What a glorious idea it was:
Let's abolish all borders, dismantle
custom buildings, absorb all border guards into other such uniformed
units, allow free transit from country to country, discontinue the
collection of import duties,
Have the same currency, the Euro.
Establish a "European Government"
In short: “Be United, Europe!”
All the above was achieved with more or
fewer difficulties.
Two of the attributes which bedevil
European Unity, however, could not be put aside that easily:
The multitude of cultures and languages
and, more importantly, the multitude of suspicions, distrusts, and,
in some cases, a quiet dislike, up to an outright hatred broiling
underneath the surface of this so-called unified Europe.
I only speak of Austria and Austrians,
but I assume that the very same feelings are present in most, if not
all other European countries.
What is more, I do not speak of “all”
Austrians, since there are many tolerant and non-bigoted people
living here.
The Xenophobia, however, is wide spread
and often right on top and up-front.
Not much is said here about Austria's
neighbors which could be classified as complimentary:
The Germans are considered to be
militaristic, and without charm.
The Swiss know only money
The further South you go into Italy,
the lazier the people get.
Slovenians are good farmers, but that's
all they are.
Hungarians, actually a dubious folk and
last but not least there are the Checks whom you cannot trust
further than you can throw them.
These, unfortunately are the opinions
of many Austrians regarding their neighbors.
It is, however, difficult to meet a
friendlier, more hospitable people than the Austrians.
On a One-to-One basis there is nobody
in Europe friendlier, kinder, or more tolerant than they are.
( Given the usual exceptions )
It is also true that in each of the
above named countries, as well as in Austria, there are people whose
character and/or personality corresponds with the attributes ascribed
to them.
However, I've met many Germans who are
peace-loving and charming, Swiss who care for nature and friendship
and less for money, diligent Italians and on and on.
The difference in cultures and
languages, unfortunately, stands in the way of a truly united Europe.
Add to the above the challenges of
dealing with the refugees who seek asylum in Europe, the financial
problems of Greece and the political differences between Turkey and
the rest of Europe, and you have a boiling kettle of disagreements,
fights, name calling and a blaming-game playing, which threatens to
spoil what had begun with such promise.
These are the extreme poles:
“Welcome to Austria” were some of
the signs carried by welcoming Austrians at the border crossing
points where families consisting of mostly women and children, from
war torn Syria, Afghanistan and several other strife-ridden middle
eastern countries had arrived, seeking nothing but safety and peace.
“What's the problem ?” asked a well
educated man at a small party which I, unfortunately, had attended,
“ships are sent to rescue these bums from their rickety boats, what for ?
Let them drown !”
May Europe stay united and may this
Continent find peace !
Bertstravels
is but an observer.
