World News and Trends- EU draft constitution: a dangerous document
In the words of noted Times' political columnist William Rees-Mogg, "The draft constitution which is being prepared by the European Convention . . . would be totally destructive of self-government throughout Europe. It would transfer responsibility for foreign and defence policy from the nations to the European Union [EU]."
Mr. Rees-Mogg's initial reaction to the first draft was even more scornful. He described it as "a shameful document, destructive of democracy, disastrous for Europe, disastrous for Britain and for all the other present and prospective members of the European Union" and as being "drafted in a disorderly and undemocratic way."
There is no mistaking the constitution's plans for a single Europe. Michael Barnier, a European commissioner, asked the bottom-line question: "The hour of truth is coming for Europe: Do we want to be only an economic and financial community or do we want to become an independent political power?"
The main feature editorial in The Sunday Telegraph commented: "The proposed European constitution would, if ratified in anything like its present form, mark the moment at which the EU ceased to be an association of states and became a state in its own right" (emphasis added throughout). This would be Britain's worst nightmare.
Paul Eastham, deputy political editor of the Daily Mail, underscores the dangers for Britain. He says that if the draft constitution were to be adopted in its present form, Britain's "freedom to decide foreign policy and support the U.S. in facing down dictators such as Saddam Hussein would also be removed"—a frightening thought!
Conservative British observers have already branded the proposed constitution "a blueprint for a European superstate." The United Kingdom is, however, still considered a serious obstacle to Franco-German plans for a federal union of Europe. The Daily Mail reported that, not so long ago, "Gerhard Schroeder threatened the future of the EU by demanding a new ‘hard core' of countries, excluding Britain. The German Chancellor . . . wants an elite group, led by anti-war countries Germany, France and Belgium to head a ‘two-tier' EU."
Of course, Britain angrily rejected certain key sections of the EU draft document almost before the ink was dry on the final text—demanding significant revisions. But will that really happen? It is always possible that some sort of compromise will be reached, moderating some of the document's worst sections. But whatever the eventual outcome, the Channel gap between Britain and the Continent clearly remains and shows no sign of narrowing. U.K. thinking is miles away from Central European thought on many key issues. How much more America's!
(Sources: The Times, Daily Mail, The Sunday Telegraph [all London].)
An Article from:
Good News Magazine: May - June 2003
Course Content
Jerold Aust
Jerold Aust has served in the ministry for 52 years, as a public speaker for 58 years, a published writer for 38 years, and is employed by UCG’s Media and Communications Services. He is a Senior Writer, interviewer, and editor for Beyond Today Magazine and has taught Speech Communication for UCG’s ministerial online program and the Book of Revelation for ABC.
Jerold holds a BA in theology from Ambassador College, Pasadena (1968), an MA in Communication from California State University, Fullerton (1995), a distance-learning Ph.D (2006), and a Famous Writers School diploma in non-fiction writing (1973). Additionally, he studied post-grad communication at University of Southern California (1995), radio, TV, voice-overs, and Public Relations at Fullerton College (1995-1996), and graduate communication at Wichita State University (1978). Jerold has taught communication at the University of South Alabama (7 years) and ABC (17 years). His published works include, Ronald Reagan’s Rhetoric: Metaphor as Persuasion and EZSpeakers: Public Speaking Made Easy in 7 Steps. Jerold's overarching goal is to share with humankind its incredible destiny!
John Ross Schroeder
John died on March 8, 2014, in Oxford, England, four days after suffering cardiac arrest while returning home from a press event in London. John was 77 and still going strong.
Some of John's work for The Good News appeared under his byline, but much didn't. He wrote more than a thousand articles over the years, but also wrote the Questions and Answers section of the magazine, compiled our Letters From Our Readers, and wrote many of the items in the Current Events and Trends section. He also contributed greatly to a number of our study guides and Bible Study Course lessons. His writing has touched the lives of literally millions of people over the years.
John traveled widely over the years as an accredited journalist, especially in Europe. His knowledge of European and Middle East history added a great deal to his articles on history and Bible prophecy.
In his later years he also pastored congregations in Northern Ireland and East Sussex, and that experience added another dimension to his writing. He and his wife Jan were an effective team in our British Isles office near their home.
John was a humble servant who dedicated his life to sharing the gospel—the good news—of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to all the world, and his work was known to readers in nearly every country of the world.
