I Googled for something completely different, but found your page…and have to say thanks. nice read….

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.

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.

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.

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 ?