|
|
Post by speakmouthwords on Apr 2, 2010 16:39:35 GMT -5
Greetings! My name is Alex and I thought I'd make an account here because I need a new forum to belong to and I like you guys' enthusiasm and energy (not to mention I am a Pogobat and DBU soupscriber).
I'm a 19 year old student in Oxford doing Physics.
My interests are mostly musical (anything epic and glorious will do, especially metal), politics, reading webcomics and sitting on the floor.
Eventually I'd like to start a weekly vlog, but I guess that would involve getting a non-web camera eh? Anyways, that's me.
EDIT: I totally forgot to mention my giant and unwavering love for the European Union! By the time I die I hope live in a country called Europe. ;D
|
|
TheIslander
Planet
From a Land Surrounded by Sea.
Posts: 403
|
Post by TheIslander on Apr 2, 2010 16:46:41 GMT -5
Welcome to the forums Alex! Enjoy!
What do you like about the EU?
|
|
|
|
Post by speakmouthwords on Apr 2, 2010 18:22:30 GMT -5
I like how what it is essentially doing is devaluing the country borders, allowing more of us to travel easier, live where we want to and see the world, experiencing new cultures as we go!
|
|
|
|
Post by zAkAtAk on Apr 2, 2010 19:31:46 GMT -5
I'm a 19 year old student in Oxford doing Physics. Gross |
|
TheIslander
Planet
From a Land Surrounded by Sea.
Posts: 403
|
Post by TheIslander on Apr 2, 2010 20:48:44 GMT -5
I like how what it is essentially doing is devaluing the country borders, allowing more of us to travel easier, live where we want to and see the world, experiencing new cultures as we go! Don't you think some countries lose out on their liberty to deal with certain issues the way they want to? Such as for example the issue with the Swiss-Libyan VISAS? Switzerland wanted to block libyan VISAS, but other's found it unfair because of their ties to Libya. What do you think? |
|
|
|
Post by jmejia1187 on Apr 3, 2010 0:22:49 GMT -5
Hey, I love the idea that your from europe! We need more non americans to show us in the USA how it's done. PM me if you want to chat and hang out. I am very interested in the projects here, and in building community!
|
|
|
|
Post by speakmouthwords on Apr 3, 2010 14:19:23 GMT -5
I like how what it is essentially doing is devaluing the country borders, allowing more of us to travel easier, live where we want to and see the world, experiencing new cultures as we go! Don't you think some countries lose out on their liberty to deal with certain issues the way they want to? Such as for example the issue with the Swiss-Libyan VISAS? Switzerland wanted to block libyan VISAS, but other's found it unfair because of their ties to Libya. What do you think? Well, ignoring that Switzerland is not in the EU, I think that different countries in Europe wanting to do different things only stems from a self-centeredness/pride that wouldn't exist in a federation. It makes everyone on the continent concerned for the welfare of everyone else (a type 4 tribe, if you will). I mean, what if some random country declared war on Texas? Hard to do, huh? |
|
TheIslander
Planet
From a Land Surrounded by Sea.
Posts: 403
|
Post by TheIslander on Apr 3, 2010 15:10:29 GMT -5
Don't you think some countries lose out on their liberty to deal with certain issues the way they want to? Such as for example the issue with the Swiss-Libyan VISAS? Switzerland wanted to block libyan VISAS, but other's found it unfair because of their ties to Libya. What do you think? Well, ignoring that Switzerland is not in the EU, I think that different countries in Europe wanting to do different things only stems from a self-centeredness/pride that wouldn't exist in a federation. It makes everyone on the continent concerned for the welfare of everyone else (a type 4 tribe, if you will). I mean, what if some random country declared war on Texas? Hard to do, huh? While Switzerland is not part of the EU, it is part of the european community and part of the Schengen Treaty. Europe cannot and should not become 'federal' the same way the USA is federal. In the USA their cultures are not so different and there is barley as much individuality as there is in Europe. Federalism opens itself to discrimination of countries with a different social/economic/operational mindset and the people doing 'different' stuff are usually people who come up with the positive solutions. Why should countries like Sweden have to take in Illegal Immigrants crossing from Africa to Italy, when they have nothing to do with it? Then again, why should countries like Sweden even have a SAY on how Italy deals with Illegal Immigration? - From a european country which has seen both the good and the bad aspects of the EU. |
|
|
|
Post by speakmouthwords on Apr 3, 2010 15:40:30 GMT -5
"In the USA their cultures are not so different and there is barley as much individuality as there is in Europe."
With the advent of the internet and mass globalisation, how long do you expect there to even BE cultural barriers beyond a language gap?
"Federalism opens itself to discrimination of countries with a different social/economic/operational mindset and the people doing 'different' stuff are usually people who come up with the positive solutions."
I'm not sure I quite understand your point here? By countries do you mean member states? A little clarification please.
"Why should countries like Sweden have to take in Illegal Immigrants crossing from Africa to Italy, when they have nothing to do with it? Then again, why should countries like Sweden even have a SAY on how Italy deals with Illegal Immigration?"
I think you answered you own question. In a developed, connected continent such as Europe, the problem of one member state is pretty much the problem of the others. We are all linked by an economic dependence and by the easy passage from one side of the place to the other. Those illegal immigrants crossing to Italy could quickly end up in Sweden. I know they end up here in the UK, and controls at the Italian border could prevent this.
|
|
TheIslander
Planet
From a Land Surrounded by Sea.
Posts: 403
|
Post by TheIslander on Apr 4, 2010 14:08:10 GMT -5
I'm not saying culture is a barrier, you're saying that. The need to protect our culture is what should bring EU countries together not merging the cultures. If globalisation and media destroys cultures, it would have failed. Globalisation and media are there to connect cultures and ENRICH them. Whoever believes that culture is there to be slowly deteriorated by becoming a global world has lost the point of globalisation.
Yes I do mean member states by countries.
What you are saying about a problem of one state being a problem of all is true, but time has shown us that this is not the way some states see it, southern countries such as Italy CAN deal with immigration in their OWN way but are not allowed to. Instead they are being forced to deal with it in a certain manner that does not enforce the burden equally. So basically there are countries which are enforcing their thoughts without taking in their own share of the problem.
Do not get me wrong, I like federal concept.. but the EU has yet to come up with its own flavour of federalism which benefits it most and enhances it best. The current one doesn't do so very well.
|
|
|
|
Post by speakmouthwords on Apr 4, 2010 17:44:54 GMT -5
"In the USA their cultures are not so different and there is barley as much individuality as there is in Europe."
If there isn't a cultural barrier, how do you define this individuality?
Also, the way Italy wants to run immigration policy is probably beneficial only to Italy. I trust Brussels to enforce what is best for the entire federation, not just Italy.
|
|
|
|
Post by Benyamin on Apr 4, 2010 18:42:00 GMT -5
Welcome alex!
I'm not going to get involved in this discussion
|
|
