Being European
Is it time for us to embrace our status as Europeans?
Ironically, our reluctance to feel overtly European probably stems from our previous experience as part of that last great European-based confederation, The British Empire. Several centuries as part of a group that enveloped two thirds of the globe at one point was very much at odds with Ireland's impulse for self-determination, but of course that's not the only factor.
I was in Brussels and Lisbon for some European summits last year, and the differences in attitudes between the Irish and British delegations and our continental friends were palpable. In the discussion sessions, the continental Europeans were content with discussing topics at length, focusing on policy-based initiatives and generally had a more deliberative, contemplative approach.
Whereas the Irish, British and, for that matter, the Dutch and Scandinavians, saw quite an irony in talking so much about active citizenship and participation, and strenuously advocated some, well, activity. You could draw a line from the English Channel across the North Sea to show the two Europes, and nearly guess how a delegate would think on an issue based on whether they were from the continental land mass of Europe or whether they were from the western islands or the Northern Peninsulas.
Then there's the old Boston-Berlin divide. For the obvious reasons Ireland has continuously looked more lovingly towards Massachusetts than we've done towards Mainz over the last two centuries. In fact, had the Flight of the Earls happened a few years later, they probably would have shunned France and Italy for the Atlantic route, and maybe that's why our approaches differed so much in that plenary room in Brussels.
Finally, and not to be discounted, Irish senses of identity are already split several ways anyway. Apart from being simply “Irish”, religious, regional and local identities come into play as well, so in my case once I've got past being an Irish Northern Donegal Catholic, my sense of being European gets squeezed somewhat, and it's a similar situation in other parts of the country.
With the Lisbon Treaty causing considerable controversy across Europe, and considering Ireland's lengthy history of being cagey on such matters, it's not surprising that we're the only country in the EU to have a referendum on it. It'll probably pass, as it receives the backing of most of the main parties in government (who have incidentally been about the most consistent pro-European force in Ireland in the past forty years), but don't expect turn out or interest to be too high.
Mind you, there is some hope that Irish people in general will warm to Europe more in future. As Ireland becomes increasingly less homogeneous and further influenced socially and economically by immigration from Eastern Europe and Africa, we may not be so reluctant to relinquish our long-held ideas of self-reliance for much longer.
One of the main fears Irish people have about the EU is that it will ultimately undermine our rights as a sovereign nation and limit our votes in important decisions. The reality is that unless we set aside our historic reservations and get involved, engaged and informed about what Europe can do for us and what we can do for Europe, if we don't choose to see it as a suspect political monolith but as an agent of ultimate good where people of all races, religions and beliefs can come together as part of the same community, then that is exactly what is going to happen.
Decisions, they say, are made by those who show up, and we as regular citizens have to ensure we take our seat at the European table.
By: Paddy Duffy
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Posted by : captain planet - 03 days ago
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