Article

2006-07-12 Europe

Europe Must Find its Roots in America - The Brussels Journal

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Posted by anonymous5089 2006-07-12 04:59|| || Front Page|| [4 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 As good a summary of the why and how of Euroland's impending extinction as I've seen.

Two threads came out of the Enlightenment period - the American Revolution one and the French Revolution one. The former has had numerous faults over the years - slavery, Jim Crow, non-universal suffrage, mistreatment of native people - but slowly over time we're working it out, and we find ourselves today in a strong and improving situation. We don't pretend to be perfect, but we're aiming to get better. True tolerance of religion and trust in entrepreneurship are the hallmark of this thread of the West.

The latter has spawned the Terror, Bonapartism, communism, fascism, and the current extinction-bound version of socialism/welfare state capitalism that dominates in Europe and in much of the current Democratic party in the United States. This thread is headed AND populated by folks who think of themselves as godlike and perfect. Contempt for and even bigotry towards devout Christianity/Judaism and deep mistrust of entrepreneurship are pretty much required to be a member.

Most of the violent death and oppression of the twentieth century - worldwide - can firmly be laid at the feet of the French Revolution thread, and now they are in the process of demographic self immolation.

The problem is technology. In an age of nuclear weapons, decaying civilizations like Europe are a deadly wild card. America has its work cut out for it if we are to guide Europe through these dangerous times without conflagration. Colonization of the continent may some day become necessary.

Posted by no mo uro 2006-07-12 06:47|| 2006-07-12 06:47|| Front Page Top

#2 The former (the American Revolution) has had numerous faults over the years - slavery, Jim Crow, non-universal suffrage, mistreatment of native people

First thing the French revolution did was to have non-universal suffrage on the basis that the people was not learned enough. Second thing: Was to close the free schools who had florished during the XVIIIth century (the revolutionaries considered that instruction was bad for the people)... Also most of the revolutionaries and of the French enligtenment philosophers were for slavery and slavery was abolished only because the weakening of the once fearful French Navy had made impossible to defend French colonies. Let's also remind that French ships were prominent in the smuggling of negro slaves during XIXth century, that their captains didn't have qualms about throwing negros over the board when pursued by British ships enforcing the slave trade prohibition and that French public opinion supported the murderous captains.
Also Napoleon (ie the heir of Revolution) created the "livret Ouvrier", a booklet that industrial workers had to present to employers and police when they moved or changed compeny and where employers and police wrote comments on their behaviour.

Posted by JFM">JFM 2006-07-12 09:02|| 2006-07-12 09:02|| Front Page Top

#3 I've often wondered what the world would be like if Robespierre had been a better man who had led France into the light instead of the dark.

Interesting read. Thanks.

Posted by 2b 2006-07-12 09:25|| 2006-07-12 09:25|| Front Page Top

#4 I have often felt that the French Revolution was a travesty and a disaster for the world. I believe that the French Revolution is the point of origin for the disaster that is the world today.

Yes, I suppose we will have to save Europe eventually but, as is with my errant brother-in-law, I really don't want to. The only reason I can see for doing so is that it is in my own self interest.

Posted by kelly 2006-07-12 12:03|| 2006-07-12 12:03|| Front Page Top

#5 One thing he didn't mention, but which I feel is necessary to re-establish in today's world is that each human has been given a free will.
That means each of us makes his own choices in life. Not Allan, not Mohammed, each by himself can choose to act, or not to act; to kill or not to kill; to pray or not to pray; to laugh or not to laugh. Every human, eveny man, woman, and child posesses free will.

Posted by wxjames 2006-07-12 13:36|| 2006-07-12 13:36|| Front Page Top

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