...a chap of whom no one in Britain has ever heard imposed upon us as "President" of the European Union. And we haven't been allowed to vote on whether we want to be part of a European Union, or have a President, let alone allowed to vote on who that President should be. And we are all too sick and tired of the whole wretched subject even to feel as angry as we ought.
Years ago at school we sung a hymn which had some lines that have stayed with me: "Empires rise and sink like billows/ Vanish and are seen no more..." One day the EU will be added to those empires. I rather hope it happens in my lifetime.
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I'm quite surprised by your comments regarding the new President, as he is a devout Roman Catholic and many are touting this as a Catholic takeover of Europe.
I must be very naive as I haven't heard one single positive comment from the Christian / Catholic world about Rompuy? Everyone must know something I don't!
By the way, I'm not a fan of the EU.
I voted in the referendum back in 1975. I voted for membership because I saw it as a force for peace. Both my father and grandfather had fought in the wars of the first half of the twentieth century. With Irish relatives and conscious of the troubles in Northern Ireland, I was also hopeful that, in time, European union would make a nonsense of the running sore that was the partition of Ireland. In short I was voting for peace and the sort of people who were opposing European membership at the time were Protestant racists like Enoch Powell on the one hand and leftist extremists who feared the EU as a further bulwark against the Soviet bloc on the other. Perhaps things are far from perfect now but I have reached middle age without having to bear arms.
Cheer up Auntie! The new President went to Leuven so he can't be all bad. They are bursting with pride there anyway. And lets look on the bright side - at least he's not Tony Blair!!
I'm always amazed by the British outcry over the lack of democracy in EU elections when Britain itself is governed by an unelected prime-minister and has an unelected monarchy.
Regarding the new European Council President, van Rompuy, he was nominated by the heads of state and government from all 27 EU member states - all of them democratically elected (except Mr Brown of course) - and who also appointed the high representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and secretary-general for the Council Secretariat. These are three new top EU posts that have been created by the Lisbon Treaty.
The process is far from satisfactory, I'll admit, but there is no doubt that it is a step in the right direction, for EU integration. Surely no one really wants the alternative - a directly elected EU president - which would fully legitimise a super-state.
Really, Joanna, the new President is unique in being a Jesuit-educated, practising Catholic and entirely of the same mind as the Holy Father in not wanting Turkey admitted to the EU. Presumably you are of the same opinion? Count your blessings. my dear, and thank God that the EU is not dominated by Tony and Cherie. On the other hand, think how even more intolerable it would be dominated by Jamie and Joanna.
I am sadden by the whole situation.Will the new president lead us out of a war we will never win. Will he act as a real head of Europe and bring the corrupt British MP,s/ Goverment to a European Court and give us the British people justice.I some how doubt it.It,s always the unsung hero that keep things going,the poorly paid in unsung job, manual worker etc.While all the time the fat cats live off these people with no shame.Such is it with this new Euro setup.
Never have we as people had it so bad. Churchill spoke "fight them on the beaches". Where do we start for justice !!!.
Politics is the most legal and corrupt systerm in the world.Welcome Mr President and all your aides, and anyone else you know or wish to employ (Spin doctors)included.Enjoy your over the top salaries,do nothing for them and do not even think about the tax payers that make you so rich, as this would require work.
Joanna you always hit the nail on the head.It,s so good to read your blogs. It,s a strange world we live in at the moment but you give some normally to it.
I recognise those lines, which are from Aubrey de Vere's great hymn "Who is She that stands triumphant" - it has a terrific tune written by Sir Richard Terry. Of course, it's wholly un-pc to sing it nowadays - at least that's what some would have us believe. I'd love to have the opportunity to give it a rousing airing.
All one can say abou the new President of the EU: "at least it wasn't you-know-who" - who is also apparently a Catholic.
Joanna, it's funny that most of the tin-foil hat wearing anti-EU types think the EU is a Catholic conspiracy. Really do you think that UKIP,the BNP or Bullingon Dave will run the country any better? The EU is the UK's major trading partner and I for one love the opportunities it has given people as well as peace for my generation - why do you think the former Yugoslav states all want to join?
I can't see any blog about the cover-up of child abuse in the Catholic Church in Ireland.
Are you "too sick and tired of the whole wretched subject even to feel as angry as we ought."
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