Yup,diversity is sure working out for Europe.
Posted on 01/31/2007 1:00:03 PM PST by WesternCulture
What is the underlying conviction of the European countries managing to establish a political and economical union of 500 million citizens?
The leading voices of the EU itself seem to believe it all boils down to PC declarations.
An alternative assertion to European strength consisting in thoughtless PC gaiety would be the immense, unsurpassed European contribution to the development of Technology, Science and the depiction of Man and his life here upon Earth as interpreted by the Humanist ideals stemming from The Renaissance and Antiquity.
The EU comission article:
"Federal Minister von der Leyen: "The Strength of Europe is its Diversity"
Federal Minister of Family Affairs and EU Commissioner Vladimír Špidla launch
Discrimination and equal opportunities are the themes of a European Conference to convene in Berlin on January 30-31 in conjunction with the first European Equal Opportunities Summit. The events officially mark the start of the German EU Presidency and together with the European Commission, launch the "European Year of Equal Opportunities for All, 2007." Federal German Minister Ursula von der Leyen and the EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, and Equal Opportunities, Vladimír Špidla, formally opened the Conference today before an international audience of approximately 500 high-level participants from the research, administrative and government communities.
"The strength of Europe is its diversity. We want to use this year to jointly focus public awareness on the topics of equal opportunities and diversity", said the Federal Minister in her opening remarks.
"Here, my concern is primarily directed at four groups: the elderly, the youth, the migrants, and the young women:
1. The EU population will experience a drop of 20 million in the pool of employable persons over the age of 20 over the next 25 years. It is absolutely essential that we establish a new image of aging, one that includes participation and a shared responsibility with older people as well as one that recognizes the economic and innovative power of the elderly in the context of lifelong learning," said von der Leyen.
2. "In the area of children and youth, who represent the mainstay of the future social and economic well-being of Europe, equal opportunities means, above all, access to quality education – also for those who need a second chance."
3. Europe can benefit from the various skills of its migrant population. "Equal opportunities for this group are only achievable through adequate language support programs beginning at the earliest possible age and a decisive commitment to the fight against racism and xenophobia."
4. "More women in leadership positions, the active support of self-employed women, the break-down of the persistent differences in pay as well as an improved reconciliation of work and family life are the important milestones along the path to real equal opportunities for both men and women."
In addition to the opening remarks by Prof. Dr. Rita Süßmuth, former President of the German Bundestag and a presentation of actual Euro-barometer survey results, the conference agenda includes discussion periods and time for the various working groups. Federal Minister von der Leyen is scheduled to take part in the discussion group "Make equal opportunities a reality", where the aim is to develop the key factors for the implementation of equal opportunities. The agenda item, "Increasing the advantages of diversity", planned for day 2 of the conference, concentrates on the exchange of experiences concerning proven practices. Four other working groups will discuss the major topics of the year: Rights, Representation, Recognition, and Respect.
Adding a final note to the conference, the State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth, Gerd Hoofe, and Nikolaus van der Pas, European Commission Director General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, will provide their summaries of the event.
More information about the conference agenda is available online at: www.bmfsfj.de/eu
The "European Year of Equal Opportunities for All 2007", is intended to promote a new impulse in the EU to allow people who until now have not had the chance to develop their potential and skills to do so now. The majority of activities organized around the four main topics of the working groups under the banner of the European Year 2007 will take place at the national, regional, and local levels.
At the European level, financed activities include:
Numerous conferences and events An ongoing assessment of the activities during the European Year at both European and national levels. A series of surveys and studies, to be published in 2007 by the European Commission and integrated with the debates at the European and national levels. More information about the content and the events in the "European Year of Equal Opportunities for all 2007" is available online at: http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/eyeq/index.cfm
Under the guiding principle, "Seize demographic change as an opportunity and promote equal opportunities for all at work and in society", the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth is committed to the following points in the course of the EU presidency 2007:
1. Strengthen families: more children in families and more families in society
2. Promote equal opportunities for women and men at work and in family life
3. Experience shapes the future: Recognise opportunities – use knowledge and experience – develop new markets
4. Strive for equal opportunities and social participation for all children and young people
More information about these topics and the events associated with the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs under the German EU Presidency is available online at: www.bmfsfj.de/eu
You're not telling me anything I don't already fully comprehend.
