The great and the good gathered in Berlin Sunday to sign a treaty aimed at breaking a deadlock over disagreements on its constitution. The agreement also celebrated the 50th birthday of this “United States of Europe.” Some 27 nations now align themselves under this flag and they have been having some difficulty getting all parties to agree to a constitution that can apply to each of these diverse countries.

Some of the countries such as Germany and France consider themselves “good Europeans” while others such as Great Britain consider themselves the same while keeping the European super state at arms length. Some of these countries apply all of the communities rules fairly even if they don’t agree with them (Great Britain) and some apply the rules only that have advantages to themselves (France.) I am sure that the reader can see the problems in getting any agreement.

While the United States of America tries to ignore that its traditional allies are forming a superpower under its nose the E.U. has quietly become the counterpoint to George Bush and his gung ho policies. While the U.S still believes it is the strongest country in the world collectively Europe now out performs it in many areas including economic riches.

Europe has under its collective umbrella; an aircraft industry, a space program, its own currency and is beginning to create a joint military defence. It is able to call on member countries and utilise their particular talents to achieve whatever objective it sets its collective mind to which gives it an inherent advantage over the U.S. who could not create a project and assign it to say; Oklahoma and Hawaii. Slowly the balance of world power is beginning to shift; it is the European diplomats who take the lead in world areas of conflict now who talk quietly and carry the big stick of possible American invasion to bring rogue countries into line.

The American dream is being quietly but rapidly being superseded by the European dream but it how long will America tolerate a (broadly) socialist superpower?

Under the category of “you just couldn’t make it up” comes another story from the land that common sense just plain forgot. In Huddersfield, West Yorkshire some school children decided to adapt a version of Roald Dahl’s Little Red Riding Hood for a play. The play featured three little piggys which is where the problems began.

The play by Honley Church of England Junior School was to be hosted at Huddersfield Town Hall and everything was fine until the politically correct committee decided to take a hand.

This heavy handed bunch of do gooders decided that the juvenile oinkers could upset Muslim children taking part in the play or (heaven forbid) their parents. So what we (supposedly) have is Muslim children in a Church of England school being offended by three innocent animals.

As I said you couldn’t make it up! The pigs were hastily replaced by puppies Fortunately for all concerned common sense came from an unexpected quarter.

Islamic leaders huffed and they puffed and the blew down the politically correct house of cards when they condemned the switch saying it was “misguided” and “turning Muslims into the misfits of society.” Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, of the Muslim Council of Britain, told a national newspaper: “There’s an issue about the eating of pork, which is forbidden, but there is no prohibition about reading stories about pigs.”

Town councillors immediately folded and reinstated the piglets with committee member Gill Goodswen saying: “We feared that some Muslim children wouldn’t sing along to the words about pigs.” Did anybody once think about asking the children? Of course not!

Did anyone from the council wonder about the rights of the little piglets yanked from their only shot at superstardom. