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Victor Davis Hanson: Can Europe Become Western Again?
American Greatness ^ | 22 Nov, 2023 | Victor Davis Hanson

Posted on 11/23/2023 5:31:03 AM PST by MtnClimber

For the first time in a millennium, Europe no longer plays a critical role in promoting Western civilization nor in world history at large.

Ostensibly it should. Some 750 million people live on the European subcontinent.

Europe still remains the most popular tourist spot on earth. Its hallowed architecture, art, infrastructure, and natural beauty still remind millions of visitors of the world’s once most dynamic and grandiose civilization.

Even now, European nations, in and out of the Europe Union, still produce a combined gross domestic product of $24 trillion, second only to the United States.

Europe’s exports are among the world’s most coveted cars, sophisticated technology, and valued industrial goods.

Yet since World War II, Europe has played an increasingly reduced role in world affairs, despite its membership in the NATO alliance and the growth of the European Union.

Why?

The twentieth-century traumas of World War I and II—in which some 70 million Europeans were killed—saw Europe commit near collective suicide. The ensuing Cold War hinged on protecting a relatively unarmed Europe from an aggressive nuclear Soviet empire on Europe’s borders.

But as World War II and the Cold War faded into memory, Europe did not snap back and assume its centuries-old role as a world leader and beacon of Western Civilization.

Instead, a weary Europe outsourced its security to the United States. It redefined itself as a postmodern, pacifist, socialist utopian project—most recently predicated on redistributionist entitlements, open borders, and radical green policies that have all inevitably ensured European decline.

Europeans grew louder and whinier the less relevant they became.

Although Europe has large sources of untapped hydroelectrical, nuclear, coal, and natural gas power, its green religion has all but shut down new nuclear and fossil fuel generation and closed existing plants.

(Excerpt) Read more at amgreatness.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial
KEYWORDS: deathofthewest; israel; vdh; victordavishanson; waronterror
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1 posted on 11/23/2023 5:31:03 AM PST by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

Europe needs to flush the EU and get rid of the socialist politicians. Socialism is the problem.


2 posted on 11/23/2023 5:31:11 AM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: texas booster

VDH ping


3 posted on 11/23/2023 5:31:34 AM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

The EU is genetically inferior as a result of losing the gene pool to two twentieth century wars. This includes Russia as well.

The question for history is are genetically damaged Europeans stronger than the Africans invading from the south? Are the Africans genetically inferior?

We’ll see


4 posted on 11/23/2023 5:37:35 AM PST by bert ( (KWE. NP. N.C. +12) Joe Biden is a kleptocrat)
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To: 6ppc; Alberta's Child; Alouette; AndyJackson; Aria; Basket_of_Deplorables; BatGuano; beaversmom; ...
Ping! Out to the Victor Davis Hanson list

In sum, the world is safe only when a strong America, along side its European partner, secure their borders, protect the world’s sea- and air spaces, support constitutional and pro-Western nations, and deter thuggish belligerents.

Perhaps as war clouds gather and enemies multiply, Europe will rediscover its heritage and reawaken to its historical role.

Increasingly, a lonely U.S.—and the world at large—need the return of a sane and powerful European co-partner, one that emerges from its self-induced slumber, and resumes its ancient role in preserving civilization from its multiplying enemies.

FR Index of his articles: Victor Davis Hanson on FR

Town Hall: Victor Davis Hanson on Town Hall

American Greatness: Victor Davis Hanson on American Greatness

His website: Victor Davis Hanson

Please let me know if you want on or off this new VDH ping list.

As a reminder, Professor Hanson has asked that we do not post the full article of his writings. Thank you for following the link to finish his article.

Content created by the Center for American Greatness, Inc. is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a significant audience.

5 posted on 11/23/2023 5:49:02 AM PST by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
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To: texas booster

Europe is being taken over by the filth called islam(SPIT!), and won’t be back, anytime soon.


6 posted on 11/23/2023 5:50:29 AM PST by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
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To: MtnClimber

Europe has been on a downhill trend ever since they stopped calling it “Christendom”.


