What Does It Mean To Be European?

[Galant]

Just some thoughts/questions:

Every 'European' already has, is born with, a nationality. What does it mean for that person, if anything, to also be 'European'?

If one had choose between belonging to 'Europe' or belonging to one's natural country of citizenship, why might a person choose one over the other?

Is there any historical precedent for a project like the creating a unified Europe?

What is the need for the creation of 'Europe'?

How might one measure the success of the European project? Or, is there a way to know if/when the project has failed and needs to be scrapped or redesigned?

What is/was the purpose of admitting smaller, economically weak nations into EMU?

What's the best European holiday destination?

[ik9000]

I'm British. Britain happens to be in Europe. That is all. some of the countries in Europe are nice. Most in fact. A lot have friends of mine living in them. Europe social network good. Europe holiday destination good. Europe travel ability good. Politically we're very different. The Basque spanish are very different to the catholic austrians. The German work ethic is very different to South Italy's. Scottish pig-headedness and "it's all London's fault" is all very different to the Poles - who blame the Russians and the Germans.

Europe is a hodge podge mess without a common uniting theme or language, race, or any other commonality other than we define the continent as Europe. We have more in common with Canada and the antipodes than Europe tbh.

We don't need a creation of Europe, other than a trading block with enough clout to rival the US. And the transatlantic trade BS TTIP would ruin this anyway. (write to your MPs on that one please).

The success of the European project is nicely displayed in the current financial fudge, disparity in GDP growth between member countries, and the farce that is the Greek crisis. It's not a success. Not in ways I would measure any way.

The best holiday destination depends on the person. Duh!

[Lee H]

We are all thinking too small.

We are all earthlings first and foremost but we don't say this and pigeon hole ourselves to small geographic areas instead

[Ttaskmaster]

For the record, I regard myself as English and from England.
My heritage, family history, language, culture, beliefs, values and customs are all of this nation, I have lived here all my life and other people of this nation regard me as one of their own - This being the (paraphrased) reasoning (of people who know far more about it than me) behind deciding if someone belongs to any given nation or not.

I was born in Scotland, so they say I'm Scottish... which I am too, but only at convenient moments!

I was born here so I am British, but ONLY because the government says so. Britian is a State, not a nation.

I was born here so I am European, but ONLY because the people governing here made friends with a bunch of other governments and formed a Union.

What does it mean for that person, if anything, to also be 'European'?

About as much as it means to be Terran, I guess... I'm considered an Earthling only because I was born in that tiny point of the universe.
Beyond that, it mostly means printing Euro notes on greaseproof paper.... Greece-proof... geddit!

If one had choose between belonging to 'Europe' or belonging to one's natural country of citizenship, why might a person choose one over the other?

Connotation.
If the vast majority of Europeans were retarded murderers, for example, you'd likely want to distance yourself from that when meeting people from outside Europe by describing yourself as of a nationality known for its intelligence and pacifism... for example.
Or the same, but for reasons of pride - "Hey, I'm from Scotland" when meeting a bunch of whiskey fans...

Is there any historical precedent for a project like the creating a unified Europe?

Pretty much any nation that tried to conquer everywhere else, probably... I'm sure that's how the likes of the Roman Empire, British Empire, French Empire and possibly 20thC Germany would have gone in their ideal worlds...

What is the need for the creation of 'Europe'?

Big landmass that you could conveniently cart goods cheaply around without having to charter expensive galleons?
That's how it all started, I think.

How might one measure the success of the European project?

Everyone voluntarily considers themselves Euro, adopts the single currency and generally gets on with each other?

What is/was the purpose of admitting smaller, economically weak nations into EMU?

Lead by example, mentor them and bring them into the fold, or something?

What's the best European holiday destination?

Skegness!

[Galant]

Beyond that, it mostly means printing Euro notes on greaseproof paper.... Greece-proof... geddit!

Pretty much any nation that tried to conquer everywhere else, probably... I'm sure that's how the likes of the Roman Empire, British Empire, French Empire and possibly 20thC Germany would have gone in their ideal worlds...

