Maybe I think backward, I always wanted to travel and learn from others countries and cultures. I even did an internship in the US in MV and I loved it.
But after reading this kind of article the only thing I want to do is fight for my country, I wouldn't say I'm patriot, far from it, I consider myself European first. But I don't think we're as bad as people (often ones of our owns) try to describe us. So I want to fight against the odds, against our weaknesses and yes we have a lot of things pulling us down but overall I really think there still are plenty of bright minds. I don't want to leave, I want to fight and succeed here.
>But after reading this kind of article the only thing I want to do is fight for my country, I wouldn't say I'm patriot, far from it, I consider myself European first.
What does "European first" even mean, though? To be friendly with other European nations/cultures is one thing.
But there's no such thing as an entity called Europe that cares for all the people's in it -- E.U, for one, isn't it. The larger countries, and especially Germany, control the whole game. And the law making, representation, etc, of individual countries (and people) in E.U is opaque and authoritarian, more bureaucratic than democratic. Nothing like the US in unity, for a thing (except for the bad parts: corporations and private interests controlling legislation and such).
So, I'd say, fighting for democracy and social justice in YOUR country (France in your case) is more important, in the political sense, than any general feeling of "Europeanes".
And, sure, people can always immigrate somewhere else, especially within EU. But if that immigration is not because of personal (e.g cultural) choice, but to avoid hardships and fighting, then it's an easy cop-out -- those people are not fighters and not give a damn for their community, only for their personal well-being. And they would just as easily abandon their new host country too. Remember that in order to there be countries to immigrate to --in the first place--, there must have been people willing to stand for them and improve them.
> What does "European first" even mean, though? To be friendly with other European nations/cultures is one thing.
It's easy, I'm feeling myself European it might seem dumb or impossible to you but it is. I think we're very much alike, we love the same sports and take our holidays in the same places, more often than not people have ancestors from another counry in Europe (mine were from Italy). When I was young I spent holidays in Austria, Italy and Spain, I played with kids from all these countries and it never seemed we were differents. I can tell you growing up in such an environment is probably what's make me think I feel European first. I'm sorry if I don't have a better explanation for what I feel.
You could stand for "European" values, those shared by many countries in Europe, such as a need for a strong social safety net, importance in protection of consumer's privacy, and developing a will to work together with people sharing a different culture and (often) language.
It's probably too late for you to read this, but I just wanted, as a fellow citizen, say that I totally agree with you.
I am fed up with every article posted here painting France as the worst country that ever was and ever will be for companies or for "bright minds". That's simply not true and I also want to fight against that stigma.
As a matter of fact, after living 6 years in the Netherlands, I am now back in France, and don't mind paying my taxes (I've seen such a comment here) and no, going away is not a solution.
Perhaps its time to heed the advice of the illustrious Christine Lagarde:
“Il faut cesser de penser et se retrousser les manches.”
(Roughly translated: "We must stop thinking and roll up our sleeves.")
In proposing a tax-cut law last week, Finance Minister Christine
Lagarde bluntly advised the French people to abandon their
“old national habit.”
“France is a country that thinks,” she told the National Assembly.
“There is hardly an ideology that we haven’t turned into a theory.
We have in our libraries enough to talk about for centuries to
come. This is why I would like to tell you: Enough thinking,
already. Roll up your sleeves.”
Indeed, it's a very good advice and I totally agree with her statement and no doubt it must be true. But I can tell you, people I know are really too busy living their life and for instance I'm myself too busy coding or doing other stuffs to really have time to over-think about our expected downfall.
Maybe I think backward, I always wanted to travel and learn from others countries and cultures. I even did an internship in the US in MV and I loved it.
But after reading this kind of article the only thing I want to do is fight for my country, I wouldn't say I'm patriot, far from it, I consider myself European first. But I don't think we're as bad as people (often ones of our owns) try to describe us. So I want to fight against the odds, against our weaknesses and yes we have a lot of things pulling us down but overall I really think there still are plenty of bright minds. I don't want to leave, I want to fight and succeed here.