{"_type":"datasets/gov/lrsk/interneto_tekstai/Straipsnis","_id":"197e60a4-255a-4c42-9d60-558f5e7a0cb7","_revision":"55334b4f-5b86-423b-a2af-93bee4b63d0f","vda_id":"0001866bfc7eb47","tekst_pav_lt":"Europe in the World","tekstas_lt":"Does Europe have any special place and role in the world, or not?\nIt does, but not so very special one as it would like.\nEurope is not the centre anymore, as it looked like in the19th century, but still remains in the midst. Fortunately or unfortunately, there is no more eurocentrism, it can not serve as true understanding of the world. Anyway, the geopolitical environmental circle around Europe is extremely interesting and significant in all possible aspects.\n\nSo, Europe is surrounded by:Russia,Middle East and North Africa,The United States,Arctic Waters and Bottoms.\nThe latter neighbourhood was discovered only recently as a forthcoming field of competition between Europe's Eastern and Western neighbours. If one of them wins, then the entire circle around Europe will become more closed, at first. If the Middle East falls under domination of Iran friendly connected with Russia, and North Africa becomes part of that energy-sources-rich entity, the joint arm of the enemies of US may embrace Europe first from the South. So, the only natural friend for Europe may stay its transatlantic cousin. Therefore, the bad global will does work to enlarge the gap between Europe and the United States plus Canada. Lady Europe, when walking lonely, is the most attractive target to subordinate, grab and rape.\nMay Europe appear isolated and, first of all, recognize itself living under siege?\nFor today, such perspective is not yet on the table: Europe was successful with its gross historical enlargement and, first, reconciliation of nations in Central Eastern Europe, finally from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, at the same time further building the zone of peace and cooperation around.\nIt was related with the dissolution of the totalitarian USSR, the process now treated by the president of Russia totally negatively (\"the greatest tragedy\" when captives got freedom), therefore, the further eventual enlargement to Ukraine would be fought as an \"aggression\" against Russia. \"Ukraine is our internal matter,\" angrily proclaimed president Putin during the famous Orange Revolution. The EU-Russia border, still unresolved in Estonia and theoretically, \"mobile\" somewhere else, remains shaky and promising tensions.\nAs the symbol of European rivalry temporary frozen during the Cold War was the Berlin Wall refusing damned \"capitalism\", now such Eastern walls against enlarged EU are built rather by political means. At the same time Moscow continues declaring \"no new walls from Russia!\", which means, give us free access to enter Europe and acquire there everything we want.\nEurope, in turn, remains open and rather positive for the accession of several smaller Balkan candidates. Turkey for many, not only Mr. Sarkozy, is a nightmare. This does reflect on the Ukraine, Georgia and others \"aspiring to Europe\". This way the Europe seemingly and formally open for \"to be completed\" (in line with R. Schuman's idealism), is turning psychologically to realize itself inside of imaginary political wall. That political European Wall, not to compare too much with Great Chinese Wall built to defend the Heaven’s Empire from wild nomadic tribes, anyway, will never appear for similar purposes here, being essentially under minded by poor European demography and liberalism.\nTherefore, if under the siege in longer terms, the Heaven's Europe is really hopeless.\nTo add, Europe is losing its moral (turned to immoral), cultural (turned to multicultural) and habituary identity already now. The line between what is good and bad appears torn more and more. That is about the societies but also about the politicians. They still talk, sometimes with skilful rhetoric, on universal or fundamental rights and freedoms for everyone, but are sceptical about American utopia to bring such fast \"universalism\" everywhere, and go surrendering to \"realities\" with never implemented \"democracy clause\" in their business treaties concluded with non-European dictatorships. Among them, there is neighbouring Russia as well, sorry to say, non-European yet in habits of governance and lawlessness.\nNobody can say, if Europe is able to win the war with supra-national terrorist organizations, to add, waging it in discord with US. Being unable (or disabled) to cope with this challenge, Europe will shift itself into progressively deeper swamp of fearfulness and conformism. With the surrounding evil, if you wish. With \"real\" and wisely chosen necessity to change your grounds of existence. If you wish. Hopefully, such convergence with grounds previously alien and treated as evil may bring at least an illusion of security in obedience, if you wish. Such free choice under the pressure of new \"times\" is a great achievement of democracy.\nThe problem of choice is the most acute one, indeed, among those put on the European table and timetable for today.\nTo behave honestly or \"pragmatically\"? – of course, the second option will be chosen as prevailing in any vote. The times when young Lithuanians used to go to forests with poor arms fighting the soviet occupier in the name of homeland and freedom, are now far away.\nTo stand firm in defence of your deepest owns either to claim it being senseless after those \"deepest owns\" do not exist anymore and anywhere, if not in the post-modern jokes?\nOf course, go and state it senseless, say the \"new times\", not me. (I am from old times). The unbelievable exception in the most remote corner of Europe – Chechnya, was trampled into blood with pre-medieval cruelty, and courtisane Europe remained unmoved.\nWhere is Europe's will to live longer as \"till to Monday\"? As autochthones of Europe do not want to work and birth children anymore, as they have lost the sense of love and dignity, such Europe has no future. The aging population is to be changed, and it goes be changed. Dolce vita for a short and limited time, or vita mia under unlimited skies and in endless generations – that is a choice again, probably made for a worse, and it is not very fresh and new. Let me quote the Holy Bible. The Prophets often look immortal in wisdom and provision.\n\n\"You drink wine by the bowlfuland use the finest lotionsbut you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.\nTherefore you will be among the first to go into exile;your feasting and lounging will end.\"\n\n\n\n\n(Amos, 6)\nNot being a social physician and even less, any one-day prophet for yourselves, I have to look, anyway, to chess-board seeking a possible move which enables one to continue the game, although there are so many indications of getting it  lost. Ladies and gentlemen, what is the recipe and remedy?I had a dream. It was about the entirely new philosophy of life, based on love and responsibility. Nothing else will help that aging, consumerist and hedonist Europe. And recipe is not the new one. I could quote you the texts with good news from the very old times some about 2000 years ago. But you may find them, if you wish, by yourselves enjoying many beautiful discoveries.\nThank you, and good wishes.\nKeynote speech at the Graduation ceremony in MIREES,Università di Bologna, October 8, 2007","kalba":"LT","paskelbimas":"2007-10-10","koregavimas":"2007-10-12","tekst_url":null}