From: simonl@daimi.aau.dk (Simon Laub)
Subject: The European Union .
Keywords: Maastricht, Referendums , The new cult=religion
Message-ID: <1992Jul2.222841.18532@daimi.aau.dk>
Date: 2 Jul 92 22:28:41 GMT


   The European Union ----

   I dont like the black and white picture so many
try to press down onto the EC Unification process.
I dont like , that a person (like myself) that sees
the Maastricht treaty as a poor basis for European
Union is immediately labeled eurohater . Actually
come to think of it. I voted for the treaty at the danish
referendum ... but considering that this is a key-
document in the lives of 340 million people I
find it vague, without values ,without real perspective ...
   Nothing to be proud of as an European.

   Then comes along all the people , that want to be
trendy,hip or whatever ... and to them you are not
allowed to criticize one single thing , if the word
'european' is somehow involved . Europe is for these
people some sort of a new religion to follow and they
are as strong believers as any faithfull has ever
been . It would be extremely nice , if it was possible
to talk in a relaxed atmosphere. The danish referendum
is not the end of the world, neither the french nor
the Irish. Take the results and then continue slowly
from then on ... I see no problem.

   The problem layes elsewhere in the current 
European agenda. Let me mention freedom of speech.
If you criticize 'the European Project' you are fast
moving away from the establishment and becoming pariah
(even poor me. I utter one critical word and immediately
receive a bunch of hate mail from (mostly) Europeans ..
the fanmail is from Americans ... but then ,they have always
been more favourable towards freedom ). 

   But lets have another e.g.
   Recently the 12 EC heads of state met in Portugal in a
palace build for the occasion by the Portuguese government
costing 1.5 billion dollars. The style of the palace reminds
me of one mr. Ceaucesco of Bucarest,Rumania . And the style
of black limousines speeding through a poor country side with
EC-european leaders hidden behind curtains reminds me of
communist Russia . 
   But no, these are our chaps , so they are good chaps working
for the benefit of the people , angry people write me. And
I wonder what these people would have said in Honeckers DDR .


   A United Europe ( which I favor ) should be build on
free and independent people . They should not surrender their
freedom to some "higher" course as out of some Rousseau-textbook
gone mad. I find it aggravating that the focus of attention is
not on what can be done to make the life of an ordinary
worker in Dresden better or a schoolteacher in Firenze ...
Instead the show is for politicians and bureaucrats , who after
a university degree or two and twenty years service in the
"system" has no respect for ordinary people anymore.

   And then about america , why does the true eurobelievers
always hold so little respect for America ?
Today I read , that the EC plans a trade war with the US , dumping
the prizes on steal . For the very,very,very small minority of
us , who actually likes the US ,this is always sad reading . Why
cannot the EC be at peace with itself and surroundings ? Some of
us thinks that its a way of getting rid of internal pressure ,
by finding outside enemies ..... and that is not very charming
at all !

   Where are the signs that Europeans have learned to live as free
people in peace with each other and the US and the rest of the world.
Sometimes they are hard to see and thats very,very sad indeed.

Simon Laub.

Ps.
  As new technology makes it easier to travel from one end to another
of europe. As television crosses boarders and as all european 
countries realize , 
that it is easier to sell goods to each other , than Tasmania .
European Unity should come easy with time.

  And if the EC wants something to to do meanwhile . 
Why not organize first aid to Somalia . 
Expand the programes to make european industry
more competitive etc. etc.

P.Ps.
  Latest opionpoll in germany made by ARD july 2. based 
on 39000 voters in Germany says : Pro Maastricht : 24 percent,
Contra : 76 percent. 
But as usual it is ended with the usual "besserwisser".
 If only the voters knew more
about Maastricht then they would come to love it.