What is the definition of Europe?
Thursday, March 8th, 2007 | Posted in identity, unity
That’s it. That’s my question. For a backgrounder to the question read: The lie of the land – Economist.com.
For those who use “European” as a term of approbation, surely faraway Canada and New Zealand are much more “European” than, say, Albania. But the map doesn’t lie. Albania is between Greece and Italy, the historic hearts of everything the Europhiles count their own.
March 10th, 2007 at 11:46 am
I love the photo you posted. Where did you find/take it?
March 12th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
It was one of the first images that was returned when I searched “Europe” on flickr.
March 17th, 2007 at 12:10 am
love the photo as well. and curious about EUrope. thanks for the article.
March 23rd, 2007 at 8:08 am
The concept of Europe is particularly salient right now amid students. Students are all for the EU of 15, supportive of the EU 25 and are becoming confused by the two new entrants and further expansion. A growing mistrust is spreading not only in the UK (where it is to be expected) but also in student circles in France and Spain.
Interestingly enough, perhaps because I am Canadian, but it has been brought up several times in my presence that there should be a closer link between the commonwealth countries thus further bringing NZ, Oz and Canada into Europe’s domain.
It feels pretty useless having a Canadian passport. It’s good for nothing. I was sitting with two other Canucks two weeks ago drinking pints and discussing how we can obtain a Euro passport. Three weeks ago I found out that I am no longer eligable for a UK passport because of my extended absence from the country when living in Russia/Czech. Shit!
anyway,
As a Lithuanian MP once said, “Was ist Russland? Russland ist nicht Europa.” (spelling?)
March 24th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
M: Interesting. It appears that on working models for world unity we have gone in the last century from the United States with its self-governing states, to the British Empire with its incubator for self-governing dominions, to the League of Nations, to the United Nations, to the European Union. And now, how do we choose our allegiance – out of use?
I was talking to a barista yesterday who asked where I was from… she first said she was Canadian, but then remembered that she was half American. Upon asking her what she thought would be a good anthem for North America, she immediately replied: Rolling the Bones by Rush
“Why are we here? /
Because were here /
Roll the bones”
March 28th, 2007 at 8:19 am
Speaking of EU identity:
A quote from Paul Belien in The Washington Times, 28 March 2007
[A longer version of this column can be found in the April issue of Chronicles]
With the accession of Romania and Bulgaria on Jan. 1, the EU’s territory has reached the outer boundaries of the European continent. Since the European Empire by definition has to expand, it has to move into Asia and Africa. The preparation for this crossing of the Rubicon – in this case the crossing of the Strait of Gibraltar and the Bosporus – has been going on for years.
Five years ago, Louis Michel, then the Belgian minister of foreign affairs and at present a member of the European Commission, told the Belgian parliament that eventually the EU will encompass the entire Mediterranean basin, including North Africa and the Middle East. Mr. Michel also posited that only by incorporating both Israel and Palestine into the EU will there be peace between them.
http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/2018