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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
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