OK, this is going to be pretty long, but please bear with me.
First, my standpoint on the EU. In 1994 we were called to decide if we joined or not. I voted yes, since the promise was a social and political union and not what it turned out to be. A seemingly economical union with member states trying their hands at cherry picking. If asked, if we should remain, my answer would still be yes. For different reasons. I'm no economical expert, but I'm also not entirely blind to a globalized economy. There is no such thing as splendid isolation and people would be worse off when leaving. Also. which brings me to the second part of this post. My lifelong dream is a united Europe, with people living in harmony instead of constand strive.
As many of you know, I am from Austria. Now the Austria of old, the Austro Hungarian empire, can be safely called a colonial power. Similar to the UK of old. The only difference being that our colonies were continental. I, like many of my fellow citizens, am a mixture of all the different cultures back then. Czech, a large amount of Hungarian and a pretty strong jewish element. That's what I always liked about my country. That people weren't shy to mix their marriages between different religions, different nationalities and different cultures. I'm no stranger to patriotism, but certainly to nationalism, since I wouldn't even know what nationality to choose from. I am a mix, like many of my peers, who seem to forget about it, even though they hold Czech, Slavic or Slawonian.
For the first half of my life I grew up smack in front of the Iron curtain. I only had to drive 25 miles to see the barbed wire, the watch towers and the search lights. I also travelled beyond, since I still had family in Hungary, back in the 70ies and 80ies. In 1991, we had a war at our southern borders. With Yugoslavian fighter jets violating our airspace on a daily basis, shooting at the borders and our army being moved there, in case the Yugoslavians would actually cross. Not as remote a possibility as it may seem, since they already tried that in 1918 and 1945. They always wanted to get hold of Carynthia and parts of Styria.
Now, most of these countries, following the breakdown of Yugoslavia, are part of the EU. With Serbia, a traditional and very old enemy, being a candidate. Borders are open and everyone's got the right to be European, instead of stewing in their own little nationalistic bubble. An economic union doesn't interest me, since it's not to the benefit of the people. I'm interested in the continent growing together to finally overcome the centuries of wars and borders disputes.
These are my reasons, make what you will of it.
First, my standpoint on the EU. In 1994 we were called to decide if we joined or not. I voted yes, since the promise was a social and political union and not what it turned out to be. A seemingly economical union with member states trying their hands at cherry picking. If asked, if we should remain, my answer would still be yes. For different reasons. I'm no economical expert, but I'm also not entirely blind to a globalized economy. There is no such thing as splendid isolation and people would be worse off when leaving. Also. which brings me to the second part of this post. My lifelong dream is a united Europe, with people living in harmony instead of constand strive.
As many of you know, I am from Austria. Now the Austria of old, the Austro Hungarian empire, can be safely called a colonial power. Similar to the UK of old. The only difference being that our colonies were continental. I, like many of my fellow citizens, am a mixture of all the different cultures back then. Czech, a large amount of Hungarian and a pretty strong jewish element. That's what I always liked about my country. That people weren't shy to mix their marriages between different religions, different nationalities and different cultures. I'm no stranger to patriotism, but certainly to nationalism, since I wouldn't even know what nationality to choose from. I am a mix, like many of my peers, who seem to forget about it, even though they hold Czech, Slavic or Slawonian.
For the first half of my life I grew up smack in front of the Iron curtain. I only had to drive 25 miles to see the barbed wire, the watch towers and the search lights. I also travelled beyond, since I still had family in Hungary, back in the 70ies and 80ies. In 1991, we had a war at our southern borders. With Yugoslavian fighter jets violating our airspace on a daily basis, shooting at the borders and our army being moved there, in case the Yugoslavians would actually cross. Not as remote a possibility as it may seem, since they already tried that in 1918 and 1945. They always wanted to get hold of Carynthia and parts of Styria.
Now, most of these countries, following the breakdown of Yugoslavia, are part of the EU. With Serbia, a traditional and very old enemy, being a candidate. Borders are open and everyone's got the right to be European, instead of stewing in their own little nationalistic bubble. An economic union doesn't interest me, since it's not to the benefit of the people. I'm interested in the continent growing together to finally overcome the centuries of wars and borders disputes.
These are my reasons, make what you will of it.
![[Image: Bumper+Sticker+-+Asheville+-+Praise+Dog3.JPG]](https://images.weserv.nl/?url=1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-d-3rfdI7nG0%2FTerwtFyFXoI%2FAAAAAAAACak%2F7kFSmHeVrng%2Fs320%2FBumper%2BSticker%2B-%2BAsheville%2B-%2BPraise%2BDog3.JPG)