The big difference, though, is the absence military conquest. Europe is being created by means of.....(answers on a postcard)?

Skegness!

This last question might serve as quality control. Anyone getting flagged up on their answer here gets their other opinions invalidated.

[Ttaskmaster]

The big difference, though, is the absence military conquest. Europe is being created by means of.....(answers on a postcard)?

Most things are driven by economy, marketing and money in general these days.

This last question might serve as quality control. Anyone getting flagged up on their answer here gets their other opinions invalidated.

Anywhere I'm not is the general rule. I don't do tourism...

[Jowsey]

Anywhere I'm not is the general rule. I don't do tourism...

As evidenced by your previous selection of tourist destinations...

I'll answer these for real in a little bit but my ideal holiday location would be a nice quiet Greek island. Luckily, they've bombed in price recently so I'm going to pick up 4...

[Saracen]

I'm British. Britain happens to be in Europe. That is all. some of the countries in Europe are nice. Most in fact. A lot have friends of mine living in them. Europe social network good. Europe holiday destination good. Europe travel ability good. Politically we're very different. The Basque spanish are very different to the catholic austrians. The German work ethic is very different to South Italy's. Scottish pig-headedness and "it's all London's fault" is all very different to the Poles - who blame the Russians and the Germans.

Europe is a hodge podge mess without a common uniting theme or language, race, or any other commonality other than we define the continent as Europe. We have more in common with Canada and the antipodes than Europe tbh.

We don't need a creation of Europe, other than a trading block with enough clout to rival the US. And the transatlantic trade BS TTIP would ruin this anyway. (write to your MPs on that one please).

The success of the European project is nicely displayed in the current financial fudge, disparity in GDP growth between member countries, and the farce that is the Greek crisis. It's not a success. Not in ways I would measure any way.

The best holiday destination depends on the person. Duh!

But other than that, the EU is a great idea.

[Lucio]

European is an non existant group that exists as a definition so that American school kids can learn about a foreign country without having to memorise all those fiddly details like languages, country names etc.

[ik9000]

European is an non existant group that exists as a definition so that American school kids can learn about a foreign country without having to memorise all those fiddly details like languages, country names etc.

You're kidding. From what I've heard they hardly touch anything outside of the US. Only war of independence and the civil war. Second world war is basically the US going to save the world - again. They'll know more about Ulysses Grant than Portugal or Italy.

[realstock]

Nothing to me.

For other European countrys citizens it might mean more, if you are using the Euro currency and you are escaping a baltic state (or similar) to live developed country to earn a decent wage it might mean a whole lot more.

[GuidoLS]

You're kidding. From what I've heard they hardly touch anything outside of the US. Only war of independence and the civil war. Second world war is basically the US going to save the world - again. They'll know more about Ulysses Grant than Portugal or Italy.

You've heard incorrectly. Thanks for generalizing, though. Why, one would almost think that you were an American....

[ik9000]

You've heard incorrectly. Thanks for generalizing, though. Why, one would almost think that you were an American....

One of the 62% of Americans with no passport? I heard it from an American friend so presume she knows what she was taught at school. (She is one of the 38% who do have a passport.)

[big_hairy_rob]

I remember the term, "How very European". Now I'm not sure that it should have been a compliment.

Honestly, I'm not sure how the UK justifies itself as being European by not being part of the Euro currency, yet is acts as if it's entitled to the same trade agreements. Either you're in something, or you're not.

I certainly don't consider myself European. I struggle to think of myself as British thanks to the recent independence debates. Right now, I struggle to consider myself "belonging" to any nationality....

[ik9000]

the EC and the european currency are two different things

[Ttaskmaster]

Honestly, I'm not sure how the UK justifies itself as being European by not being part of the Euro currency, yet is acts as if it's entitled to the same trade agreements. Either you're in something, or you're not.

It does so by adopting and enforcing all the ridiculous European laws and regulations that no other member nation does, I think!!