Rekindling the passion

The first European civilization in the world was created by the Minoan civilization at the dawn of the 3rd millennium before Christ. It is the belief of Louis Godart, Belgian archaeologist naturalized Italian, professor of Mycenaean philosophy at “Federico II University” in Naples, Counselor responsible for the Preservation of the Artistic Heritage of the President of the Italian Republic, author of the volume “Homage to Europe” (Turin, Utet, 2013). The book portrays the evolution of the concept of Europe, highlighting European populations’ strong sense of belonging to a shared founding civilization and to the same ideals in life. Louis Godart wrote an article on the theme of the book published by “L’Osservatore Romano” on July 21. Excerpts follow. Europe: an amalgam. The term Europe refers to a continent without precise geographic boundaries: it appears as a vast territorial extension undergoing constant modifications to the East and to the West. Those very peoples that reside on this area are the result of an amalgam of peoples, traditions and experiences, mutually enriched through trade relations across the great unitary Afro-Asian-European continent. While Asia played a key role in the development of European civilization, the discovery of America has marked the lives of European peoples, even in the most trivial aspects of everyday life. According to Bronis³aw Geremek now it’s time for Europe to become not only a federation of States but also a community of citizens with shared values. Which are these values? Is it the fact of belonging to a thousand-year-old Christian tradition? Or to the universe dominated by reason, invoked by 18th century philosophers? Opposing the unity of faith to the unity of reason risks triggering old conflicts that have proved to be detrimental for European and world culture. Created by history. Shaped by an infinite number of layers, Europe is unquestionably a historical unit. Its civilizing thrust reposes on pillars whose roots are to be found within the classical realm, in Christianity, and in the values professed by philosophers of the period of the Enlightenment. Through the creation of democracy, teaching men and women that they have the right/duty to rebel against injustice, ancient Greece conceived ante litteram the fundamental trait of European peoples, namely, citizens in charge of their own destiny. During the Middle Ages, the major action of Christianity led to the birth of great currents of thought, capable of crossing the often undefined borders of kingdoms and giving the Western world a conscience which gradually grew secular, to eventually become a European conscience. Thanks to philosophers European citizens felt it was their duty to assure peace and happiness to all the families of humanity. The generous dream of 18th century thinkers collapsed when instead of yearning for the good of the human race, Europeans prioritized the good of the “nation”. All of a sudden, at the end of the 18th century, during the reign of Louis XVI, the term “nation” burst on the scene, largely spoken by lower classes and soldiers. The idea of “nation” thus became an idea of “nationalism” and of “race”. The drift represented by the omnipotence of the nation is illustrated in the Ventotene Manifesto by Altiero Spinelli: “The nation is no longer considered as a historical product of men’s coexistence (…) instead, it has become a divine entity, a body that has to care only about its own existence”. The absolute sovereignty of national States led to the will of dominium on others, while the omnipotence associated to the concept of nation became the trigger of a long fratricidal war that ended only in 1945, leaving European citizens wounded, divided and impoverished. Rebirth. On the aftermath of those tragedies, men with a formidable message of hope initiated a grandiose undertaking, which led to the signing of the Treaties of Rome in 1957. Today that enthusiasm has waned. It is necessary to recover the passion which had inspired the founding fathers and which animates European leaders who believe in the ineludible union of European countries that share the same values and are imbued with the same culture. Building Europe has not been an easy task, and it will continue being difficult. National egoisms, political and economic stumbling blocks along the path of the Union, jealousies worldwide at the idea of having to deal and dialogue with a united, free, powerful and respected Europe are further obstacles along the path indicated by the Founding Fathers. Today, more than ever before, we should reflect on the words of George Washington in a letter of September 17 1787, regarding the draft Constitution of the United States of America: “Individuals entering into society must give up a share of liberty to preserve the rest”.