7 posted on 11/23/2023 5:54:25 AM PST by Telepathic Intruder
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To: MtnClimber

If it gets rid of electronic voting machines and secures its elections...


8 posted on 11/23/2023 5:59:24 AM PST by mewzilla (Never give up; never surrender!)
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To: MtnClimber

“Even now, European nations, in and out of the Europe Union, still produce a combined gross domestic product of $24 trillion, second only to the United States.”

Not really, if you get rid of the ‘fluff’ included in GNP and deal with production of REAL STUFF, then it’s China, US, EU (I think, although India may give them a run for the money).


9 posted on 11/23/2023 6:04:47 AM PST by BobL (Trump gets my vote, even if I have to write him in; Millions of others will do the same)
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To: Telepathic Intruder

Europe has been on a downhill trend ever since they stopped calling it “Christendom”.

Yep. And how much of what tourists flock to Europe to see, hear and visit has Christianity as its inspiration.


10 posted on 11/23/2023 6:06:30 AM PST by TalBlack (We have a Christian duty and a patriotic duty. God help us.)
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To: Carriage Hill

The Europeans need to take back their respective countries before all of their beautiful churches and their cultures disappear to be replaced by mosques and the darkness of muslim oppression.


11 posted on 11/23/2023 6:06:52 AM PST by telescope115 (I NEED MY SPACE!!! 🔭)
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To: MtnClimber

I think it’s to late for Europe, they are dead and haven’t realized it yet, don’t worry we are heading full speed in the same direction.

Who is John Galt


12 posted on 11/23/2023 6:16:10 AM PST by eyeamok
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To: MtnClimber

If they stop immigration of muzzies and force them to set aside their pre-civilization ways, then there is hope.

If they let them come in by the millions and allow them to practice their pre-human savagery, then there is no hope.


13 posted on 11/23/2023 6:28:30 AM PST by I want the USA back (Democracy dies when you take away from those who work and give to those who won't. Khrushchev.)
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To: bert

“The EU is genetically inferior as a result of losing the gene pool to two twentieth century wars.”

That kind of thinking is way overdone. Europe lost at least half of its population to the Bubonic plague.

The Spanish flu killed about five percent of the world’s population.


14 posted on 11/23/2023 6:30:16 AM PST by odawg
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To: MtnClimber

VDH nails it again. The EU is the canary in the coal mine for the grand experiment the USA has embarked on of commie take over. Maybe people will note the failure of the EU in time to save the US.


15 posted on 11/23/2023 6:33:37 AM PST by ChuckHam
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To: MtnClimber

If they grow enough balls to slaughter and run off the Muslims, yes.


16 posted on 11/23/2023 7:02:50 AM PST by Blue Collar Christian (I'm a nationalist. I'm white. How does that make me racist?)
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To: All

.....a war-weary Europe, once a grandiose civilization, outsourced its security to the US........

It redefined itself as a postmodern, pacifist, socialist utopian project—predicated on redistributionism, entitlements, open borders, and a radical green religion that has all but shut down new nuclear and fossil fuel generation and closed existing plants........policies that have all inevitably ensured European decline.


17 posted on 11/23/2023 7:04:43 AM PST by Liz (Women have tremendous power — their femininity, because men can't do without it. Sidney Sheldon)
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To: MtnClimber

Geert Wilders says yes.


18 posted on 11/23/2023 7:25:30 AM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: MtnClimber

The Yurps lost the will to achieve anything after the 2 world war. Gradually they lost their religion, their culture and even their fertility. The only things the elites in Europe care about are Gaia Worship and Socialism.


19 posted on 11/23/2023 8:06:19 AM PST by FLT-bird
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To: ChuckHam
The EU is the canary in the coal mine
20 posted on 11/23/2023 9:01:31 AM PST by Jeff Chandler (THE ISSUE IS NEVER THE ISSUE. THE REVOLUTION IS THE ISSUE.)
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