Posted on 06/05/2005 2:24:19 PM PDT by quidnunc
In Brussels the “mannequin pis” winked. In Holland the boy took his finger from the dyke. In Paris Marianne bared not her breast but her buttock. The cock crowed, the lion roared, the bear growled. Bliss it was last week to be alive and in Amsterdam, the city which since the 17th century has embodied civic autonomy and global commerce. It has just perpetrated a revolution and can hardly believe it.
Two hundred kilometres to the south in Brussels, the humiliated courtiers of the European Union sat gloomy in their gilded salons, wondering how to hold off the upstart mob. Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg, presiding over the EU’s Council of Ministers, tearfully suggested that Europe’s voters be asked to vote again “until they get it right”. Lord Kerr, Britain’s envoy at this court, described the referendums as a “macabre ritual”. Jose Manuel Barroso, commission president, warned of a “risk of contagion” spreading across Europe. Only in Brussels is the word democracy synonymous with disease.
On the radio I listened to Peter Mandelson, Neil Kinnock, Chris Patten and Jack Straw splutter that a period of “sober reflection” was in order, as if a brief visit to the confessional would purge Holy Mother Church of the sin of pride: surely this Martin Luther moment must pass. But by the weekend, anti-constitution sentiment was wildfire. Those silent referendums, the opinion polls, were taking up the cry from Warsaw to Lisbon. Even pro-European Luxembourg doubled its “no” vote in a month. It is hard to overstate the trauma of this past week.
What does it mean? In France the vote was being interpreted in as many ways as there are French philosophers. The best answer was the simplest, that of a veteran of the Foreign Legion, a farmer in the Lot, on whose views on Europe I can always rely to produce unprintable expletives. He loathes Paris, Brussels and Muslim immigrants in that order. He is the personification of “non”. But France’s defection has always been on the cards.
I remember a French embassy official during Britain’s last referendum on the EU in 1975 (when only the Shetlands voted no). He warned me that “France will be European as long as Europe is French”. When that ceased to apply, “France will dispense with Europe. It will destroy it”. Last week he was proved right. France embodies the nation as saboteur.
-snip-
"Jose Manuel Barroso, commission president, warned of a “risk of contagion” spreading across Europe."
The "baccillus of liberty." All infections aren't bad; take infectious laughter, for instance. LOL.
I have a feeling, though, that it wasn't a constitution so much as it was a devise to create job security for the authors. If the US Constitution were such a monstrosity, I suspect James Madison would be spinning in his grave every time someone accused him of being the author.
Oh, gee, I wonder where that brilliant idea came from. Someone's been learning the DNC's moves following losing elections.
"France will be European as long as Europe is French”. When that ceased to apply, “France will dispense with Europe"
Rather puffed up with Froggie self-importance, isn't he?
There is much that Europe does (or doesn't) do with which I totally disagree, but I wouldn't call Europe "French". What has Europe done to deserve being called such a vile name?
Don't worry about it. Nobody other than Valery Giscard D'Estaing has ever managed to read it either. ;-)
"France will dispense with Europe."What an arrogant statement.Do the French feel they're that omnipotent?Maybe Europe should dispense with France.
btt
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