Shrinking the Atlantic

After what was probably the most strongly contested election in US history, George W Bush has narrowly won four more years in the White House. As someone who holds a different world-view to Mr Bush and who voted for Senator Kerry of my state of Massachusetts, I am disappointed.

But, I am not going to sulk. Nor engage in excessive rhetoric about humanity on the road to destruction. Several of President Bush’s policies have been, in my opinion, badly wrong. But he’s not alone in bad judgment. Though many European friends may feel as disappointed as me, it was a fair election and Mr Bush won by 3.5 million votes in the largest voter turn-out in nearly 40 years.

So, is the problem the American voter? Let’s be honest, whether a Republican or a Democrat sits in the White House, Europe and America annoy one another with their differences. The divide is not just political but cultural. That is only a bad thing if each side of the Atlantic views themselves as having nothing to learn from the other.

As someone born in England who lived the first 32 years of his life in Europe and the second 32 years in America, I view it more as a creative tension. As in any partnership, the differences should be understood and then worked with. Refusal to see value in the other leads to divorce.

There are major differences of viewpoint between the two sides of the Atlantic which derive mainly from very different historical experiences.

Europe has experienced two world wars within the last century and war in the Balkans until very recently, killing scores of millions of men, women and children. Europe is understandably sick of war. The European Union is a miracle of human achievement fueled by a determination not to let war devastate the continent again. In most part keeping military budgets low, European nations choose to ensure better welfare for their citizens.

America last experienced war on its soil 140 years ago. This terrible civil war was sufficiently all-encompassing to leave a military culture, particularly in the southern states. And yet America has never experienced the horrors of modern urban warfare where civilians are the main casualties, which was why 9/11 was so devastating.

Blessed with a large and fertile land, and a young and growing population, America feels its strength. Less inhibited by the horrors of war, many respond with a sense of responsibility to champion freedom in the world. Europeans are repulsed by the quickness to send the marines; Americans see themselves having to carry the can whilst others stand and watch.

A younger somewhat bombastic America responds more to the republican dream of actively spreading democracy. Europe, learning from past mistakes, sees that the more we try and force Western values on others, the greater the resistance, particularly from the Islamic civilization with universalist claims of its own.

Europe, with its longer relationship with the Arab and Islamic world, must help America understand the great civilization of Islam. America, which gave home to many Jews when they were being slaughtered in Europe, can help Europe understand the deep fears that still exist in Jews. Several European countries care for the Palestinian people; and they have certainly needed this help. A new opportunity may now exist. America and Europe together must now bring the Israelis and the Palestinians back to the negotiating table.

Europe, as a collection of many nations working together, models for America the need to work with and learn from others. America, home to every ethnicity, may help Europe be more generous in reviewing its identity as it increasingly becomes home for people of other cultures. Europe could also learn from America’s long experience with full religious freedom, leading to it being the most religious of Western nations.

Indeed religion may be the single largest difference between Europe and America. In the state of Iowa, where the vote closely reflected the national vote, moral values were the biggest single issue of concern. One third of Iowa voters said they were evangelical Christians and 87% of them voted for Bush. Europeans may think that with more education and exposure to the world, Americans will grow out of it. Not necessarily. While 29% of Americans declare themselves ‘born again Christians’, this figure is reportedly 35% amongst college students.

Religious observance is on the increase in America, and not just amongst evangelicals. Islam is growing in America both through immigration and conversion. Despite conservative Christians showing more concern about issues such as abortion and gay marriage, there are signs that younger Christians in America are motivated by care for the poor and racial justice. Europe may need to take another look at these developments and perhaps find more faith in the future.

The Euro-American relationship will not be easy for the next four years, nor for the next forty, but each should listen and learn from the other.

NOTE: Individuals of many cultures, nationalities, religions, and beliefs are actively involved with Initiatives of Change. These commentaries represent the views of the writer and not necessarily those of Initiatives of Change as a whole.