Whilst I realise some are more interested in robust Russian undergarments .... the lack of desire to do something here from our European Partners is somewhat telling, here's part of an article in the DT. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/01/25/eus-unforgivable-failure-ukraine/ Sometimes you have to be blunt in international affairs. If Vladimir Putin takes Kiev it will be in large part because the German political and economic establishment is complicit, notwithstanding the efforts of the Green foreign minister to change course at the last moment. The German elites have signalled by their actions and body language that there will be no serious consequences, whatever Mr Putin does with his Blitzkrieg forces and armoured divisions on Ukraine’s border. The rest of core Europe is going along with what can only be described as a diplomatic travesty. Brussels has been briefing journalists that invasion talk is breathless Anglo-Saxon chatter. The European Commission has pointedly taken the decision not to withdraw embassy staff from Kiev, the tell-tale behaviour of a power that considers itself neutral. France’s Emmanuel Macron has chosen this moment to call for a new strategic partnership between the EU and Russia, separate from the Americans, to the consternation of those EU states on the front line that depend on America for their national survival. Fiona Hill, White House Russia strategist during the Obama years, says Mr Putin’s real objective in this conflict is to force the Americans out of Europe once and for all,inflicting the same humiliation on them that his country suffered with the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Brussels-Paris-Berlin triangle is helping the process along, and playing with fire.
Being Belgian, I can assure you lot's of people don't want EU as it is. For most, only avantages are an unique currency and freedom of moving cross countries ( Now, with all those covid restrictions, I hope it will be back as before...). Downside, lot's of jobs taken by lower wages workers from foreing countries, more insecurity due to gangs, mostly from eastern countries (homes and cars burglaries, mafia like trafics), feeling of loosing traditions and identites causing xenophobia ... That's why there is so much far right parties rising all over EU.
Not a surprise though is it? At the time many people were thinking Brexit would be like pushing the first domino over. I know it WAS a faff before the EU, but purely as a tourist it was also fun and interesting to travel through Europe and visit countries that were unique, with borders, different currencies, different traditions and all that. While I'm also sure all that national identity hasn't been lost it's been blurred by free migration and eventually it will be lost. Maybe.
Part of the plan really. Remove national identity and remove nationalism… (except for our masters eh)
You build a bigger block and can compete. Bit like the communist ideal but all the money floats to the top!
Hasn’t National Identity always been a changing thing though? We’ve had the Romans, Anglo Saxons, The Vikings, the Normans….. We were pagans, then Christians, sometimes Catholic, sometimes Protestant….they’ve all played a part in changing our National Identity more or less….
Yes indeed. I have a distrust of "big ideas" imposed for peoples "own good". "You vill like this utopia, do as you're told or else!"
I argued against Brexit as ye know and initially I was undecided and had my issues with the EU some of which are outlined above! I believed we might change it from within as it has massive benefits. Given the calibre of those we’ve entrusted with our fate that now seems a naive view!
The only true working Communism that has ever existed was on the island of St Kilda . On a bigger scope ..it's corruption and brutality people under bright lights and tied to cheap creaking wooden chairs ...saying " I Don't Know Anything ". WACK.
Scottish island of St Kilda was a great example of a socialist republic . Lies about 45 miles due west of the outer Hebrides . All be it part of Scotland but they were effectively overlooked . Inland revenue didn't impose taxes , no crime was officially recorded , money was not used until the 19th century . The islanders were eventually evacuated in the 1930's due to a slow but sure trickle of leavers rendering it impossible to run . Life was rough to say the least .
Out of the frying pan into the fire! I think the EU's biggest failure is policy being made by unelected bods, it's like being ruled by philosophers and as far away from democracy as having a royal family calling the shots with a government merely implementing them.. At least now we only have ourselves to blame.
All thoses changes happened after wars and invasions. What EU is doing by cancelling cultures and traditions is making people roots free, blank of any national proudness. Easier to manipulate population.
But isn't that exactly the point - a great example of people rejecting it because it is impossible to sustain? Perhaps they chose a poor place to try it out, a windswept rock in the hostile Atlantic, relying on people living grim lives doing grim jobs. Sounds like most of the other examples of Socialist Republics through history?
Well not really, the Anglo Saxons started to become established here towards the end of Roman rule and it was more, I believe, migrants coming here to trade who by and by put down roots, rather than an invasion. And I don’t quite understand what you mean by the EU is cancelling cultures and traditions? Culture has never been an homogenous thing, it’s always changed, same with traditions. Something being a “tradition “ doesn’t automatically make it a good thing. If you mean the phenomenon of cancel culture, well that’s a different thing. Not sure it’s the EU’s fault either, but yes, it’s worth looking at things that are sometimes “cancelled” because one group of people don’t agree with it. That’s definitely up for discussion.
They were in a sense happy in there community ..all be it with problems with the lacking of up to date knowledge . The island was occupied since neolithic times . The rot started when during WW1 a german u boat popped it's head up and proceeded to open fire on the inhabitants . This caused the MOD to land on the island and install a big gun on the village sea front . Then constant visits were made by the royal navy ...and with that came stories of mainland life loads of modern day goods brought to them ...and the rest is history . A book called A people's History St Kilda is a fascinating read by Roger Hutchinson .
