EUROPE: WORLDS APART

New York Post ^ | 8/14/03 | RALPH PETERS

[kattracks]

August 14, 2003 -- LIFE may not be predictable, but Europeans are. If we criticize them publicly, they splutter, outraged that we don't recognize their perfection. They can dish it out abundantly, but continental Europeans can no more take criticism than their welfare armies could have taken Baghdad.

[lainde]

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[lainde]

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[DB]

I tend to agree with this analysis.

[Cronos]

It flys in the face of the logic put forth by the protectionist and tariff lobby

[anotherGerman]

"We Americans live in the one country where each of us, regardless of race or religion, has the chance to realize our potential"

Does this guy really believe this is absolutely true?

As for the rest: Another "America is the best, Europe sucks" rant.
Yawn.

[raisincane]

Someone said that Europe was created by history and America was created by ideals. I agree. Good article. Thanks for finding it.

[Agnes Heep]

Europeans demand security, no matter the price. Americans want a shot at the title. Some never achieve the title, but in the process of aspiring to it, all are made better.

[Colosis]

Another "America is the best, Europe sucks" rant

I live in Europe - yep, it really does suck.

[muawiyah]

It's a little too preachy ~ then there's the part about being brave by getting on a ship in Danzig!

Now why did he have to go and insult the rest of us whose forebears departed on much smaller ships at an earlier time with higher waves and greater distance?

America was covered with ice and snow in those days and giant cougars and bears regularly ate half the people every other day or so. You talk about brave!

CLUE: The differences between Euro-Americans and Europeans were created AFTER their people got here, not before! Else Europeans would think and behave much more like Americans than they do.

[Prodigal Son]

Hitler did not cement his hold on power with anti-Semitism - that was an add-on - but with works projects, with jobs for Germans, with a promise of economic security, however low the level.

FD Roosevelt did that too- the South has the kudzu to prove it.

I'm also not sure why the author exempts Great Britain from his criticism.
The NHS and "The Dole" are monoliths of socialism.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Another "America is the best, Europe sucks" rant.

I dunno, a lot to what he says strikes home to me. Individually Americans and Europeans may not be much different, but their institutions are very different. Can you imagine how ridiculuous it appears to us to be the recipients of moralizing lectures from people who committed mass murder in the name of a comic-opera philosophy?

[Tin-Legions]

I have lived in Germany for the past 3 years. It has its ups and downs, but I'll be very happy to leave here soon. (I'm not that insulated from the Germans either, living on a military post-I work almost daily with Germans and have more than a few casual German friends.)

And I do believe that MOST Americans can reach great heights: I started life on welfare, barely passed high school, in a relatively "slow" part of the country and thanks to mother Army, I am financially secure, college educated (in one of the best colleges in the country) and have a great work background (Army enlisted and officer). I'm not so sure the average European who starts life the same has the second chances that we in the US have. Take care-there will be things I miss about this place...

[happygrl]

It's an adult version of being forced to retain your identity in junior high school forever.

It can't get any worse than this...well, yes it can, but it can't get any funnier !

[Blake#1]

There is a test going on as we write. A test of "good" government versus "bad" government. Which is best for the future? The European Union, or the "New" government in Irag. One is socialist, the other is capialist. One has the State as the power source, the other, the Individual. If Irag succeeds look out Europe!

[Mind-numbed Robot]

As for the rest: Another "America is the best, Europe sucks" rant. Yawn.

Yeah, I agree. Why does that guy have to go and say that? It is self-evident to the rest of us.

[Tom Bombadil]

The Europeans with whom we must deal today are those whose ancestors lacked the courage to pack their bags and board the ships

And they say that GWB offends them because he is arrogant.......missing the point that they think he is arrogant because he offends them.

[jocon307]

This article reminds me of what Schwarzenegger said about Austrian 18 year olds already pre-occupied with their pensions.

Very interesting points about lack of Adult ed programs, etc. Their whole culture is just a lot more regimented and striated than Americas.

[Johnbalaya]

btt

[webstersII]

"As for the rest: Another "America is the best, Europe sucks" rant. Yawn."

Keep yawning. America is going to move ahead while old Europe lays down and whines. We have problems in this country but the great thing is that you can choose to rise above them and find your own way to live a better life, you aren't counting on the gov't to do it for you.