Comments on current affairs

EUROPE IN BETWEEN

For (prospective) dictators ideology and religion are useful instruments  on the way to total or  totalitarian power. From the end of the Second World War until the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1989/1991, Marxism/Leninism was considered to be extreme-leftwing,and as such attractive in particular to Intellectuals. At  present Europe is confronted with so-called extreme rightwing regimes, employing religion as an instrument to increase absolute power at home and imperialist power abroad. Russia's Putin employs the Russian Orthodox Church to that end. America's Donald Trump uses MAGA for that purpose. Both have learned that Christian teaching on issues of life, family and death can be used - in fact abused - to that end. Forget about right- or leftwing. On the circle from democracy to totalitarian control, both sides end up in the same place at the bottom of the circle.

Europe (the European Union) is weak in terms of power and defence, but strong as an area of peace.  Her greatest strength is that the influence of the European Union is based on reconciliation and peaceful cooperation. At the same time we Europeans must realize that our strength is not based on the internal market but on moral purpose, embodied in the Schuman Declaration of 1950 and on Solidarnosc as guided by Pope John-Paul II. In the Middle-East, Europe should look for a role in peace-making when time comes. With respect to the war in Ukraine, Europe must support Ukrainian self-defence against Russian aggression as long as necessary to open the path to peace-making based on justice and reconciliation.

As Christians we must be aware that the dividing line between good and evil runs right through each of us.