"There are bigger issues to deal with—security, the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, a poor middle class… In Poland, because of its geography, people are beginning to understand that these are existential issues much more important than social matters."
"Much more important than social matters."
Really? What is more important to a culture, more existential, than its view of itself and of the world around it? A coherent view of itself and of the world around it is really all that any living culture has. Without these, it ceases to live as a culture.
This is a simple fact, but it seems to elude the ruling elites of Europe. Vice President Vance shocked these elites last week by reminding them of it:
"What is the positive vision that animates this shared security compact that we all believe is so important? And I believe deeply that there is no security if you are afraid of the voices, the opinions, and the conscience that guide your very own people. Europe faces many challenges, but the crisis this continent faces right now, the crisis I believe we all face together, is one of our own making. If you’re running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you, nor for that matter is there anything that you can do for the American people who elected me and elected President Trump."
"There are bigger issues to deal with—security, the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, a poor middle class… In Poland, because of its geography, people are beginning to understand that these are existential issues much more important than social matters."
"Much more important than social matters."
Really? What is more important to a culture, more existential, than its view of itself and of the world around it? A coherent view of itself and of the world around it is really all that any living culture has. Without these, it ceases to live as a culture.
This is a simple fact, but it seems to elude the ruling elites of Europe. Vice President Vance shocked these elites last week by reminding them of it:
"What is the positive vision that animates this shared security compact that we all believe is so important? And I believe deeply that there is no security if you are afraid of the voices, the opinions, and the conscience that guide your very own people. Europe faces many challenges, but the crisis this continent faces right now, the crisis I believe we all face together, is one of our own making. If you’re running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you, nor for that matter is there anything that you can do for the American people who elected me and elected President Trump."
Did Vance get anything wrong there?
"I believe that the United States needs Europe..." - not so sure about that! (like a hole in the head?)