Here's some motivational Western culture for you. Cheers!
Posted on 05/03/2008 5:31:55 AM PDT by WesternCulture
I'd like to say so myself.
It's time we realize we're actually in a war together and that all of us who do NOT participate at the front line have a special kind of obligation towards the brave men and women who ARE.
I'm 38 years old and one thing I've learned from being alive this long is that a group of people who stand united, devoted to something of eternal value are, virtually, indestructable as such.
Apart from being somewhat "old", I'm of Swedish stock (- like food a lot, but I'm not a Swedish chef in fact:D -) and as a son of Scandinavia, I'm very well aware Swedish soldiers have died in the WOT (in Afghanistan).
It's Sweden's/Scandinavia's/Europe's war too.
Whether we all like it or not, Western Civilization is today at war with Islamism (I'm not saying "Islam", because Islam might have devoloped in other ways than being hi-jacked by evil lunatics dedicated to terrorism).
Personally, I'm seldom annoyed by American criticism of Europe. Often, what I hear from your corner of the Earth in terms of criticism of Europe are valid and thoughtful remarks. Europe of today is definitely a PC swamp. Unfortunately, this PC swamp is today the largest economy on Earth. Americans who view European politicians as the laughing stock of global matters are entirely in their right to do so, but as friends of Conservative ideals we must realize the danger of this sickening parody of Western Civilization that PC Europe (and PC USA) have developed into by today, not only reject it as such.
Western Civilization is a culture which once gave birth to ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, the Renaissance, Modern Science, the Enlightenment and the United States Declaration of Independence.
If we agree to contemplate for a while; is it wise and responsible to give in to petty internal strife at a moment when we are under attack by evil?
What would Lincoln or Churchill have had to say regarding this?
Like said, a lot of things are rotten in Europe of today. On the other hand, I'm not exactly embarrassed over being Swedish when it comes to the competence of building well functioning societies. The US, Germany and Japan are prosperous and civilized parts of the world, but Scandinavia is UNPARALLELLED in this regard (althogh I'm rather poor for being a Swede myself!). It's nice belonging to a successful nation and I guess it shows in my posts a lot. But, all the same I feel Sweden, like the rest of Europe, could do a lot more in the WOT area.
Presently, I'd say Europe is in an process of waking up.
Europe will not slumber forever and when we rise again, the world will never become the same.
In any case, It's time we Westerners try and understand that we need MORE of unity if we are to succeed in this conflict without too much of cost.
We will triumph anyhow, but the more of unity, the less of suffering.
Support the good men and women who are risking their own lives defending the most precious of all gifts:
FREEDOM!
Being a civilized individual must always involve giving true support to the struggle for the advancement of civilization.
Despite WWII, we Europeans have not given up on these ideals. Believe me, not all, but hundreds of millions of Europeans are able of distinguishing between what's right and wrong.
No more Chiracism!
With love and support to USA from Sweden, Europe,
WesternCulture
You fought for our freedom.. It will never be forgotten!
That’s very nice! I hope you’re right about a recovery in Europe.
- I think we are.
There is always a limit to stupidity. If we look at what happened last century over here in Europe, there is evidence in form of a certain man like Churchill coming to power.
Today, Germany and more or less all of Europe is free.
Visited Hamburg and Lübeck recently for a short vacation. Porsches, BMWs, Audis and MBs flooding city streets. But above all: a part of the world where tyranny has been defeated and replaced by democracy for good.
Greetings from Gothenburg, Sweden to Old North State and all of America,
WesternCulture
Until the EU bureaucracy becomes powerful enough to shut down the auto companies because they're cluttering the city streets ...
Greetings back - help yourself to some barbecue!
“Greetings back - help yourself to some barbecue!”
- The weather suggests it, but actually I’m cooking Fussilli alla Napoletana today. Enjoying a bottle of Valpolicella to go with it.
Italian food - one of the greatest achievements of mankind!
As a European and a warm friend of La bell’Italia; thanks for not letting this glorious part of Europe slip into the hands of Stalin!
Wait a sec... I see Posh Spice trying to sneak into the photo on the extreme left side. :-P
I’ve noticed that threads regarding Sweden seen to be hijacked by morons faster than most others.
Aren’t they beautiful?
I love my Volvo and I love Swedish midsummers drinking vodka (I’m boycotting Absolut though http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2000876/posts) watching the sun refusing to set, but there are actually even more beautiful aspects of Scandinavia!!
I can testify to it; Scandinavian women are out of this world.
Thanks for such a thoughtful post. You made some very good observations and points worth considering. I truly hope your optimism about Europe “waking-up” will ultimately prove to be well-founded. I have no doubt that millions of Europeans are indeed doing just that, as are millions of Americans.
The problem, and crux of the matter, is whether this nascent sense of awakening has come too late, or has the cancer of cultural and philosophical decadence in Western civilization metasticized beyond the point of recovery.
We are in a race with time, and there are strong indicators that point to irreversible damage, e.g. the demographic time-bomb of declining Western birth rates versus soaring third-world (especially Europe’s Muslim immigrants) birth rates described by Mark Steyn and others.
Time will tell. It is heartening to read thoughtful comments such as yours. I would add that you’re in good company with one of my favorites among America’s Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin, who said: “We must all hang together, gentlemen, or we shall most assuredly hang separately”... /grin
Well let’s wait and see if that happens. I’ll let you know.
“I’ve noticed that threads regarding Sweden seen to be hijacked by morons faster than most others.”
- I view that remark as rather good natured.
In this particular case, the poster expresses the view that Swedish babes are hotter than British ones:D
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=1956743
Good thing to pound the earth at the same time as you, brother!
I can assure you Europe has a brighter future than most Westerners and especially our common enemies realize.
