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Posted on 12/24/2007 6:16:40 PM PST by WesternCulture
Christmas, they say, is a time to be with your family.
From my perspective, 'family' is, in one way, a wider community than most of us acknowledge.
Personally, I view not only my parents, my brother and my relatives here in Sweden as 'my family'. 'My family' also includes all the hard working inhabitants of Gothenburg/Göteborg - the city where I live, it also includes the nation of Sweden, it includes Scandinavia, it encompasses Europe and at least to me, it is also the whole of the Western World.
When I have visited other great Western nations, be it Italy, Britain, USA or any other part of the West, I have always been exposed to hospitality and friendliness. I have felt more or less the same kind of warmth and affinity I experience when I'm together with my family and relatives here in Scandinavia. Cities like London, Miami, Nürnberg, Berlin, Florence, Tours, Rostock, Milan, Zürich, Rome, Munich, Athens, Naples, Copenhagen, Helsinki and hundreds of others are forever in my heart just like the states, regions and countries they are located in.
These places are all part of something truly immortal and truly magnificent, namely Western Civilization - the brightest shining phenomena in the whole of the Universe.
From time to time many of us tend to forget it, but at least during Christmas we should all reflect upon the fact that we Westerners make a difference in a world that, in part, is dark.
It's natural for me to admire the men and women who daily risk their lives (or have been doing so) to protect others more than any one else throughout Western Civilization, but all of us actually take part in doing something of eternal value. Let us remember that we are creating world history and that we, together, are building true civilization.
To everyone who ever has worked in their life:
Just like the stones that together form huge cathedrals are not mere pieces of rock, YOUR work effort is NOT just another boring job. All of us who get out of bed in the morning and head off to work are heroes. What YOU do on a daily basis makes a difference.
Risking ones own life fighting evil and hard work are not the only ways to support true civilization. Raising children, educating yourself and behaving like a good ambassador of your country while in contact with foreigners are also excellent ways of contributing to Western Civilization.
A simple thing like writing something friendly about another city, or another country on the Internet often has a positive influence. Many times when I have felt bored, irritated etc, words I've read about things that matter to me have made difference to my mood. I hope that at least some of the things I, personally, have written here on Free Republic have expressed my admiration for other nations. Naturally, most of the friendly and supportive words I have written on this forum have been directed towards USA, but I hope that certain FReepers from likevise admirable nations like Norway, Germany, India, Britain, Denmark etc, etc, have understood that there exist people in Sweden they can call their friends.
We Westerners of today need to restore not only our own unity, but also our confidence in being the leading advocates of freedom and true human dignity.
When we Westerners, rightfully, claim to be defenders of eternal values such as liberty, freedom and human progress we do not mean to say that other cultures are not worthy of respect. We act respectfully towards others when we acknowledge everyone's right to enjoy individual freedom. The ideas of freedom and human dignity are ideas we will not give up and the fight against the forces that oppose us is a battle we will not lose.
Although men are mortal and far from perfect, Man is also godlike and this is expressed in an immensely wide range of ways throughout the globe through the different cultures we humans have created. We Westerners, again rightfully, view certain aspects of other cultures as evil and threatening, but we should not make the mistake of thinking that things like freedom, liberty and human progress do NOT matter to ALL human beings. They do. Many non-Westerners are on our side and even in the least free countries here on Earth, there are millions of people yearning for freedom and justice.
Our culture is today stronger than ever and despite different problems, the future looks bright.
The economic development of the US as well as some of the biggest countries over here in Europe might not be that impressive at the moment, but in general the West is on the right track and many Western countries are making huge progress. Just look at Eastern Europe.
It is also important to remember that Christianity today is stronger than ever. One expression of this is the fact that the number of visitors to Bethlehem is growing year by year. We Christians should also remember that the position of Christianity today is a lot better in many countries than it was during the Cold War.
We Westerners might quarrel a lot internally and the Internet is no exception. But in the end this doesn't mean anything. As a Swede and European, I'm not particularly offended when Americans accuse us Swedes of being Socialists or Europeans in general of being overly fixated with our local cheeses etc and hopefully, American Internet users are not too offended when I sometimes post things like "Americans live in houses built of cardboard" and so on. Being ridiculous once in a while is okay, but using a great invention like the Internet solely for insulting other people is not especially clever and constructive. In comparision with certain other web sites where people from all corners of the world meet, the tone is actually rather civil here on Free Republic despite the fact that most forum members are proud individuals who seldom hesitate to speak their minds.
Freedom of speech is a great thing even though it sometimes lends itself to stupidity.
While certain European fools sometimes are arrogant enough to express themselves in a manner that, at least seemingly, reflects the unaware notion that USA still is some kind of colony of Europe that we Europeans ought to 'correct', intelligent Europeans realize that Europe and America are dependent on each other and that a lot can be gained from mutual respect and far reaching collaboration.
Europe can't tell USA what to do or the other way around. To me, this is more than evident and perhaps the majority of Westerners on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean have realized this by now.
