COWARDS IN EUROPE?

As something of a student of history, I have always felt there was a critical distinction between how Americans (the "New World") and Europeans (the "Old World") approach things. As much as I admired the history of past European empires (Greece, Rome, Britain, etc.), it always seemed that America was the true heir to those great civilizations. Modern Europe lost its cajones somewhere after Napeolean arrived. Europeans always seem to seek accomodation rather than stand up for principle. Perhaps this is unexpected, as you can't keep killing each other for 5,000 years and not see some weakening of the gene pool.

In any event, it remained a pet theory of mine but one which seems valid. But now it has found voice from a prominent European business leader. BSPOLITIX.BLOG reports that Matthias Dapfner, Chief Executive of German publisher Axel Springer AG recently wrote a peice in DIE WELT, Germany's largest daily newspaper, critical of the appeasement mentality pervading Europe. Here is a key section:

Only two recent American Presidents had the courage needed for anti-appeasement: Reagan and Bush.

His American critics may quibble over the details, but we Europeans know the truth. We saw it first hand: Ronald Reagan ended the Cold War, freeing half of the German people from nearly 50 years of terror and virtual slavery. And Bush, supported only by the Social Democrat Blair, acting on moral conviction, recognized the danger in the Islamic War against democracy. His place in history will have to be evaluated after a number of years have passed.

In the meantime, Europe sits back with charismatic self-confidence in the multicultural corner, instead of defending liberal society's values and being an attractive center of power on the same playing field as the true great powers, America and China.

On the contrary - we Europeans present ourselves, in contrast to those "arrogant Americans", as the World Champions of "tolerance", which even (Germany's Interior Minister) Otto Schily justifiably criticizes. Why? Because we're so moral? I fear it's more because we're so materialistic, so devoid of a moral compass.

For his policies, Bush risks the fall of the dollar, huge amounts of additional national debt, and a massive and persistent burden on the American economy - because unlike almost all of Europe, Bush realizes what is at stake - literally everything.

As BSPOLITIX.BLOG says, at least one German gets it.