Listening to music of the Renaissance presently.
There will come a new one.
Ahem, correction. Greece created Western Civilization. There was no civilization in Europe before them.
What do the young people of Sweden and Europe (the ones who will have to do the heavy lifting if anything gets done) think about the collapse of western civilization? Or do they think?
I’ve stopped looking at the situation in term of nationalities.
For example, the Swedish government is absolutely pathetic and shameful by my standards, but it is essentially the same mentality that seems to permeate the US State Department, the Democrat party, and academia. Swedish politicians and bureaucrats betray their people in the same way that many American politicians and bureaucrats act against our interests.
You have to look at what the individual stands for. Increasingly, I’m avoiding generalizations. I find myself more on the side of some Europeans more than some Americans in many cases. Given the same opportunity and freedom, there are a great many Europeans that would outperform our Rosie O’Donnells, Nancy Peolsis, Michael Moores, Jerimiah Wrights, Ted Kennedys, and Keith Olbermanns. And even without the greater opportunity and freedoms, many Europeans still remain better people than a great many of our own. Then again, there are many who are worse.
The European media represent the European people about as much as the American media represents Americans. Any ‘superiority’ one may feel over ‘Euro-weenies’ is entirely attributable to the American Founding Fathers and very, very little to our individual selves. It’s something to consider before launching into your next gratuitous Euro-weenie bashing rant.
In many cases we do have shared values and common enemies.
Discernment is in order.
Alla svenska kvinnor är tyvärr inte så gynnad av lyckan, men vi måste forsätta hemligheten. :-)
That the more things change, the more they stay the same. Lincoln faced internal strife (within the Union side itself) from the beginning to end of his presidency, and Churchill didn't have a united Britain until the Nazis were howling at their door and threatening their very existence.
“That the more things change, the more they stay the same. Lincoln faced internal strife (within the Union side itself) from the beginning to end of his presidency, and Churchill didn’t have a united Britain until the Nazis were howling at their door and threatening their very existence.”
- Well put.
It’s only human to shun a horrible thing like war, but shunning reality is not human at all.
“4)American principles from the Age of Reason and the Age of Enlightenment.”
Without even the slightest trace of hesitation!
However, the the idea of democracy and individual freedom is an old Western tradition - like I guess you are well aware of.
It has reached its most noble form on American soil, but the spirit of independence is also very strong in several parts of Europe.
Take Scandinavia.
Like I use to say; while continental Europeans suffered under the yoke of Feudalism, Scandinavians were running their own farms.
Today, the Scandinavian countries have 69 companies listed on the Forbes Global 2000. Germany has a mere 57.
Today, the Scandinavian countries have a combined GDP that is 125% that of Russia's (TOTAL GDP that is, not talking per capita).
Hardly surprising other Europeans view us as a “model”.
This succes does not stem from Socialism, nor oil (Sweden, for instance, has no off shore oil), it is an effect of the fact that Scandinavia, just like the US, is a part of the world that produces STRONG, BOLD, SELF-RELIANT INDIVIDUALS.
Just like the Vikings were!
“Alla svenska kvinnor är tyvärr inte så gynnad av lyckan, men vi måste forsätta hemligheten. :-)”
:D
On the other hand, I know of no other country that possess such beautiful women to the extent Sweden does, but Denmark, Finland and Norway come close!
The US too has a lot of beautiful women. Southern Italy, especially the Naples area comes close. Greece is another country that boasts a lot of pretty ladies.
- Couldn't agree more.
I seldom quote Anarchists here on Free Republic, but this piece of song lyrics by Conflict, a London based, anarchist punk band (I don't think they exist anymore though) popular in the early 1980s, I believe expresses something every sane individual has felt upon being confronted by the true nature of journalism:
“You don't care about people's thoughts.
You probe into the mind, then you haunt
What you print, people believe, complicating lives, what the f*ck does that achieve?
Now you're looking for some news, changing around facts and views
Receiving money for empty lies. Sly reporters I despise you
Will there be that extra in this week? Now you're climbing to the journalist peak
Sitting at the typewriter making more lies up. Rearranged to suit you, then f*ck me up
Now I'm getting sick of you. Coming around here, making news
Whatever you print, you can't lose. But can't you see the damage that you do?”
I am aware of the danger, but I’d say you seem totally unaware of the central issue at stake here (no offense):
WHICH culture is the stronger one?
Western Culture is the hope of Mankind and whenever attacked, it will respond. Just like we can see all over Europe by today.
Stand up for Civilization and Civilization will reward you back.
You are part of something greater than you could ever imagine.
Greece is, of course, unique in the history of Mankind.
On the other hand, the achievements of 15th and 16th century Florence, the Industrial Revolution, the American Revolution and the present development of the Scandinavian countries are also shining examples of the innate strength of Western Civilization.
I drive a luxury car although I'm comparatively poor for a Swede and I can insult our PM in public whenever I wish to.
That's a perfect society IMO!
The West will experience a new Renaissance.
“What do the young people of Sweden and Europe (the ones who will have to do the heavy lifting if anything gets done) think about the collapse of western civilization? Or do they think?”
- I would say young Europeans of today are more patriotic and nationalist than my generation (I was born in 1969) and MUCH more of patriots than the European, leftist baby-boomers.
There is hope.
“....Lincoln faced internal strife (within the Union side itself) from the beginning to end of his presidency, and Churchill didn’t have a united Britain until the Nazis were howling at their ...”
Good observation. Historically, we should also remember previous times when all Europe was threated by external agression. In both the first Moslem invasion and the Mongol invasion, Europeans argued and struggled with each other right up to the defeat of their enemies. I see things similar today.
Sweden???
How many wars did you win???
Ah Ah!
Isoroku Yamamoto
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