Monday, February 28, 2005

Biggest test of Constitution set


I am not breaking any new ground or probably being particularly insightful, but it is my belief that the Danish vote on the Constitution for Europe will be its biggest test. Now that test has a date, September 27.

Sunday, February 27, 2005

Debate over Nazi symbol ban shows Europe may be growing


The collapse of discussions to ban Nazi and other racist symbols at the EU level seems like a step back in the fight against racism and anti-Semitism in Europe. However, it may actually be a sign that Europe is growing. Banning the swastika and its ilk would do little to combat the actual problem of racism. Instead, it simply limits speech and provides cheap political coverage against criticism that Europe is not doing anything about the rising intolerance in member states. While the reasons for tabling the discussion were varied, the most important was the desire to maintain focus on an already existing draft law combating racism and xenophobia. This law has some chance of having a real impact. Europe needs to learn that it cannot ignore its past by trying to make its symbols disappear. Instead, it needs to take away the power of those symbols' messages. Banning the swastika only serves the former, while the existing draft law has some potential for the latter.