Pope attacks EU and "Berlin declaration"

[Skybird]

German (but probably also in English in international medias soon):
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutsc...473711,00.html

Strange when an atheist like me must assist a theistic chieftain in defending a basic fact of Europe's historical identity, for pragmatical reasons, and reasons of accepting historic realities:

the pope criticised the socalled Berlin Declaration, like he also criticised the draft constitution, for not including a single reference to the Christian Churches' heritage concerning the history of Europe, and building of its identity and canon of values. He said that Europe is denying itself if it does not remember these roots of itself, and by that questions it's own identity. He asked, if the EU would be serious about wishing to reduce the distance to the ordinary people and correcting public bad image of the EU, how then could the very important element of Christianity, to which the vast majority of Europeans still confesses, get intentionally ignored?

the article also says that if Europe would be defined on the basis of Christian-Jewish heritage, it would be difficult if not impossible to get turkey included. So when this unwelcome hurdle to Turkey's membership could be avoided by ignoring one's own cultural identity and actively denying it, then this obviously is all to willingly being done by the EU. Tells all one need to know about the need to negotiate. according to european policy, turkey's membership already is decided. My only hope is that the Turks themsleves will stop to be interested (but then the EU will start to flatter them and give them presents to make them change their mind, i bet).



One thing I know for sure. The Turks will never forget their Islamic identity, and they will hardly give up their revitalised, growing nationalistic sentiments as well.

Oh how much I love the EU. If Bin Laden would have bombed the EU ministries instead of the twin towers, I would say that we owe him one and should give him a medal. I was told that my "idol" Helmut Schmidt should have attacked the EU in some print magazine with unusual harsh and aggressive wording second-last week, and should have become even loud (for his standards), which is very very unusual for this man. Would like to read and give this interview, but so far I was unable to find it.

Merkel also wants to revitalise the draft constitution, ignoring democratic votes in two nations and ignoring that a majority of populations in Europe oppose it as well. I hope the German presidency passes by before she seriously can inflict that tremendous damage.

That damn thing has the size of a major city's telephone book. Probably your nation's constitutions is just a handful of pages, usually. The EU constitu-dingsbums is much thicker than all European nation's constitutions added together.

It already is too many members in the EU. To many cooks - well, you know the saying. the only good thing I can say abiut the Eu is that since world war 2 nations in Europe have stopped continuing diplomacy by other means. The only true and valid acchievement in the EU's history that stands beyond doubt. If one ignores the complicated issue of the Balkan wars, of course...).

Sure, "we are about reducing bureaucracy." - Joke of the decade.