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Why I’m a European - a personal view
Where to start? To me the EU means freedom.
That’s the most important point. Being, feeling, European, is freedom.
That is what “Europe” means to me. As it has done for many others, from Milan Kundera to Angela Merkel to Umberto Eco.
Why I’m a European - a personal view
Where to start? To me the EU means freedom.
That’s the most important point. Being, feeling, European, is freedom.
That is what “Europe” means to me. As it has done for many others, from Milan Kundera to Angela Merkel to Umberto Eco.
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And freedom is a powerful drug. Perhaps the greatest high of all.
What in God’s name do I have in common with Angela Merkel or Milan Kundera, or Umberto Eco?
Eco put it best, echoing Brian Friel, “translation”.
And freedom is a powerful drug. Perhaps the greatest high of all.
What in God’s name do I have in common with Angela Merkel or Milan Kundera, or Umberto Eco?
Eco put it best, echoing Brian Friel, “translation”.
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But John Hewitt put it just as well, when he asked for his millefeuille of identity not to be disrupted.
Those are my ghosts, my heroes. Simone Veil, Konrad Adenauer, Javier Solana.
I salute you.
But John Hewitt put it just as well, when he asked for his millefeuille of identity not to be disrupted.
Those are my ghosts, my heroes. Simone Veil, Konrad Adenauer, Javier Solana.
I salute you.
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They and so many others know what its like to challenge the dead hand of autocracy, singleness, the uselessness of wasted time, wasted hatred.
That's why John Hume said, accepting his Nobel peace prize in 1998:
They and so many others know what its like to challenge the dead hand of autocracy, singleness, the uselessness of wasted time, wasted hatred.
That's why John Hume said, accepting his Nobel peace prize in 1998:
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"The European visionaries decided that difference is not a threat, difference is natural. Difference is of the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of birth and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict. The answer to difference is to respect it.c
"The European visionaries decided that difference is not a threat, difference is natural. Difference is of the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of birth and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict. The answer to difference is to respect it.c
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"Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace – respect for diversity."
"Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace – respect for diversity."
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Peace is a profoundly European value.
So is good football.
I grew up with the best role model: Liam Brady. He didn’t just succeed as a footballer at Juve and Inter, he became Italian in his own way, while remaining himself.
Peace is a profoundly European value.
So is good football.
I grew up with the best role model: Liam Brady. He didn’t just succeed as a footballer at Juve and Inter, he became Italian in his own way, while remaining himself.
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I tried to do the same as an Erasmus student at Heidelberg University, the Germans treated me as a Wunderkind, as I was so young for my third year: 19 at the outset.
But I never forgot their kindness.
I tried to do the same as an Erasmus student at Heidelberg University, the Germans treated me as a Wunderkind, as I was so young for my third year: 19 at the outset.
But I never forgot their kindness.
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Later I lived in France, where my name rhymes with Zidane, certainly more accurate other pronunciations
Later I lived in France, where my name rhymes with Zidane, certainly more accurate other pronunciations
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I also saw Roberto Baggio re-invent himself in Bologna. I did the same. The EU helped heal cold war wounds in many countries, akin to a civil war for some, and that’s good enough for me.
I also saw Roberto Baggio re-invent himself in Bologna. I did the same. The EU helped heal cold war wounds in many countries, akin to a civil war for some, and that’s good enough for me.
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My family was split straight down the middle a century ago, but Ireland has been a EU member for half its current existence. Europe gave me a new, renewed, confession box and Sunday mass rolled into one.
Europe, the EU, still means freedom.
And that’s a hell of a drug.
My family was split straight down the middle a century ago, but Ireland has been a EU member for half its current existence. Europe gave me a new, renewed, confession box and Sunday mass rolled into one.
Europe, the EU, still means freedom.
And that’s a hell of a drug.
