Europe's success...and possible demise

First off, the two main problems: not enough children to finance the often absurd welfare state that basically asks to be exploited, and not enough children to maintain population levels. Then there's the threat of radical Islam that tends to be ignored due to political correctness.

Now for the good part: Europe's never been at peace like this (not counting former Yugoslavia, but that wasn't part of the EU anyway). Whatever one thinks of the often crazy levels of bureauracy, these aren't a necessary requirement for the peace.

The history of Europe is one of endless war, in the more distant past intra-family wars, since most royals used to be related. To think of the number of clashes between England and France alone makes one dizzy. Centuries of constant war culminated in the First and Second World War. The latter in a way paved the way for the former. WW II, in particular the Holocaust, finally opened most people's eyes. Within a few years, European leaders, among them many Catholics like Adenauer, established strong economic ties between each other, leading to a closer and closer union that culminated in the EU. Now, how the EU is run is of course not perfect and could be done better, but nonetheless, there hasn't been a war in over six decades. Citizens of countries that used to be bitter enemies now visit each other's countries. Neither greed nor the will to dominate nor religious differences fuel wars anymore.

Some wars had religion as part of its causes - interestingly quite a few of the issues quarrelled over - Communion under both species, vernacular language and such - were adopted by the Catholic Church at Vatican II. In the past, Hussites and Catholics went to war over such issues. The decline of religious sentiment has had positive effects apart from the negative ones. True, political leaders tended to be cynical about religion - the Northern German princes didn't exactly have religious epiphanies when they embraced Protestantism, but rather saw a chance to stick it to the Catholic emperor. But, religion is a good way to rile people up. In a league with nationalism. Undeniably, the history of endless bickering, not to mention wars, between various interpretations of Christianity, turned off many people from Christianity altogether. My grandmother, who is Lutheran (a rarity in Austria, as the principle of cuius regio eius religio lasted for a long time - the citizens of a state had to share their ruler's religion), was still actively slighted and harrassed by Catholics. Nowadays, no one cares. Not so much out of Christian charity but out of indifference. As the old saying goes, nothing works better against religion than a religious upbringing.

Another major factor of religious demise in Europe is of course the throne-altar model and later direct political involvements of the Church. As movements towards democracy started in Europe, the Church was a major roadblock - not that one can't sympathize it to some degree, if one looks at what happened to the Church in the French Revolution. Had the state not tied the Church to itself - and vice versa - the Church would not have suffered as horrible a fate. One only needs to think of Poland to see a healthy activism of the Church for freedom. This is why the Church is popular in Poland, its heroic witness there has not been forgotten. Elsewhere, the actions of Catholics weren't that admirable - say in Croatia. Of course, in order to be attacked and persecuted, the Church doesn't have to be at any fault. Unlike many liberals seem to think, one can be hated without being at fault. Nonetheless, the American model goes to show what is healthy for the Church - no organizational involvement with the state. Of course, lay Catholics can try to convince voters of Catholic values in the 'marketplace of ideas'. The organizational entanglement is where the problem lies. People still remember the priests of the respective Catholic warring countries praying for their respective victories. What's of course rarely done is differentiation - the countless true priests are neglected. Country priests were of no interest to the powerful, but when it came to important bishoprics, cardinals' hats and the papacy, rulers tried to force their own people in, quite often their bastard sons. Women's monasteries were often run like courts, with one standard for 'noble' nuns and another for 'commoners'. Since rich men often got rid of wives, or needed a place for a wayward daughter, this model was quite common. One need only think of St. Teresa of Avila's reforms against just such conditions.

Nationalism is something that`s rather sneered at these days in Europe, and for understandable reasons, as millions perished for 'God, Kaiser and Fatherland' and similar concotions. The problem is that it's too 'taboo' - ie, usually the 'elites' are incapable of finding anything foreign objectionable (not counting carbon emissions). From taking nationalism and religion too seriously, sometimes it seems that nowadays Europe lacks any self defense skills or desires. From overdoing things, now the danger comes from 'underdoing' them. Of course, the healthy middle ground is never a very populated place.

Regardless, the European peace is certainly an achievement unparalleled in its history. I've been to many countries in the last couple of years, and it's been wonderful. One thing Americans could learn from Europe is to chill a bit. We - my wife, parents and I- just spent the sunset at the Danube drinking champagne. In public, with no paper bags :P (Americans should really not pick up the dressing habits of some European men...my wife calls it 'Gay or European ?').

Europe's problem is to sometimes care too little, whereas America's is to sometimes care too much. Everything has its downside obviously. It's funny that, eg, the most furious email campaigns regarding some event in a European diocese come from American Catholics. Sexuality is another matter that enrages Americans far more than Europeans. Then again, it is a bit strange that I saw a sex shop in a fancy mall, right next to the equivalent of Circuit City. As I said, a downside with everything. But, it can't hurt to unwind, kick back, have some vino and not take everything so seriously. Joie de vivre. In that spirit, Ciao !



In case you are wondering about photos - my Sony notebook died, just like last year. There'll be tons of photos starting next week. I return to the USA Tuesday night. I have ordered a Dell XPS notebookwith all frills, 4 year warranty, next day service, 4 year accident protection and LoJack. Won't get fooled again !