Once upon a time, across the pond in the land of fish and chips, tales emerged of the thought police being alive and well. Imagine the horror: British citizens were being threatened with arrest for the simple act of praying silently near abortion clinics. Yes, you read that right—from the vicinity of these clinics, no less! If ever there were a cautionary tale about freedom of thought (or rather, the lack thereof), this is it. Truly, what is the world coming to when even silent prayers are met with such hostility? But, as they say, what happens over there could very well hop on a plane and take an unwelcome vacation right here at home.
Meanwhile, many across the continent seem keen on pushing pause on their own cultural heritage. Europe, once the glorious birthplace of Beethoven’s symphonies and Shakespeare’s sonnets, is in quite the existential rut. It’s as if everyone has forgotten about their roots while racing down this one-way road to multiculturalism, worried about offending anyone with a hint of national pride. But let’s face it, the French are quintessentially French with their croissants and joie de vivre, while the British are as British as their afternoon teas.
The notion that each European nation should celebrate its unique cultural identity shouldn’t be mulled over in hushed voices. Rather, it deserves a standing ovation. Recognizing and cherishing these differences might just be the secret sauce to snapping Europe out of its funk. After all, why pour over a melting pot recipe when you have such delightful individual flavors to taste?
Enter Donald Trump—now, there’s a name sure to spice up the room. Many accuse him of alienating NATO, but some would argue he’s simply trying to make them remember their own potential. The man seemingly understands the stakes of Europe’s cultural identity crisis more than most European leaders themselves. Europe doesn’t need to become America or attempt to Xerox the American experience. Instead, it should embrace its own beautiful messiness and learn to tap dance to the beat of its own drum.
Prayers for Europe echo across the Atlantic, resonating in America as a reminder that we, too, have our roots deeply entangled with those of the old continent. Someone once mentioned that America is becoming a Pacific nation, a sentiment that rings true geographically but feels somewhat misplaced culturally. Let’s not throw away our source material—the vibrant relationship between America and Europe deserves some sophisticated introspection and, quite frankly, a face-lift. After all, who wants to lose out on a juicy plot twist where both sides decide to revisit their charters and emerge stronger? Here’s hoping the only threat we face is deciding which cultural gem to cherish next, rather than whether or not it’s acceptable to silently pray near clinics.
