- By Tom Kando
While this is very impressionistic, I take this to mean that Europeans are doing relatively well, which in turn means that they have been making good political and economic decisions for many years.
So when I think of the theme of this blog - European-American relations, here is what I have to say today: By 2009, the time has come for America to (1) listen more and to talk less, (2)to learn more and to preach less, (3)to follow and to cooperate more and to lead less. America, you must become the student again for a while, not the teacher. You do not have all the answers to the problems of the world and to the problems of all the other countries. Instead, they might have some answers for you. As to Europe: I detect, since Obama's election, the renewed feeling among many Europeans that America will once again bail them out, that it will lead them out of the recession, that America is, and has, the solutions to the world's problems. It's amazing how disproportionately the news is devoted to America, and how Obama is viewed not just as America's President but also as the leader - dare I say the savior - of the Western World. Well, let me tell you something, Europeans: America can't save you, or the world. America will be lucky if it saves itself. You will have to save yourselves - and I'm confident that you can, because you are rich, powerful and intelligent. leave comment here
3 comments:
a lot to chew on here
Your three points are important, but I think the USA are already changing in this direction.
Concerning the message directed at 'us Europeans'. I agree we should take the economic warning of the crisis serious.
I don't think we consciously wait(ed) for you to bail us out though. I think we settle for a bit slower economic progress, which makes you lead the way. Since we are so closely related we do profit from this. But than again, the Chinese and others profit as well.
To lead you invested a lot, perhaps to much. So much that the Chinese are now in a better position to invest in development, although that country still isn't that attractive to excellent students.
Maybe we are still reflecting on our succes as a colonising continent. Which gives fast economic progress an ambiguous value.
Europe and other countries have looked to America as the leader in business, technological advances and progressive ideas. I think that having Obama as our president adds to this idea that we are at the forefront of ideas, electing a Black President speaks to this reality. However, other countries have so much to offer America and I agree that it is time for Americans to listen and be humble, especially during these time of economic crisis.
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