Here is a picture of collapsed German bunkers and shell holes at Pointe du Hoc in Normandy. I got goosebumps thinking about the American troops that stormed this place from the beach below in the successful effort to rid Europe of the Nazi scourge.
Posted on 05/22/2009 5:39:07 PM PDT by llevrok
ping to #41. I should have pinged you since I jumped in here.
i appologize because it looks like i have misunderstood you.
i wasn´t aware that you talked about “europe” mostly on political basis and not about the people who are living there.
In a political point of view you are correct “Europe” lets call it the EU (because i guess this is more fitting) is indeed a rival of the US on global stage. But it´s a US “friendly” rival and shure will not become an true enemy.
Not even likely because “we” are culturally and economically way too close tied to each other. And even if i would not consider the US and EU true allies i think there are sill too many common interessts which “both sides” share to become something like enemys.btw. States do not have friends, only people have friends. States have common interessts or not and they act this way. so does the EU sometimes actively oppose the US if it´s in their personal interest? definitely! so does the US the other way around. this is how politics is played around the globe, not nice but the world we are living. every one trys to grab as much power and influence on global stage as he can get. Let me ask you a question. you said...
“when has Europe taken a difficult, unpopular stand in the world? Have they against Russian energy? Israel?, Iran? Hell no....”
why should the EU act this way if it´s not in it´s personal interesst?
btw. i would not call the EU as one of the biggest Israel supporters.
For Russia it´s simple “we” just need their gas and make a lot of money because of trade. Iran? same simple buisness reason... For example Iran is an enemy of Israel (and from a cold geo political point of view Israel is not relevant for EU buisness interests) and maybe the US (but no “real” danger for the US)... true, but it is allso an important trade partner of the EU.
But this doesn´t make the EU and US enemys, it only shows different personal interesst on this issues.
But again this is global politics. this has little to nothing to do with personal feelings between people from europe or the US for example.
Does Europe want to be free?
Well i don´t understand your question?
What do you mean when talking about freedom?
most european (and all EU) countries are democracys so in theory every one living here is as free as at least 51% of the voters want you to be same as the US. there is nothing like total freedom. it´s true that the “personal” freedoms differ sometimes between the US and european countries but at the end who is more free when there exists nothing like total freedom?
“.....Honest question: Is their a European dominated website similar to FR? If so I would love to visit it and contribute....”
Well i´m really not aware that something like a “european” dominated version of FR exists. But i guess this is more about the fact because of the different languages in europe. So i guess most people tend to hang around on local message boards of their own language.
greetings
“btw. i would not call the EU as one of the biggest Israel supporters.”
Gee, ya think?
You illustrate my point exactly. The unpopolar, difficult stand is to support Israel. As you I would not call the EU one of Israel’s supporters. The EU would destroy Israel if it could.
The unpopolar, difficult stand is to support Israel. As you I would not call the EU one of Israel’s supporters. The EU would destroy Israel if it could.
Here is a picture of collapsed German bunkers and shell holes at Pointe du Hoc in Normandy. I got goosebumps thinking about the American troops that stormed this place from the beach below in the successful effort to rid Europe of the Nazi scourge.
As far as this GI is concerned, not one stinking Eurowinnie or Englishman is worth the lift of one American soldier. Once maybe, BUT no longer. The Euro’s are no different than our communist liberals here. They don’t want or need us unless their nest egg is in trouble. Only then do they cry for our help. Otherwise, cut our benefits, screw us in the ground, crap on us.
Try sticking it up your ass and stay in Eurowinnie country pal. I don’t and we don’t need your crap! If it were not for us, you ass holes would be Nazi’s or Soviet styled communists. We pulled your asses out of two wars. As far as I am concerned, we should have stayed here and let you rot with Hitler.
Try sticking it up your ass and stay in Eurowinnie country pal. I don’t and we don’t need your crap! If it were not for us, you ass holes would be Nazi’s or Soviet styled communists. We pulled your asses out of two wars....
“No the EU would not destroy Israel if it could! it only doesn´t support Israel very much that´s all. Again why should the EU?........Nor would this “support” be backed by the most people here living in europe.”
You keep validating some of the problems of Europe.
Do you think the US really benefits from supporting Israel? Of course not. But we do anyway, because it is the right thing to do. Jews have been killed by europeans throughout history. I am not just talking about Germany, I am talking about Russia, Poland, France, Spain. The whole lot. The anti-semitism in europe really is not disguised at all.
I don’t want to hijack this thread with Holocaust issues I only bring up the Jews to illustrate the European mentality.
Why do you think America’s forefathers left that hell-hole? They wanted Freedom. Didn’t want to be oppressed. Jews should have left with us.
As always Europe only does what is good for itself, and nothing more. If europe can get the USA to spend its lives and treasure in defense of europe it will let it happen but when europe is called upon to help others well then that is when europe says, ‘screw you.’
You are probably correct that young Europeans don’t appreciate what was done for them during the war...
That is an interesting perspective. Thank you. I wonder if those who have that general view also think it made no difference which side won the war.
Last summer I visited some cousins who lived in Normandy and Paris during the war. They don't share that general view you report but were grateful for the sacrifices made by others for their freedom. They experienced the war and the occupation personally, so it is understandable they might not feel the same about it as people who did not.
should i be gratefull and thank the allied for firebombing “my” city and killing my ancestors? i hope you get my point... it´s a little bit difficult here in Europe.
I understand your point very well. Should I be grateful that General Sherman's Northern troops killed one of my great-great-grandfathers during the American Civil War? Probably not.
Do you think the US really benefits from supporting Israel? Of course not. But we do anyway, because it is the right thing to do. Jews have been killed by europeans throughout history...........
.....If europe can get the USA to spend its lives and treasure in defense of europe it will let it happen but when europe is called upon to help others well then that is when europe says, ‘screw you....
Tell this to the european soldiers who die in afghanistan because of 9/11.
and btw. it´s true that “europe” does not want to get involved in any crisis or war if “we” can avoid it by any chance but given “our” history does this really suprise you?
“´s true that “europe” does not want to get involved in any crisis or war if “we” can avoid it by any chance but given “our” history does this really suprise you?”
Doesn’t surprise me at all. I would be floored if Europe as a whole thought anything was worth fighting for.
That is an interesting perspective. Thank you. I wonder if those who have that general view also think it made no difference which side won the war.
Last summer I visited some cousins who lived in Normandy and Paris during the war. They don’t share that general view you report but were grateful for the sacrifices made by others for their freedom. They experienced the war and the occupation personally, so it is understandable they might not feel the same about it as people who did not.
Doesn’t surprise me at all. I would be floored if Europe as a whole thought anything was worth fighting for.
For someone that has such a shallow and convoluted view of history I have no argument. I know if some country’s military allied with mine and came to my shores to protect her, I would be forever grateful.
The more I read of your post the more I know that you and I would get along.
That still doesn’t negate the fact that Europe is not a defender of freedom. America is heading that way under 0bama
See you around on FR and if you are ever in Western America look me up.
Unless you are an 0bama supporter.
Later.
For someone that has such a shallow and convoluted view of history I have no argument. I know if some country’s military allied with mine and came to my shores to protect her, I would be forever grateful.
The more I read of your post the more I know that you and I would get along....
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