The GOP and Guns

[A Theist]

Fair enough, A Theist. Do bear in mind, though, that had Europeans kept their noses out of the New World over the past five centuries, there wouldn't be an America at all and the continent would still be populated by scattered tribes and nomads, the remnants of which are referred to as 'Native' Americans. Correspondents on this board would certainly not communicate in an Indo-European language now known as English.

Since the advent of cinema and, particularly, television, it's quite amazing how your internal policies, politics and culture now affect even the popular mindset in the remotest corners of the globe in very subtle as well as more obvious ways. Not by any means always a bad thing. Europe and the US, Europeans and Americans, are -- like it or not -- joined at the hip. To paraphrase; a butterfly flutters its wings in Montana and there's a hurricane in Monaco.

I've lived and worked (yup, quite legally) in the US and worked with US publishers for over forty years. Love the country. Love its people. Dislike common ownership and enthusiasm for guns. I also have a thing about universal gun ownership by the Swiss. That OK or is an aversion to compulsory gun ownership in Switzerland also off limits? Switzerland, of course, is not an EU country. Does that make it none of my business? Should I avoid criticism of North Korea, China, Pakistan, Mecca and Vatican City?

When I signed up here just this week, I was encouraged to see an international community in healthy and open debate, AT; I didn't realise there should be national demarcation on some subjects and taboos as to which correspondent was allowed to freely comment on what subject. Apologies if I got that wrong. Bestests. N

That's true, N. European adventurers braved the hardships for a myriad of reasons to establish colonies in the 'New World'. Their descendants eventually broke away from England and founded an independent nation and a constitution that gave us indidvidual rights. Sure, we're joined at the hip but we're no longer subject to European authority. My genealogy traces back to England, Wales, and as far back to the Normans. My family's roots also traces back to some predecessors who fought in the Revolutionary War, (one of whom was a prisoner of war taken by the British), and in the Civil War, (on the Union side under the command of General William Tecumseh Sherman). I'm an American. Our nation fought hard for our individual liberties. Europe may not like some of the freedoms we enjoy here, but still, our individual liberties, including gun ownership and who we choose to elect as our president are none of Europe's business.

Europe and America for the most part have been able to maintain a good relationship and have worked together despite our differences....and I'm sure that relationship will still continue even after American citizens excercise their individual rights to cast votes for our next president, again, which is none of Europe's business.

...and the best to you as well.