i probably have a slanted view of acceptance of Europe as i am a student, and am currently at university studying International Politics in a student town. i see much more people wanting to advance the EU. i do however see a very negative view of the EU by many locals. and although i am completely for the EU, i do understand their fears, and I also fear if the EU is not done is accordance to what it should stand for then i would feel more comfortable creating a better UK state. the EU can go wrong, but i have faith it will go right. i also do not plan to live in the UK much longer, after uni, i plan to teach in africa for 2-3 years, then travel asia and south america, and fonally find a small island to reside in peace, love and sunflowers
I think you know which language is by far the most dominant in Europe and the world. Why opt for any but English? Its just a language...it would be the easiest transition. I dont think the french would agree Do you think America, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand are clones? What about all the countries that speak french? or spanish? Are they all clones of each other. Nationalities are held quite dear by people. Why give up 'germany' for 'europe?' You know that's where the EU is going(or trying to go).
do you believe english is the most spoken language in europe??? it is not english, maybe more CAN speka english, but it is not the mother tongue of the majority. i do not believe in changing a peoples language, i do not believe i have the right to claim one language as superior, and i feel sorry for you if you deem this okay. the clones comment wasn't just regarding language, but i love the fact that there are many different languages in europe, it shows to me, no matter what, human beings can all co-exist peacefully if we cooperate no matter the circumstance. i am not a nationalist, i realize many are, so it is down to the people where europe will eventually lead. i am not patriotic at all, so i really do not mind a transition to a federal europe as long as the key ideals of peace, justice and equality are present
No one is saying you have to destroy the languages. I can read texts in latin and Greek. Can i fully understand what they are getting at? Not really. Then again, i cant fully understand something written in early american literature either and that was written in my language. Once culture changes you lose connect with it. Do you honestly think in the year 2500, that the french would be able to understand france in 2006 because they know the same language? But no, i dont speak a second language You dont honestly think American, British, Kiwi, Canadian, and Australians can't understand each other, right? they arent a real barrier? Yeah, not being able to communicate is not a "real" barrier. It is perhaps the GREATEST barrier. Different music/dances/food etc are not 'real barriers.' Not being able to communicate is a major barrier. It may be more practical in Europe to know more than one language...but tell me why a Canadian, American, or Australia 'should' be able to speak a second language? For me it makes no senes to know french so that the 4-5x that i'll probably go to france i can communicate, especially since i can get by just fine with English.
Mandarin is spoken by the most native speakers. However, the Chinese are learning English en masse. Westerners are not learning chinese en masse. I never said any language was superior. Just that they divide us. i dont think you need languages to show you that. The languages in Europe have only divided them for thousands of years. God knows how many wars were caused because people could not communicate. I'm telling you that you'll basically go down the same route as we did. One federal government means it is far more likely that there will be one culture/one language.
no, but you said basically that english should be spoke by the masses, because the nations which speak english can't be bothered to learn other languages and others do learn english, which i do not agree with. by saying that you imply that english is superior modern europe, even with the language, we DO communicate, do you really think at EU meetings, they sit opposite each other and shout at each other in their native tongue?? i do not believe the EU will follow the US. the majority including myself, do not want to follow the path of the US. we are different places, with different people and a different aim and ideology. we can have a federal state with all languages, many states in europe already incorporate many language, for example, Switzerland has around three native language, by your theory, one should of dominated??
Has nothing to do with superiority. And i said since english is already more widely spoken, it seems natural that would be the one you'd pick. Of course not. Then again, you have to either know the language or rely on a translator. Seems a lot easier if the main language is spoken by all. Different ideology? peace, justice and equality as you said. Sounds a lot like america different aim? i really doubt it. You arent different people and your location matters not one iota in the world we live in German is spoken by 63% of swiss. That sounds pretty dominant to me. English is probably even more dominant. I personally dont really care if you continue to keep your languagues, but i do see a huge benefit if we all speak the same language. Either way. Language is just as arbitrary as currency or national borders. Thats my main point. Besides, the EU may have 20 official languages..but the focus is on German, French and ENglish as the 'working language' of the EU. You guys have basically decided that they are three most important. Why not take it one step further from what you guys have done?
english is the one you would pick??? why do we have to choose, this is where Europe and America differ, we do believe in hanging onto culture and traditions and not become all as one in all aspects. peace, justice and equality.... doesn't sound like modern america to me, maybe when it was first created it was also for justice, but not peace and eqaulity, the US was based on the ideology of John Locke and economically Adam Smith, not equality at all. if the EU ever decided to choose one language i would instantly lose all repsect for it, the idea of the EU was the peace and trade and the coming together of different nations, not to all become the same culturally.