USA will remain independent whatever different Socialists and PC politicians in Europe might say and as a European I'm happy that Americans support their own independence. USA might have been founded by people who were of European origin, but a much more accurate way of putting it is to say that USA is an accomplishment by Americans. Your self confidence and your patriotism is honorable as well as inspiring!
Furthermore, a lot of the things that presently are GOOD about Europe is a result of what USA has done for my continent. Last century, America aided Europe during two world wars as well as during the Cold War. This will never be forgotten.
All Europeans are not like Chirac.
From all Europeans who view things my way (and believe me, there are many of us):
MERRY CHRISTMAS AMERICA!!
God Jul!
Have a Merry Christmas!
As an Englishman, I echo the comments of my european brother.
(Seriously though, Sweden is immense. Joyous is the word.)
Right back atcha, Europe.
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas to you, too!!
Merry and Joyous Christmas to you, too, Western...
When I mentioned the word joyous, I was of course referring to the women.
I know it’s a cliche but....really. Wow.
(My best friend is a swedish gal. She rocks).
Merry Christmas to you, sir.
just in case you have never heard an angel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo5n0HwaRmQ&feature=related
Merry Christmas WC!
Lucky dude. Swedish chicks and Christmas...
Happy to see that you include Latin America as part of the West (not enough AMERICANS do!). ;-)
Merry Christmas/Buon Natale/Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia/Feliz Navidad from the USA!
Good thoughts, warm feelings come your way.
A very Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you!!!
Merry Christmas, brother.
God Jul och Gott Nytt År!
Thank you, and a Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Merry Christmas!
A little late for such deep cultural things. But I got a call yesterday from my cousin in Sodertalia(sp) whom I visited in March. His son is visiting from Goteborg today. I did get to Karsstad but missed Goteborg this trip. Last time(2001 toured Volvo where that young cousin lives. I love my Swedish family and Sweden where I try to visited when I go to other cultures in EU.Merry Christmas to you ans all who stayed behind when my FarMor came in 1900
Merry Christmas,,from South Alabama
God Jul och Gott Nytt År!
Greetings to you and your family, to all of Texas and all of America!
I’ll think of you next time I enjoy a Lone Star (yes, you can actually get them here in Sweden!)
I have been on the brewery tour (it is in my home town). If you can find it, try a Shiner Bock. Their Dunkelweizen is rather good in the winter.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, ONE AND ALL
Merry Christmas!
Thank you for these words, Fellow Freeper!
Your grandmother was a brave woman.
She was not the only European who took part in making the US the great nation that it is today, but that doesn’t make her less of an heroine.
There are certain bonds that never will break. Sweden and USA have a special relation that belongs to eternity.
This goes for all of Europe’s very special ties to USA.
Americans and Europeans are more than friends, we are brothers and sisters. Although we sometimes disagree, nothing will ever turn this around.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, W.Civ. I guess that Stockholm doesn’t resemble Venice so much this time of the year, must be a winter wonderland, I guess.
From sunny Central Florida.
Through the generations they flipped flopped from speaking whatever language they'd arrived with to German to French to English and back to German ~ lucky we could spell their names although most of them end up having been reported under a variety of spellings.
So when folks started having "mystery diseases", and the internet was invented, I was able to track them down by their genes.
That's where I ran into numerous Scandinavians of every variety and that vast peninsula to the North of Europe became, in my mind, not a blur of blue-eyed blonds with bland, Socialist politics, but a remnant, instead, of what served as a place to which Europeans from every country and Scots migrated in the 1500s and 1600s for religious liberty and to make a buck or two.
After several years of research I'm pretty near to fitting things to gether to bring yet another tribe out of the darkness of a murky history much as Joseph Winchester recovered his own folks, the Michigan Kickapoo decades ago.
He told me this was very difficult work and there'd be little thanks for it, but in these modern times there was no excuse for leaving the record blank.
To Sweden; Merry Christmas, for you have far more reindeer than we do.
Merry Christmas, for EKA knives that I rely on daily.
Merry Christmas, for we have no snow (or rain) here in Georgia.
Merry Christmas, for Swedish meatballs. God bless you for those.
Merry Christmas, because the Lord is the same for all of us. May His blessings be with you in the coming year.
“I have been on the brewery tour (it is in my home town). If you can find it, try a Shiner Bock. Their Dunkelweizen is rather good in the winter.”
- Today, the only Lone Star product you can find where I live is the ordinary beer/lager, but I guess things will improve.
I, a lot of my friends and also several other beer lovers here in Sweden have discovered that USA brews a lot of decent beers.
Keep up the good work.
Skål!
Thank you...and a blessed Christmas to you, too. It’s three hours until Christmas Day here in Texas. Our son was home from Dallas for our church service tonight, and I’m enjoying listening to him and his dad visiting over pepper cheese, chips and beer. Our other children will be here with the grandchildren after they open their goodies in the morning at home. Yes, God is so merciful and does give His children an abundant life.
Have a healthy and prosperous New Year!
That was a very thougtful post. Thank you and Merry Christmas from Albany, New York. Cheers, Europe!!
