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:: Thursday 27 February 2003 ::
Italy is Old Europe. Old as it gets
I have been pondering the Rumsfeld slag of 'Old Europe' and I have concluded that it is as imprecise slag. Which is what you can expect from Donald whose job is not to talk straight.
Italy is oldest Europe. Western Europe.
Spain, Germany and France were filled with folks wearing whole rabbit carcasses hanging off their bare bodkins, instead of pelts, while Romans were peeling grapes.
And do not begin with the technical age of Greece - please. Eastern, okay? And one stupendous civilisation, followed by too much oregano and then a bunch of left wing ship building for the next millenia does not make me sit up and say wow. And neither should you. Even if you are a Greek.
Anyhoo, Rumsfeld's slag of France and Germany was calculated to give comfort to Rumania, Bulgaria, Lithuania etcania etcania. Spain and Italy and the Netherlands too are okay with their independence from the Franco-German stuff that has been pushed so hard. But Spain and Italy and the Netherlands too are old old old Europe, with real old sensibilities.
The blog world has picked up on stuff and the Mark Steyns and whoever. But for those of us from Old Europe, there is some translation needed. Cos 'Old Europe' should not mean exactly what it says. It should mean "Old-thinking Europe".
That is the key.
New thinking Europe is made of old old fashioned countries. With new new fashioned philosophies.
That is all.
Oh, except this, which is funny provided it is levelled at France and Germany.
Got that?
Good.
:: WB 3:11 am [link+] ::
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