The US actually has no official language. The EU has 20(23 soon i believe). But yes, i'd pick english since it has the greatest reach in the world. But yes, we do believe in the melting pot in creating one culture that everyone contributes to. European cultures are SO much more similar now than they were 100 years ago...let alone 500. You are melting into one. I can say that peace, justice, and equality doesnt sound like modern Europe to me either. So HA! Exactly what the US was. I think you choose to deny that the EU is basically what the US was. You will start out with a lot of states' rights(sovereign countries) and then become increasingly more federal as time goes by..just like us. The EU is doing what the US did 220 years ago.
i wouldn't choose one language, and i believe the same applies to most people in actually live in Europe, so i don't have to worry about it really.... how do you know the EU has melted us together, i belive globalization has, the EU is still just a system thing not a cultural thing. we are starting the same, but we are heading in different directions, and we are different, not every country goes down the same route, history never repeats itself exactely. i have faith in the EU
what is the different direction that the EU is heading from the US? the one of peace, equality and justice over warmongering and unilateralism? Come on.
There are actually a few local languages still around.... Cornish for example. The English language is so versatile anyway and made up of several languages. I don't think the E.U could make one uberlanguage though...they've tried it before and it didn't really work.
Actually, there is no shame to be had. In all honesty, I am glad we do not accept all the laws. Some of the European laws and requirements are actually of a much lower standard than that of England's constitution anyways. Take recycling, mobile phone mast policies etc etc
i don't know,cultural sincretism is out for a long time.i'm typing in english,wearing my jeans;this morning i had a cola at mcdonals,i have a persian carpet in my room.my great-grandfather used to wear white hemp pants.cultures have been blending for a long time,and i'd say it's a good thing we're uniting,not culturally/economically invading each other.people will always be different.check out punks,hippies,rappers,preps.and all have the same ethnic background.as i said,i don't know.but i tend to see this as a good thing. warning.do not accept romania in the EU."you'll set your own boots on fire",as the romanian saying goes.
The EU's a load of garbage. I live in England but Ive only got contempt for Britain - so I dont think u can call be "biased " vs the EU. The EU is just another unpleasant collection of Euro toffs , hell bent on controlling as much as possible for zero benefit to the inhabitants. Like a PLC that goes on an acquisitions run swallowing companies with financial trickery and fraud , when it turns out these acquistions just created inefficiency , shams and poverty. Inflate a country's taxes , pretend its going to hospitals but really send it to sleazy bankers on the cheap to swallow up foreign assets.So you get a mass migration of jobs from Britain and Germany to Romania amd TUrkey.And then pretend it was all the fault of the old EU states for not working a 26 hour day for 4 euros and hour.... YEp thats government by the EU.!! The Soviet UNion actually claimed to have a purpose. The EURopean Union is a cabal based on lies. A forerunner of a twisted New World Order idea of total dominance of a single state Nice how its been decided for us already that TUrkey is joining the EU... NOt!! To call the EU a democracy is total lie. In any case , societies round the world are brainwashed into thinking "democracy" is moral. The reality was that democracy was simply a twisted political game played by the elite of Ancient Greece.Ancient Greece was based on slavery- And a tiny proportion of people in the Greek "democracy" actually had any say over government. Interestingly I saw a TV programme comparing Ancient Rome to the EU. There were many similarities. Corruption ,exploitation , thirst for power , expansionism , lies. History repeating itself....
Funny how many countries want to get in and none wants to get out....I would like to see british exportations without the other countries of EU as the final market...
Guys I really need your help. I would like to carry on a survey (actually I have to) about national identities. We (I and the other researchers) have some samples from Columbia, USA, Hungary and now we would like to have an English one. So It's only for English people. This survey needs just 15 minutes to fill, and has questions about national and European Identity. So Guys if you have time, please fill the survey. Thank you in advance. Link to the survey: http://www.createsurvey.com/c/39592-XnVQrg/ Thank you again PS: I just have my post here, because all the identity issues are in a strong relation to the European Union and to the changes of the "nation state"
