...when the Brussels Journal is your Friday night date...:

MarcFrans (on sarcasm in particular, and humor in general):

• "...it is Kapitein Andre who has repeatedly tried to defend these violations on the grounds of very relativistic and unprincipled reasonings. In this he gets frequently supported by other relativistic (but more culturally left-leaning) readers of this site (pvdh , Schaveiger, etc...)."

• "...is a misrepresentation of historical truth, i.e. it is a lie.

• "Certainly, sarcasm [and humor] has its proper place, but the truth [or structured political-historical arguments] SHOULD have a more prominent place. And putting the blame were it properly belongs is a moral imperative."

It seems as though MarcFrans needs to pay (no pun intended) a visit to Amsterdamsky's neck of the woods. Perhaps after his wallet is lightened somewhat, he can "discuss" moral relativism with a female from the more raw and free parts of Europe...

Not really.

That the trends are in the direction of a European polity that sarcastically may be called a "EUSSR" (on the Brussels Journal and elsewhere) is clear.  Perhaps the best proof of that can be found in the frequent and ongoing legislative and judicial violations of freedom of political speech in the presumed 'core' states of the EUSSR.  Yet, on the same Brussels Journal, it is Kapitein Andre who has repeatedly tried to defend these violations on the grounds of very relativistic and unprincipled reasonings.  In this he gets frequently supported by other relativistic (but more culturally left-leaning) readers of this site (pvdh , Schaveiger, etc...).

However, the notion that the EU political integration process is in any way comparable to the imposition of the Warsaw Pact on Eastern Europe after WW2 is ludicrous.  It is a misrepresentation of historical truth, i.e. it is a lie.    For the moment, the citizens of EU member states do STILL possess the democratic political structures to hold their politicians accountable for their 'European integration' policies.  The citizens of former Comecon members did not, for they had been 'captured' by Marxist-Leninist monopoly parties, and faced a Soviet Diktat!  

Certainly, sarcasm has its proper place, but the truth SHOULD have a more prominent place.  And putting the blame were it properly belongs is a moral imperative.   The blame for the slide into a EUSSR lies properly with the citizens of the EU member states, and not in 'Brussels' nor outside the EU. 

"This is clearly handing over Europe and the UK to ISLAM".

Thank you Sir for that distinction.You have MY vote.

MarcFrans: "But the Kapitein is terribly wrong were he makes the comparison with the "Warsaw Pact/Comecon"."

I see the sarcasm was lost on you...

MarcFrans: "The latter was directly imposed by the force of arms, as repeatedly illustrated by actual historically-observable events."

Thanks for the free history lesson...are you accredited?

MarcFrans: "Individual European countries today do not face such a prospect within the EU, and their peoples DO have the ability (political structures) to hold their politicians accountable for the degree of sovereignty-pooling that has occurred."

If the EU is referred to as the "EUSSR" on the Brussels Journal, and its readers and contributors regularly lament the forcible incorporation of EU member states into the EU, and the deletorious impact this has on their sovereignty and democracy, then your statement is quite debatable.

MarcFrans: "Both, the Kapitein's 'Comecon-comparison' and Barroso's claim of "fully", reflect a disturbing lack of (honest) empirical observations and, perhaps worse, a culturally-destructive adherence to extreme relativism."

Not only is this not unlike comparing apples and oranges, it further compounds your error as noted above.

The most heartfelt description in response to this statement by the Napolean of non-Empire is one from: http://englandexpects.blogspot.com/2007/07/tin-pot-emperor.html

"Who the hell does Mr Barroso think he is? Today at a press conference the Commission President had the following brain fart,"

{Barrosso quote followed}

An anonymous commentator there had the following (partially quoted) response:

"Force is the way the EU works from A to Z.

I was never given a vote on any of the thousands of laws being pumped out daily.

Our borders would be closed today were this a democracy but it no longer is that.

I'd tear up the agreement with Arab states that comes into action in 2010 Allowing yet another free trade area with 9 more muslim nations with this i assume free entry.

This is clearly handing over Europe and the UK to ISLAM."

It is not surprising, but rather normal, that the European Commission President is expressing "pride" in extended cooperation between European states, although he is somewhat naive about its presumed "non-inperial" character.  And, the Kapitein is of course right where he questions Barroso's ridiculous  claim of "FULLY decided...to pool sovereignty".  

But the Kapitein is terribly wrong were he makes the comparison with the "Warsaw Pact/Comecon".   The latter was directly imposed by the force of arms, as repeatedly illustrated by actual historically-observable events. Individual European countries today do not face such a prospect within the EU, and their peoples DO have the ability (political structures) to hold their politicians accountable for the degree of sovereignty-pooling that has occurred.

Both, the Kapitein's 'Comecon-comparison' and Barroso's claim of "fully", reflect a disturbing lack of (honest) empirical observations and, perhaps worse, a culturally-destructive adherence to extreme relativism.     

Barroso: "Sometimes I like to compare the EU as a creation to the organisation of empires. We have the dimension of Empire but there is a great difference. Empires were usually made with force with a centre imposing diktat, a will on the others. Now what we have is the first non-Imperial empire. We have 27 countries that fully decided to work together and to pool their sovereignty. I believe it is a great construction and we should be proud of it. At least, we in the Commission are proud of it."

I actually do not have any problems with this comment. Considering that the European Union is gigantic compared to its constituent nation-states and that prior attempts at European unity were conducted by force on the part of a single member e.g. England, France, Sweden, Germany, Spain, Austria, Italy, I can understand this sentiment.

Where I differ from Barroso is that I disagree EU member states "fully decided...to pool their sovereignty." Indeed, the Warsaw Pact/COMECON seemingly allowed members greater freedom than the European Union does... 

The lead representative of the Eurabian empire forgot to expand his remarks. They are more understandable in the form below.

"What we have is the first empire created for capitulation to forces intent on our destruction. We have representatives from 27 countries that fully decided to work together to subvert the true will of the people of any of those countries and to pool their sovereignty along with any rights and freedoms formerly enjoyed by free people from within any of those countries. I believe it is a great construction and we should be proud of it. At least, we in the Commission are proud of it."

these things they misname empire; and where they make a wilderness, they call it peace. - Tacitus

non-Ovoid egg

non-Explosive bomb

non-Imperial empire

Question: Which of these is NOT an oxymoron?

Keyword: B*ST*RD !!!