bull

2005-05-08T02:11:00.000+02:00

The myth about Europa and the bull is one of the most ancient stories of our continent. It was first mentioned 2700 years ago in the Iliad by Homer (XVI verse 312-328). Homer was said to be a blind singer and story teller that travelled all around the Eastern parts of the Mediterranean and told old poems and legends on verse. Few other texts in the Western world occupy as central a position for the self-definition of Western culture as the poems of Homer. Since that time the myth about Europa has been told in the most different variations in European literature and art throughout history. It has even given the name to our beautiful continent.

The story goes that Zeus the father of gods fell in love with the Phoenician princess Europa. To be able to attract her Zeus transformed himself into a white bull. He enticed the princess into sitting on his back and then brought her across the sea to Crete where Zeus then revealed his divine identity. The myth tells that Europa stayed in Crete and gave birth to three sons - Minos, Rhadamanthys and Sarpedon. About the sons there are several other myths to be told as the Greek mythology is an endless source of intertwined stories and legends one more fascinating then the other.

I thought this to be a suitable start for my blog, to tell the origin of Europe. Traces of the antique myths can be found all over our Western culture, they represent the source of our civilisation. I have chosen the name Europea because it represents my point of departure. I’m European in the sense that I feel very much at home in this part of the world and identify myself primarily with European culture and ideas. This is not an exclusive definition and does not mean that my view of the world ends at the European borders. Not at all. I’m indefinitely interested in other parts of the world. I believe in a globalised world without borders with universally prevailing human rights. But Europe will always be the main part of my identity, my starting point, my headquarters so to say. Looking forward to getting this blog started…