European Union -1st of May, Uniting even more people

[Adalbertus]

A heartly welcome to all new EU members!!!


Let's see if I remember all of you: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Malta. Oh, and Hungary, of course. Living in peace with Austria, hopefully.

And the Dutch are Germans. And stay faithfully to the Spanish King. Or so.

Never mind, this is a happy day.

[Nubclear]

You do know that EU love is actually Russia hate in most of the new member nations? Right?

[laurentius]

I dont think its that simple Tass. Even if that is the motive of "EU love" for some people, they have pretty good reason to hate/be afraid of Russia.

[JimmyCracksCorn]

We got sms-messages from all over the europe, this is what the united europe is all about. Being in constant touch with people on the same continent is no different from knowing people from the city nearby.

Isn't that special.

[yaroslav]

Originally posted by Adalbertus
And the Dutch are Germans. And stay faithfully to the Spanish King. Or so.

As it should be

j/k

[Nubclear]

Originally posted by laurentius
I dont think its that simple Tass. Even if that is the motive of "EU love" for some people, they have pretty good reason to hate/be afraid of Russia.

And that hate of Russia makes Russians afraid that theyre about to be wiped out, thus they slip into despotism.
Your hate is perpetuating that which you fear.

[yaroslav]

So?

Are you saying that East Europe hate of Russia (that maybe is related to the communist ocupattion ) is making Russia being a despotism? Becasue then I'll politely disagree. Russia being a despotism is nothing new - in fact she has never been a true democracy, regretabily

[JimmyCracksCorn]

So how long does everyone think this pro-EU warm fuzzy feeling will last before it gets ugly?

Because it always does...

[Nubclear]

Perhaps, though, that is because Russia has always percieved itself as threatened.
As you may recal, some in Russia would like the communist era to return: Russia was powerful then, there was at least some food on the table....

You don't think that the EU driving up to Russian borders, but not even making conciliatory gestures to Russia and instead taking a hardline stance will make Russians feel secure? Economically, politically, or militarily?

[yaroslav]

I don't think it should get ugly... All new countries are being joining because they want, it's not a military conquest or something like that.

[laurentius]

Russia just isnt ready to join for a long time Tass. We dont hate them, some ex-soviet satellites might, but we arent having a vendetta agaisnt the Russia in general. Russia doesnt share the values EU is built on. Russia lacks of freedom of speech, freedom to be/do whatever you want, positive freedom in general, basic human rights, even a little democracy, any attempt to create social and economical equality, transparent government, independent judical system etc etc. Once they improve, I'm all for them to join. Say, give it another 50 years.

[yaroslav]

Originally posted by Comrade Tassadar
Perhaps, though, that is because Russia has always percieved itself as threatened.
As you may recal, some in Russia would like the communist era to return: Russia was powerful then, there was at least some food on the table....

You don't think that the EU driving up to Russian borders, but not even making conciliatory gestures to Russia and instead taking a hardline stance will make Russians feel secure? Economically, politically, or militarily?

Hardline stance? What hardline stance are you speaking about, Tass (can I call you Tass?)?

All countries have though to be threatened - many of them all his history. See Poland, for instance, who has been menaced, conquered, splitted and conquered again so many times in the last centuries.

[ErikM]

Europe, who needs it

Comrade Tass, all these references to the Romans above just gave me an idea: Russia should join Ukraine to recreate Kievan Rus.

Simple as everything ingenious

Scandinavians are also invited as our founding fathers. Think real benefits versus imaginary benefits.

EU offers: taxes to subsidize French farmers.
Kievan Rus offers: unlimited alcohol at bargain prices.
The choice is yours

[Az]

Anyway, I didn't mention the most important thing I wanted to say:

Congrats, and good luck!

[JimmyCracksCorn]

Conquest or not, things will inevitably get ugly, at least in some way. They already are with the UK to some extent.

Originally posted by laurentius
Russia just isnt ready to join for a long time Tass. We dont hate them, some ex-soviet satellites might, but we arent having a vendetta agaisnt the Russia in general. Russia doesnt share the values EU is built on. Russia lacks of freedom of speech, freedom to be/do whatever you want, positive freedom in general, basic human rights, even a little democracy, any attempt to create social and economical equality, transparent government, independent judical system etc etc. Once they improve, I'm all for them to join. Say, give it another 50 years.

Europe? Transparent government?