This political cartoon demonstrates that the artist does not know Roman History. Emperor Nero (reputed to have fiddled while Rome burned) was Emperor from 54-68 A.D. The Arch in the background appears to be the Arch of Constantine. Constantine the Great was Emperor from 306-337 A.D. The arch was built during his reign. If the arch was the Arch of Titus (a smaller arch on the sacred way), it commemorated Titus' victory over the Israelites. Titus was Emperor from 79-81 A.D. The arches did not exist during Nero's reign.
Europe should now be called "CloudCuckooLand".
Think of how much went into salvaging, and rebuilding it
after World War Two//////we deserve reparations.
UH....what "strengths" does Europe have?
Multiculturalists are Marxist bed-wetters who should be disciplined with a rolled up newspaper.
So many great posts above!
Amazing to think that a whole framework of PC agenda so easily can be torn to pieces by a bunch of sane, responsible Conservatives!
I certainly do NOT hate Europe and I do NOT hate the EU, sooner, as a European (I'm Swedish), I would like to conceive of it as a tool that can be used in purposes that would benefit and honor the people of Europe AS WELL as a tool for evil purposes - just like any other source of power.
Today, citizens of Europe/EU must make a choice. We could choose to cooperate with the US, Israel and the sane forces of the Muslim world, or we could choose to repeat the mistake of nurturing the opponents to both Muslim and Christian progress.
Giving praise to whatever kind of culture is not an act of preserving culture.
"I do NOT hate the EU"
I despise the EU as it is constituted, however. It will enslave you eventually.
We have signs all over bus shelters etc. up here in Toronto that say this exact message, "Diversity is our Strength". It kind of reminds me of all the messages Rowdy Roddy Piper sees plastered everywhere when he dons those sunglasses in the movie 'They Live'.
Thought I seen you associated with the Swedish Ping List
During the 1980 election, my German friends and neighbors pleaded with me to vote for Carter, instead of Reagan. They just knew that Reagan would start WW3.
Fortunately, my German was proficient enough (after living there 3 years) to allay their concerns, and it didn't cost me a spot at the stammtisch.
I look forward to more communications with you, WC.
"Diversity is our Strength".
Pretty 1984 - ish.
("They Live" is a fun movie!)
"Europe is running on fumes..."
Europe, presently, is running on fumes in most areas, spare soccer performance.
Europe, whatever it is, indeed is very volatile. Like most "fumes".
Next time Europe seriously engages itself in the Mid East, we just might come off a little bit more "in fume".
We'll see who rescues who.
You have an oddly glancing, hit-or-miss,indirect way of making points. But maybe Swedish is your primary language and not English. No matter what YOU would like to conceive the function of the EU to be, it is what it is , without your influence or intervention. I don't know what there IS of Europe that one could still praise---it is nowhere near what it was, say, 40 years ago,especially culturally.Lately the culture of former Eastern European Soviet bloc- countries has surpassed anything coming out of France, Sweden,Germany even Italy/ once upon a time these countries produced composers, had a film industry, etc. etc.Poland and the Czech republic have produced the very best in literature and film, and now even that generation is dying off. Those parts of Europe that seemed determined to build a multiculti utopia , now seem just as
determined to swirl down the diry vortex of the multicultural shitholes they will all become unless they shake the stardust out of their eyes and get with a more realistic program. Sarkozy in France seems to know what he is doing, and could point the way.Maybe he can inspire others elsewhere in Europe/
before it becomes Eurabia/
Yup,diversity is sure working out for Europe.
Glad to see that Europe is buying the Bull S**t that American has been spouting.
I tend to think the opponents of Muslim and Christian progress are the same now as they were 1,000 or so years ago except the shoe is now on the other foot. The problem for me is it took Christians 100s of years to "catch up to" and overtake "Muslim culture" and now the West wants to give them 100s of years of progress in a few years. I tend to think it's easier to roll a 10 meter snowball up Mount Everest to its peak in gym shorts.
Doesn't most of Europe already have these opportunities in place just like the US? You just have to get up off the couch and go make it happen. Nothing is given to you in this world.Absolutely. The principles as described are fine, but they don't come alone - with them you get a whole bunch of state control and more recently, the erosion of civil rights. Not to mention the obscene level of taxation. It's all The Nanny State Knows Best, and we all know if you treat people like children, they act like children, tantrums and all.
"DeNile" is the biggest river in europe now.
It's just that leftists feel they shouldn't have to earn their privileges, these things should be given to them by the government. I never understood why they are so afraid of a little hard work.
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