Juncker through the looking-glass There are many words beginning with the letter “F” that are not suitable for the ears of small children. The word, alluded to, but not pronounced by Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European commission, certainly falls into this category. I feel great passion for the European Union, but the annual […]
European ideals
Lost For Words – The Importance Of Learning A Foreign Language
I usually relate quite strongly to the opinion articles written in the Guardian. Most of them have a sort of utopic-leftish tinge that refreshes me with romanticism and idealism, so out-of-place in today’s world. The article inspiring this post, however, is filled with short-sightedness, misconceptions, and even borders on contempt towards others. The author, who […]
The Week When The UK Lost The Plot…And My Sympathy
When historians look back at Brexit, dates will be remembered for different reasons: the flawed referendum campaign, the death of Jo Cox, the result itself, triggering Article 50, and the general election that misfires, to name but a few. This week will be remembered as the week when the UK really lost the Brexit plot. […]
Brexit Musings (3) – Welcome To Amsterdam Schiphol
Well, not much to chew on this week, concerning Brexit. However, I do have an idea: with the tenors of the UK political landscape out of the country for the summer, maybe it is time to close the borders – before they get back. Wishful thinking I know, but it’s a nice thought. There is […]
Pour L’Amour De La Nation (For The Love Of The Nation)
Individualism, patriotism, nationalism?…A spectre of human interpretations of the world around us – each one a potential danger. Maybe I have no sense of patriotism due to my upbringing – loving two cultures and living in a third. However, more importantly, the world I live in is my representation and no-one else’s. For Donald Trump, […]
British and EU Expats – Our EU Citizen Status Remains In The Balance
The European Union has a common mission to extend, enhance and expand rights, not reduce them. We will never endorse their retroactive removal. The European parliament will reserve its right to reject any agreement that treats EU citizens, regardless of their nationality, less favourably than they are at present. This is a question of the […]
Brexit And EU Nationals (II) – The UK’s Proposals
For over a year, Theresa May has prided herself in refusing to reassure EU nationals about the impact of Brexit on their personal lives, until the Brexit negotiations had started, and the EU had given similar reassurances concerning UK nationals in the EU. It must be said that she has kept to her word, and […]
Brexit And EU Nationals (I) – The European Council’s Proposals
The prospective deal that Theresa May offers EU citizens already living in the UK, is a minimalist view on an ideal world for EU nationals. Once again, she has failed to make a connection with ordinary people, this time with genuinely worried EU expats in the UK, and British expats living in the EU. Her […]
Article 50: “Je T’Aime, Moi Non Plus” (I Love You, Me Neither)
A year after the Brexit vote, the long negotiations between the UK and the EU have begun. Having been deeply saddened by the referendum result and the UK’s triggering of Article 50, I now ask myself if the UK has ever been a true EU member and has European ideals. It is now clear that […]
When Progressive Humanism Meets Terrorism
Islamic attacks on Western democracies pose a deep philosophical and moral problem to anyone sympathising with a progressive humanist vision of society. The Islamic fundamentalists are targeting the very heart of our democracies and, more importantly, our entire way of life. They are trying to drive a wedge between the Islamic community, which they are […]