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( Artikel-Nr: 741 )Counterpoint - A European survey
Autor : e-politik.de Gastautor
E-mail: redaktion@e-politik.de
Wo wären Sie gerne geboren, wenn nicht in Europa? Crossroads-Editor James Allen von Living Bridges hat Menschen aus Europa diese Frage gestellt. Und ganz unterschiedliche Antworten bekommen.
Daneben hat er Nicht-Europäer gefragt, woher aus Europa sie gerne wären. Das ganze nennt er: A European survey that is out of this world.
Here we go:
The Europeans
Emmanuel Kaspereit, France:
"I would have liked to be from Quebec because it's culturally
the closest country from France, outside Europe. And you know how much
I love my country...."
Irham Ceco, Bosnia:
"Well I just wish I were born in
the USA, for all that Land of the Brave and Home of the Free bull
thing really sticks with me. Something as close to Balkans spirit as you
get without going to Russia. Yeah, that too. I'd wish I were born on a
freaking KOLHOZ in Siberia. Would I still count for European? Hehehe."
Florian Wenzel,
Germany:
"If I weren´t born in Europe,
I would like to be from a place where the climate is gentle and the food
original with lots of fish - I think that really would help me to find
my place. Maybe an island not too small -for living a sort of 'simple'
life, enclosed and satisfied with what is there and yet seeing the richness
of the word. But in writing I realize that with all my criticisms I still
would like to come from a culture that somehow connects with the world
and is not too marginalized. I have never been there, but maybe a Spanish
speaking island somewhere close to South America could fulfill this
dream of being home and yet live the world"
Marta Machado, Portugal
"Brazil - because they're so carefree and have such an amazing
love for life. And the food and the music, of course."
Nick Woodruff, UK
"Argentina - because of my ancestors"
Mattias Jansson,
Sweden
"If I wasn't born in Sweden, I would
like to be born in... Japan!!! Of course, this isn't so very strange,
since I was moved to Japan when I was two months old. It wouldn't change
much would it. So if it's not Japan, I would like to have been born in
Canada. It's cold, and scandinavian in it's international policy.
And it's the only country to have taken Washington in a war. Muhaha!"
Morgane, France
"I would choose Laos, a country
whose national catchphrase is "Bo pe niang", meaning "it doesn't matter,
don't worry about it". It's the country of the siesta and beautiful countryside.
The past, and day-to-day life there are not as hard as in neighbouring
countries, but at the same time, there are thousands of things that need
doing: building roads and overhauling the political, social and educational
arsenal. The people are astoundingly welcoming, no matter what their conditions.
A papaya salad, while listening to the monkeys and watching the Mekong
flow."
Alex Botezatu,
Moldova:
"If I were born outside Europe I'd like to have been born in the mountains
of Tibet or India."
Per Haglund,
Sweden
"I'd choose Japan because
I feel that the Japanese have a very strong sense of community."
Laure Trebosc,
France
"Russia - because I thrive
on understanding Russian politics. I don't understand why the Russians
go through what they go through. I don't understand why they let themselves
be victimised. I want to understand the Russians."
Trond Kvisgaard,
Norway
"I think
Honduras, and one
of the Bay Islands just off the north coast. Roatan, the bigger of the
three, has a lax atmosphere like nothing the
common European has seen (I think). Especially the last two-three decades which I've lived, it's really
developed from something like our 17th century agriculture style and into a touristic and developed society.
It still has a way to go with infrastructure and a lot of the services
we take for granted, but maybe this
is exactly what they should keep the way it is."
Luca Pupulin,
Italy
"I think it would have to be on
an infamous little island in the middle of nowhere. Moi together
with a variety of international models (exclusively female type). The reason?
All for the stimulating intellectual debate of course.... Also, a genetic continuation
of LB (alongside Mini Bridges)?"
Michael Epstein,
UK
"Russia - because it's the
great unknown. No one knows anything about it. I think it would be interesting."
Philipp Singler,
Germany
"OK, if I think of countries outside of Europe, I think most of them
are interesting. So I do the drop out method:
Maria Fola,
Greece
"Well, I'd like to be born in South
America, no reason really, I guess because it is South... and it is
America!"
Robin Harris, UK
"I've got a couple of mates from
Mauritius and it sounds pretty chilled and cool. I wouldn't want
to have stayed there, but it's a nice place to have been born and bred."
Jörg Tremmel, Germany
"I would like to be born in South
America because I like the purity of this continent (and the chicas).
My favourite country would be
Brazil."
Trent Greenwood,
South Africa
"Well, if I were a European, then
I would probably head for a nation like...Austria. It's the call of them
snowy mountains combined with their nicely diluted German efficiency without
compromising humour. Ideal!"
Ghada Abusinn,
Sudan
"I think I could live in a European
city, such as London, maybe this is because Dubai is somewhat like
a European city, and I lived much of my life here. But the problem is not
here, it is from the society and the people around me. My family won't
accept my living there unless there is a very strong purpose for doing
so, for example studying or doing my postgraduate studies (work is not
a good reason or gaining money is not too, in fact studying is the only
reason for a single girl!!!). They think it is not safe and not right to
live there because of the violence and the girl should always be protected
by a man who should be her husband or a first degree relative."
Jimmy Au, Hong Kong
"Italy - Its stylish and
fashionable, great food, and I like the way they play football. Its tactical."
Rania Yahya,
Sudan
"I think it will be London, because my father was doing his postgraduate
studies and then worked there for six years. I was not born there, because
my mother wanted her mum with her during labour! I think London is better
than other European cities for Muslims, because it is full of them and
there is a lot of Sudanese there and Arabs who are well practicing Islam.
But if you want the real truth, I don't like to raise my children in a
Western city, I can't control their attitudes after a certain age. It will
be very hard to convince them in the middle of all this freedom. At the
same time I can't stand my son coming home drunk one day or my daughter
coming and telling me that she is pregnant! which is a normal thing there!!!!
I can live there, because I am old enough to decide what is right and what
is wrong and I can choose what suits me, but for raising children there
it differs a lot."
Pete Grucca, USA
"Poland - The chicks are
hot, I speak the lingo and that's where my family is originally from."