Diversity, I would say, as a general proposition is valuable, whether it is diversity in ecologies, organizations, or societies. Of course, cultural diversity within a society might function as a centrifugal (etymologically, "fleeing the center") force. Then it becomes a matter of the two sets of countervailing societal forces--centripetal and centrifugal--jousting with each other. Examples of centripetal (unifying) forces include common language, religion, and ideology. Re the latter, in the U.S. we espouse (but do not always practice) a belief in individual rights and freedom. This has been a force for unity.
Probably the best example today of the unification of disparate peoples and cultures is the remarkable achievements of the European Union. If you look at the history of Europe in the 19th "long-century" (1800-1950), it was a history of nearly continuous conflict. For example, Strasbourg, France, changed hands between France and Germany five times beginning in the 1870s. Thus for Europe to economically join forces and construct political peace is one of the extraordinary chapters in global history.
I asked some Polish students a couple years ago whether they self-identified first as Polish or as European. Some of the students claimed a European identity over a national one. I would say part of the new Euro-identity is that they see themselves as a superpower who is "not American" and as an old civilization which is forging a more rational way of living. However, Europe contains within itself some gathering centrifugal forces, especially that of rapidly increasing immigrant populations who are not well integrated into European societies. That will make for interesting watching over the next few decades.
In the U.S. the national discussion concerning diversity continues with the present presidential election season. Has this not been perhaps the main topic of national civic discourse since the beginning of the American experiment, the American discussion?
Showing posts with label Europe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Europe. Show all posts
05 April 2008
09 December 2007
EUROPEAN VIEWS OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
I'd like to elucidate something about the Gallic, or actually pan-European, views on capital punishment.
Europe and the U.S are far apart on this issue. Europeans see the U.S. as driven by an out-of-control gun culture and blood lust for retribution. They equate capital punishment with torture and slavery and place the U.S. with repressive countries who exact the death penalty in large numbers: China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and D.R. Congo.
Americans usually have no knowledge, nor interest, about European views about anything, the death penalty included. Europeans, on the other hand, are kept informed by the European press about the use of capital punishment in the U.S., including impending executions. Both the political Left and Right in Europe are critical of the U.S. in this matter. The furthest Right daily newspaper in Britain noted that the newly elected George Bush was best known for signing 153 death warrants. France’s minister of justice described Bush as "the world’s leading executioner." European politicians visit with the condemned on death rows in the U.S. On many occasions the European Parliament has issued formal declarations of protest against scheduled executions. Europe will not, cannot by law, extradite criminals to the U.S., if there is a chance the death penalty will be carried out. The E.U.’s Charter of Fundamental rights states, “No one shall be condemned to the death penalty, or executed.” This principle has become a pan-European crusade of sorts to abolish capital punishment all over the world.
In fact, the U.S. is the ONLY industrialized country who still exacts the death penalty. However, Europeans believe that the number of executions here is large, in the thousands. This is not true. The number peaked in 1999 at 98. Last year, 2006, there were only 52. Another misunderstood fact is that the death penalty is a State matter. Each State in the U.S. controls most aspects of capital punishment, including whether it is practiced or not. Fourteen states, I believe, do not practice it. And, there is a sizeable minority of people (about 34%) who are against it. The American Bar Association opposes it on humanitarian grounds.
I have attempted to set the context for understanding Europe's views. The pan-European social model and world view indicates that Europeans exhibit a depth of feeling, sheer revulsion, against the death penalty.
Europe and the U.S are far apart on this issue. Europeans see the U.S. as driven by an out-of-control gun culture and blood lust for retribution. They equate capital punishment with torture and slavery and place the U.S. with repressive countries who exact the death penalty in large numbers: China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and D.R. Congo.
Americans usually have no knowledge, nor interest, about European views about anything, the death penalty included. Europeans, on the other hand, are kept informed by the European press about the use of capital punishment in the U.S., including impending executions. Both the political Left and Right in Europe are critical of the U.S. in this matter. The furthest Right daily newspaper in Britain noted that the newly elected George Bush was best known for signing 153 death warrants. France’s minister of justice described Bush as "the world’s leading executioner." European politicians visit with the condemned on death rows in the U.S. On many occasions the European Parliament has issued formal declarations of protest against scheduled executions. Europe will not, cannot by law, extradite criminals to the U.S., if there is a chance the death penalty will be carried out. The E.U.’s Charter of Fundamental rights states, “No one shall be condemned to the death penalty, or executed.” This principle has become a pan-European crusade of sorts to abolish capital punishment all over the world.
In fact, the U.S. is the ONLY industrialized country who still exacts the death penalty. However, Europeans believe that the number of executions here is large, in the thousands. This is not true. The number peaked in 1999 at 98. Last year, 2006, there were only 52. Another misunderstood fact is that the death penalty is a State matter. Each State in the U.S. controls most aspects of capital punishment, including whether it is practiced or not. Fourteen states, I believe, do not practice it. And, there is a sizeable minority of people (about 34%) who are against it. The American Bar Association opposes it on humanitarian grounds.
I have attempted to set the context for understanding Europe's views. The pan-European social model and world view indicates that Europeans exhibit a depth of feeling, sheer revulsion, against the death penalty.
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