Let Europe RiseJune 9, 2002
By Sharif al Mujahid
On the most critical criteria, the European Union (EU) today is a mighty conglomerate - politically, economically, and culturally - with a long overreach, extending its powerful and pervasive influence across Asia and Africa, and next only to the United States in terms of international clout and diplomacy.
Such is the EU's clout in matters of political and economic stability and strength, that six of the G-8 members are European nations, and countries lying almost outside the parameters of Europe, like Turkey and the Cyprus, have been scrambling to get under its canopy for over a decade. That's precisely the reason why the US had to get the EU as the principal collaborator in its coalition against terrorism after September 11, and why President George Bush had to soften his jingoistic 'axis of evil' stance in the wake of European criticism and sceptism about the thoughtless extension of the US war of terror into regions that hardly qualify for such a treatment. It is glaringly evident that the US could not afford to ignore the EU. Nor can the world ignore the recently launched Euro, the financial symbol of European unity, which is poised to become the most stable monetary unit after the US dollar.
If Europe is today united as never before, and if the EU is a major broker in international politics today, it is because the post-World War II leaders and statesmen had taken time out of their respective national, often divergent, pursuits to build up, patiently and laboriously, an institution. It was made possible only because France and Germany - endemic rivals for Europe's domination for over half-a-century - had joined forces, one in the cultural and moral realm, and the other in the economic sphere. And they had sought to build up a united Europe after the vision of a great visionary.
A visionary, who, despite being deeply involved in the ravages and predicaments of his terrible and blood-soaking age, could rise above the time, space and squabbles, to envision at mid-century the dream of a united Europe as the prime solution to Europe's frightful congenital problems and chronic nationalistic quarrels, which had resulted in two Armgageddons within a brief period of twenty-five years. That visionary was Winston Churchill, who had led Britain and the Allies to a stunning victory, who, despite having etched his name as a war hero, was, in fact, a man of peace.
And that vision he had unfolded, eloquently and cogently, as he had always done in his other numerous, soul-lifting speeches, in his historic address at Zurich University on September 19, 1946. And since that great speech represents, to this day, the cornerstone of a 'united Europe', it is extremely rewarding to recall what this man, perhaps the greatest of the twentieth century, had said on that occasion: ".... I wish to speak to you today about the tragedy of Europe. This noble continent, comprising, on the whole, the most cultured regions of the earth, enjoying a temperate and equable climate, is the home of all the great parent races of the Western world. It is the fountain of Christian faith and Christian ethics. It is the origin of most of the culture, arts, philosophy and science, both of ancient and modern times. If Europe were once united in the sharing of its common inheritance there would be no limit to the happiness, to the prosperity and glory which its three or four hundred million people would enjoy.
"And what is this plight to which Europe has been reduced?
"Among the victors [in the War] there is a babel of voice, among the vanquished the sullen silence of despair. That is all that Europeans, ground in so many ancient states and nations, that is all that the Germanic races have got by tearing each other to pieces and spreading havoc far and wide. Indeed, but for the fact that the great republic across the Atlantic Ocean has realized, that the ruin or enslavement of Europe would involve their own fate as well, and has stretched out hands of succour and of guidance; but or that, the Dark Ages would have retuned in all their cruelty and squalor. They may still return.
"Yet all the while there is remedy which, if it were generally and spontaneously adopted by the great majority of people in many lands, would miraculously transform the whole scene, and would in a few years make all Europe, or the greater part of it, as free and as happy as Switzerland is today.
"What is this sovereign remedy? It is to recreate the European Family, or as much of it as we can, and to provide it with a structure under which it can dwell in peace, in safety, and in freedom. We must build a kind of a United States of Europe. In this way only, will hundreds of millions of toilers be able to regain the simple joys and hopes that make life worth living. The process is simple. All (that is) needed is the resolve of hundreds of millions of men and women to do right instead of wrong, and to gain as their reward blessing instead of cursing.
"And why should there not be a European group which could give a sense of enlarged patriotism and common citizenship to the distracted people of this turbulent and mighty continent? And why should it not take its rightful place with other great groupings and help to shape the onward destinies of man?
"In order that this should be accomplished, there must be an act of faith in which the millions of families, speaking many languages, must consciously take part."... The guilty must be punished. Germany must be deprived of the power to rearm and make another aggressive war.
"But when all this has been done, as it will be done, as it is being done, then there must be an end to retribution. There must be what Mr Gladstone, many years ago, called 'a blessed act of oblivion'. We must look to the future. We cannot afford to drag forward, across the years that are to come, the hatreds and revenges which have sprung from the injuries of the past. If Europe is to be saved from infinite misery, and, indeed, from final doom, there must be this act of faith in the European family, and this act of oblivion against all the follies and crimes of the past.
"Can the free peoples of Europe rise to the height of these resolves of the soul, and of the instincts of the spirit of man? .... Let there be justice, mercy and freedom. The peoples have only to will it, and all will achieve their hearts' desire.
"I am now going to say something that will astonish you. The first step in the re-creation of the European family must be a partnership between France and Germany. In this way only, can France ever recover the moral and cultural leadership of Europe. There can be no revival of Europe without a spiritually great France and a spiritually great Germany.
"The structure of the United States of Europe, if well and truly built, will be such as to make the material strength of a single state less important. Small nations will count as much as large ones and gain their honour by their contribution to the common cause.
"... We must re-create the European family in a regional structure called - it may be - the United States of Europe, and the first practical step would be to form a Council of Europe.
"If at first all the states of Europe are not willing or able to join the union, we must nevertheless proceed to assemble and combine those who will, and those who can.
"The salvation of the common people of every race and of every land from war or servitude must be established on solid foundations, and must be guarded by the readiness of all men and women to die rather than submit to tyranny.
"In this urgent work, France and Germany must take the lead together.
"Therefore, I say to you: 'Let Europe arise'.
And, fifty years down the road, Europe has arisen, indeed.
© The DAWN Group of Newspapers, 2002
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