And a Merry Christmas to you WesternCulture.
Your writing is excellent and inspiring.
Those who think relations with Europe are bad now weren’t watching when Ronald Reagan was the US President and it seemed like all of Europe took to the streets to oppose his plan to “consign the Soviet Union to the dustbin of history”. If there’s any reason I think most Europeans are Socialists (other than marrying a European Socialist who has been deprogrammed) it was their adamant desire for the Soviet Union to prevail in the 1980’s.
WOW! Nice to be appreciated. Thanks for the “thanks”. We, as individuals, are lucky enough to have a choice to give what we can. It’s nice to see it make a difference!
Merry Christmas from Kuwait!! to hope someday we have freedom of religion not only Freedom of Worship....
Merry Christmas to our European friends! Feliz Navidad! Joyeux Noel! Etc., etc...:-)
First of all, what you say is an example of the uniqueness of Western Civilization, the capacity for self-reflexion and self-criticism. I lived in Germany for 3 years and I found the German self-denigration, self-flagellation and the lack of a healthy German patriotism to be disturbing. I don't know, is the rest of Europe different? I've followed the discussion concerning Vlams Beland and Sverigedemokraten on Little Green Footballs. Both of these groups are supportive of their nations, but carry it too far into a hatred of others.
I've come to believe, the US is blessed with a healthy patriotism, pride of country and love of America, that doesn't include denigration of others and remains open to all. Anyone can become an American. Race, creed, national origin, religion do not exclude anyone. Accept the ideals of the Declaration of Independence, love America, obey the law and you're in.
No other nation has this capacity. You'll always be judged by your origin, your color or your religion. It doesn't matter, how long you're there, you and your children will be judged. Could I become a Swede, equal to other Swedes?
I always knew that the unhealthy German attitude toward their own country would express itself in unhealthy ways. German self-loathing would flip into an over-bearing nationalism, like the neo-Nazis or continue into a disolving of Germany and surrender to a foreign culture. German culture is a great culture and one of the few cultures in the world that has produced invention, creativity, progress and worldwide influence. World War I created a situation that was catastrophic for most of Europe. In Germany, the reaction lead to Nazism. In other parts, we saw Communism, Fascism, and milder forms of societal breakdown.
It wasn't unique to Germany. And Germany doesn't have unique guilt. But many in Germany demand a unique guilt. They are uniquely guilty in history. This is insanity and produces social dislocations.
Good Gosh...that was a wonderful post.
And a very, Merry Christmas to all of you over there!
Merry Christmas.
In the Christmas tradition that it is better to give than to receive I gave my relatives death threats if I don't get some really good stuff this year.
It never works.
There is, I believe, a religious holiday somewhere between the tinsel and presents and the roast turkey. I love my secular friends (and family) dearly and Christmas is, in its current inception, a marvelous, sentimental secular holiday. And for some of them it's the only time of year when they creep guiltily through the doors of a church. Most avoid even that.
Because they're afraid. Underneath the sneering contempt with which religion is met in the secular world is a deep dread that it might just be true, and what then? What, indeed?
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
It isn't fuzzy and warm and nicey-nice, it's frightening, and it could hardly be otherwise. As Lewis remarked, that manger held something bigger than all the world. Forgive them their contempt, because it is fear.
Merry Christmas to you too!
As an American who spent 10 years in Europe, I do appreciate the wonderful people there who feel as we Freepers do, and I know there are flaws on both sides of the Atlantic too. There is so much I have learned from wise people in both Europe and America. Different outlooks on life, and both valid. I would be a different person today had I not spent much of my adult life on the Continent. G-d bless!
Merry Christmas from Holland, Europe to everyone reading this :)
God Jul!
I always appreciate your thoughts here on FR, and we are all fortunate that you share your wisdom with us from across the seas. One of the joys of the worldwideweb..... Best Wishes for a Happy 2008!
Enchanté
Froliche Weinachten meine deutsche Freunde!
(Sorry, I don’t have an umlaut option on my keyboard for the “o” in Froliche.)
Froliche Weinachten meine deutsche Freunde!
(Sorry, I don’t have an umlaut option on my keyboard for the “o” in Froliche.)
“I always knew that the unhealthy German attitude toward their own country would express itself in unhealthy ways. German self-loathing would flip into an over-bearing nationalism....”
That is EXACTLY the mindset that gave rise to Hitler and Nazism. After WWI and the Versailles Treaty that emasculated Germany the German people were full of self-doubt, self-loathing, fear, and uncertainty. Hitler played on that.
Joyous Christmas Greetings from the hills of northern New Jersey.
Your thoughts on work, and that we derive pleasure from our labors, were right on the money!
I look forward to venturing out each and every day to a different location from Maine to Virginia to practice my craft. I enjoy meeting and working with my industrial clients.
My career is a second choice, but few are as fortunate as I to have had that choice.
God Bless you and yours!
Dag gone it! I let the PC bull git the best of me. My fault.
:-)
Merry CHRISTmas!!
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