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« Watching Iran from afar | Main | What brain drain? » Historic day - ouch!Today is a turning point in European history and I find myself in disagreement with Neal Ascherson AND Will Hutton AND Timothy Garton Ash AND Danny Cohn-Bendit! The first two signed the Chris Bobinsk letter he wanted the English to post to the people of France - an idea he wrote about rufully in openDemocracy. Now his letter has been published on the oD site and also in the Financial Times. Tim Garton Ash went to France to report and meditate upon the campaign and wrote a strong piece in the Guardian calling for a French Yes. But none were as eloquent or forceful as Danny Cohn-Bendit, whom I have followed more or less since 1968, writing in the International Herald Tribune. "I am a realist who believes in social justice, human rights, environmental protection and a strong Europe that can deal withthe challenges of globaliation and project its power peacefully." Well said! But does it follow that if the French vote 'no' Danny as warns, this will all be at risk and, "the French will lose the things they really want: real European solidarity, a true European democracy; in short, the creation of a European Republic"? European democracy will not follow from the constitutional treaty. On the contrary, a 'yes' will convince the Brussels Eurocrats that if they scare the children they can always get their way. I am against a British 'no' if the French and the Dutch vote 'yes'. That debate is for another time - perhaps. But a French 'no' will be good for Europe and especially for the prospects of European democracy. It will be an honest rejection of a dishonest political elite.
May 29, 2005 in Blair's Bust - UK election | Permalink TrackBackTrackBack URL for this entry: Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Historic day - ouch!:
» Non, je ne regrette nien from perfect.co.uk Tracked on 1 Jun 2005 00:39:21
» Non, je ne regrette nien from perfect.co.uk Tracked on 1 Jun 2005 00:47:05 Not necessarily! It's arrogant to assume that the currents of history will eddy in our direction. This shock - predicted by some of us for years - may be a condition of possibility for a revival of democracy in Europe. But the conditions of probability suggest a different outcome. It's just as possible that we retreat from continental debate. Who'll lead, and in which direction? Posted by: Paul Hilder | 30 May 2005 13:43:29 The comments to this entry are closed. |
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