COLUMN. To win the cultural and intellectual battle, Europe must staunchly defend its model, writes the economist in his column, dismantling the narrative of a 'declining' continent.
To me, “proud” is the wrong word. I didn’t do anything when it comes to founding the EU. So how can I be proud of something I didn’t do? “Grateful” is the better word in my opinion.
The culture that made that happen also played a role in making you who you are. It’s OK to be proud of that.
(And likewise, it’s good to correct for how your culture influenced you in ways that you aren’t proud of. For example, it took me a long time to realise what Black Peter must look like from the outside.)
Note that I wasn’t talking about European culture specifically, or any specific culture, for that matter. Just that your environment shaped you, and thus you can feel some pride for what that environment also begat. Pride needn’t be reserved for the extreme right.
Pride makes you part of the system. Gatefulness puts you outside of it. It may seem pointless to weigh between the two terms, but surely it is sourced from mindset and influences the mindset.
We don’t control or significantly influence the system individually. Still, it’s important to take ownership and control, even if it’s only in the very small, even if it’s just being a good citizen, even if it’s just being friendly or supportive of other people. Especially for a diverse, collaborative, and democratic system like Europe it’s important we see ourselves not as passive receivers but as active parts.
Being a part of the system is enough to be proud as long as you’re not actively working on destroying it. Even if it’s small, even if it’s just being friendly to others, participating is upholding.
If we don’t see ourselves as active parts of the system, others will influence and change it. The biggest risk is those who have the motivation and capability (be it position, influence, or money) will erode it.
To me, “proud” is the wrong word. I didn’t do anything when it comes to founding the EU. So how can I be proud of something I didn’t do? “Grateful” is the better word in my opinion.
The culture that made that happen also played a role in making you who you are. It’s OK to be proud of that.
(And likewise, it’s good to correct for how your culture influenced you in ways that you aren’t proud of. For example, it took me a long time to realise what Black Peter must look like from the outside.)
There isn’t a single European culture, and this word is often a dog whistle to racism, especially in Northern Europe.
Not saying you’re using it that way, just telling you.
No culture is 100%, but we in Europe mostly share a foundational Greco-Roman philosophy and the values of Christianity and Enlightenment.
You mean the one that was gone until it returned from the Islamic world?
Uh-huh Palestine isn’t in Europe, last I checked.
Wait, what word? Culture?
Note that I wasn’t talking about European culture specifically, or any specific culture, for that matter. Just that your environment shaped you, and thus you can feel some pride for what that environment also begat. Pride needn’t be reserved for the extreme right.
Pride makes you part of the system. Gatefulness puts you outside of it. It may seem pointless to weigh between the two terms, but surely it is sourced from mindset and influences the mindset.
We don’t control or significantly influence the system individually. Still, it’s important to take ownership and control, even if it’s only in the very small, even if it’s just being a good citizen, even if it’s just being friendly or supportive of other people. Especially for a diverse, collaborative, and democratic system like Europe it’s important we see ourselves not as passive receivers but as active parts.
Being a part of the system is enough to be proud as long as you’re not actively working on destroying it. Even if it’s small, even if it’s just being friendly to others, participating is upholding.
If we don’t see ourselves as active parts of the system, others will influence and change it. The biggest risk is those who have the motivation and capability (be it position, influence, or money) will erode it.