Interesting and arresting analogy. The Odyssey is still, after many years, one of my favorite books. It does a bit too much credit to the Euroweenies to compare them to the hero Odysseus. There is the fact much of Odysseus' genius lay in guile, but then he was creative in its use.
Odysseus on Calypso's island, by Bocklin:
Interesting. I've called the Europeans "Lotus Eaters" on a number of occasions.