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May 14, 2005
Restoring national pride
The restoration of historical buildings in Eastern Europe is interesting and says a great deal about the pride these folk have in their history and their restored democracies. Slowly but surely the ghastly Soviet "utilitarian" eyesores - the ugly concrete bunkers favoured by socialist regimes everywhere - are being swept away and replaced by restored architectural gems such as this medieval City Hall (now a museum) in Poznan.
The old City Hall in Poznan (Pomerania), Poland, has been restored, and its medieval decoration is a real gem. The ancient clock with its automata are also fantastic - the goats, by the way, are definitely male!
While the politicians would like to think that Europe can be united under a "supra-national" parliament and bureaucracy, I would suggest that it is unlikely to get beyond the state it is now. I say this because I see among all the newly freed members in Eastern Europe a rising pride in their nationhood, in their history, and in their cultural uniqueness. They have endured sixty years or more of the dead hand of bureaucrats and a political philosophy that impoverished them and tried to destroy their identity and their history; now that they are emerging and have thrown off those shackles, they are unlikely to vote for the sort of shackles Brussels and Strasbourg are trying to impose.
We should celebrate with them their rediscovered identities, and we should also work with them to make sure that our own are never taken from us by the aparatchiks of the left and the bureaucrats of Brussels or anywhere else.
For those contemplating a visit to Eastern Europe, don't hesitate - it is worth the effort, and it is certainly going to be a fascinating discovery. The languages can be a barrier, but many will welcome you and make the effort to speak English. Worth every agonising moment with a phrase book!
Posted by The Gray Monk at May 14, 2005 10:10 AM