German Ambassador’s Evening
Last night I went for drinks and a debate at the German Ambassador’s residence, not everyone’s idea of a good time as it was quite a political evening and some of the attendees could have bored the hind-legs off a donkey but illuminating in some respects nevertheless. The debate, or rather more the questions and answers session was about cementing greater political ties between Britain and Germany and featured elder British politician Michael Howard and the German Ambassador, Wolfgang Ischinger.
While the politics itself was nothing very illuminating it was interesting to get a handle on some of the emotions behind the politics as the two men seemed to agree on so little. Mr Howard waxed lyrical about the beauty of globalisation while brushing off every dissenting question with a simple “I don’t agree” and consistently tried to blunt the Ambassador’s enthusiasm for European integration with his anti-integration view-point but frankly Mr Ischinger came off better as a practical realist determined to reform Europe from within. I think perhaps Mr Howard is getting a little tired of politics as well as anyone else who disagrees with him but nevertheless he is an affable fellow who does not deserve the now infamous tag that he is “something of the night”. More like my old headmaster really.
Anyway, for political junkies like me it was a nice opportunity to jaw-jaw in pleasant Georgian surrounding and guzzle someone else’s champagne; I can see the attraction of a life in diplomacy.
National asset (not sure to what country maybe isreal) steaknife tries to link airplane attacks to german facists in revenge for concentration camp deaths + high level diplomacy called for
Wolfie,
Once the integration of eastern european countries will be completed and once russia’s economic recovery will be achieved with more political stability, Europe will inevitably shift to the east and Germany will be the new geographical center of this future Europe. I understand German’s enthusiasm. They have already started the process. This summer in Moscou, our small hotel (very unusual in Moscou to find small hotels) was full of German businessmen. Not everybody can speak from the same perspective as Germans. I think countries like France, Spain, Italy and even the UK will benefit more from an integration of countries like Turkey and why not Israel and Arab countries around the meditterannean once they have resolved their old conflict ?
Well spotted Sophia. That subject did come up in the debate briefly.
Personally I’m for expanding the integration in the long-term but I think the politicians are too much in a hurry. It is vital the ascension countries fulfil their economic and social entry requirements beforehand otherwise they become an onus burden on the economies and social fabric of the existing member states. We have enough trouble propping-up some key member states as it is. I recall that once upon a time patience was considered a virtue.
If you’ll excuse the dramatic one moment I think this story illustrates amply why I have reservations about spreading Europe eastward.
Wolfie,
I read the story but it was one of those awful moments on your anti-spam code. Any Way, the story is disgusting but is not related to a specific culture in my opinion. It is of degree and has to do with edcucation and social status.
It happens sometimes that I have to deal with this kind of people as a woman, having workers at home being the most frequent occurrence.
I should recognise that respect for women is stronger in Europe. When you live in North America and you have to deal sometimes with the less educated men in the population you instantly spot the difference.
The other big difference is the law. In non western and Muslim countries, there are no clear laws to protect women in the case you cited. But even when you have the law, as in Israel for example, the interpretation is always done in favour of men, even when they are guilty. Here we return to cultural prejudices. Cultural prejudices abot women exist everywhere, they are strong in the ME but the differences between cultures are of degree and aren’t that ingrained in the nature of the people.
The solution is to adopt strict laws and to apply them fairly. I believe that social practices can change culturally learned prejudices.
On that I most definitely agree, there are people who have been distributing that story who are trying to blame a specific culture but not I. Nevertheless whatever the causes in would be utter foolishness to attempt to bring such countries into the EU fold too soon.
As you say, the key is not simply to have laws but to implement them strictly and fairly (without prejudice). A lesson which our own judiciary seem to be forgetting these days.
Ki Toy Johnson…
I Googled for something completely different, but found your page…and have to say thanks. nice read….