Thank you for organizing this meeting and the opportunity to speak here. And thank you to the other speakers for their interesting contributions.
I am not an economist and cannot speak on economic matters with authority. I quite frankly would feel unable to speak of any institutionalized European solidarity before the next winter is over. When I left government affairs in 2017 I already felt that people were overwhelmed and our institutions had lost sight of reality. Now this seems to be even more so. I think in the coming months many things will change and shift - however a general answer to the question "How will European solidarity look?" would be:
SUBSIDIARITY and PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY - so: Look after your family, friends and neighbors, your town and church. Solidarity - like any other good - must be personal. And then we’ll take it from there.
Let me quickly add some general comments on Europe, though, from a former practitioner in political affairs - and from the heart of a Catholic lover of Europe and a German patriot.
Where are we?
We are in the middle of the jungle - and it is 5 past 12. So let’s relax, be calm and patient - we have lost our way and we need to be rescued. We will not plan or fight our way out of this. If there is a future we shall see the fruits of our labors in 30 years - and the first signs maybe in 5 or 10. If there is no future, let’s get ready for Armageddon. Both options are possible require the same action. So that’s good.
How did we get here?
I think we believed our own lies, namely that we as mankind create the good future.
That WE had WON the Cold War with principles of „Democracy“, „Capitalism“, „Markets“, and LAW and FREEDOM - both to be defined by man himself.
Underestimated or even absent from this post-Cold War world vision were many personal factors that actually made the West successful: Painful responsibility, ability for personal suffering and sacrifice (work, service, family), learning from tradition and with long-term perspectives. Also any kind of objective common sense or even discussion about this. And most importantly: No personalized GOOD and personalized EVIL - namely no GOD and no dEvIl.
So we lived like happy bears in the Jungle Book - yet actually the world is less like Disney's Jungle Book and more like Jurassic Park: There are dinosaurs to haunt us - even inside of each one of us. This intellectual and philosophical vanity first leads to hubris. And then despair, as we find ourselves overwhelmed, confused and afraid in face of the many responsibilities and potential dangers that stare at us. No God, no sense, no hope.
We are in the middle of the jungle - and it is 5 past 12. So let’s relax, be calm and patient - we have lost our way and we need to be rescued. We will not plan or fight our way out of this. If there is a future we shall see the fruits of our labors in 30 years - and the first signs maybe in 5 or 10. If there is no future, let’s get ready for Armageddon. Both options are possible require the same action. So that’s good.
How did we get here?
I think we believed our own lies, namely that we as mankind create the good future.
That WE had WON the Cold War with principles of „Democracy“, „Capitalism“, „Markets“, and LAW and FREEDOM - both to be defined by man himself.
What we had was full-scale individualism mixed with materialism ("It’s the economy stupid“). In fact we were not so different from Marxism and collectivism, though. Our philosophy was not coherent, which is why it could not be lastingly effective. Individualism on a personal level paired with a nearly magic belief in impersonal systems such as democracy and ("social") market economy. And we thoughts processes / rules had won. Not people. Ultimately this sort of philosophical emptiness naturally tends towards nihilism... Mix into this the sexual and the digital revolution - both major revolutions like the French or the Russian revolution. Not just tiny side developments. Think of tens of millions of aborted children. No small thing indeed.
Underestimated or even absent from this post-Cold War world vision were many personal factors that actually made the West successful: Painful responsibility, ability for personal suffering and sacrifice (work, service, family), learning from tradition and with long-term perspectives. Also any kind of objective common sense or even discussion about this. And most importantly: No personalized GOOD and personalized EVIL - namely no GOD and no dEvIl.
So we lived like happy bears in the Jungle Book - yet actually the world is less like Disney's Jungle Book and more like Jurassic Park: There are dinosaurs to haunt us - even inside of each one of us. This intellectual and philosophical vanity first leads to hubris. And then despair, as we find ourselves overwhelmed, confused and afraid in face of the many responsibilities and potential dangers that stare at us. No God, no sense, no hope.
And so we launched ourselves carelessly into more and more impossible undertakings, total wars one might call them ("No matter what the cost" is the totalitarian claim) - often only based on computer models of extremely complicated systems: Climate Rescue, Zero-Covid, War on Terror / Out-of-area wars / New World Order, etc… All these are almost limitless, impersonal goods - and as limitless, undefined goods they require limitless effort and prove to be too big for a pursuit in freedom. While we overestimate humanity, however, we underestimate our individual responsibility and ability. And this is where to start.
How do we go on?
First, we must realize that our conundrum has little to do with external enemies - and a lot with ourselves, hubris, fear, immorality.
J.D. Unwin (a well-known British ethnologist of the last century) remarked after studying the rise and fall of 86 cultures throughout history: First goes pre-marital chastity, then goes the belief in God. And then goes the ability for rational thought. This process takes three generations… I was stunned when I heard this. And I believe it is true. It will take generations to recover. But at least there is hope.
So first we have step into our own healthy role in the sexual order: Abstain, stay sober and truthful, take responsibility for another human being and, God willing, for a family.
How do we go on?
First, we must realize that our conundrum has little to do with external enemies - and a lot with ourselves, hubris, fear, immorality.
J.D. Unwin (a well-known British ethnologist of the last century) remarked after studying the rise and fall of 86 cultures throughout history: First goes pre-marital chastity, then goes the belief in God. And then goes the ability for rational thought. This process takes three generations… I was stunned when I heard this. And I believe it is true. It will take generations to recover. But at least there is hope.
So first we have step into our own healthy role in the sexual order: Abstain, stay sober and truthful, take responsibility for another human being and, God willing, for a family.
Second: We have to pray - together. And prayer mostly means to say thank you: to family, nation - and GOD. The Churches must be filled. Every Sunday. Bring your best - your family and friends.
Third: As Christians - be aware that - barring miracles - we will not win on a battle field, in the media or in parliaments. We are less than 10% in Europe. We must be different in a way where numbers do not count. If we just act like everybody else, killing, vaccinating, fighting, etc… This is proof of the enemy’s message and absolutely no selling proposition. We can only give witness, suffer and forgive - in a saintly way. That will make people reconsider and convert - because that is proof of supernatural faith and hope. Once we are maybe 15% of the population… that will turn the tide.
I believe we are capable, and well-trained actually. We have suffered white martyrdom from the digital tribulation, from the restlessness and immorality we experience, from the madness of the world and the shame we often feel for our institutions - polis and church. We are attacked by a barrage of pornography and violent images. Yet we have not given up or surrendered. We just may be better, better prepared and protected than we think we are. Which is actually a good place to be.
Let me end on a positive note: Marshall McLuhan, the great thinker of the digital and media, became a Catholic in his 30ies. He said: "As a Catholic I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist. I am an Apocalyptic. I expect the worst. But in the worst I hope for the best." I agree with him. It is a good motto for the time to come.
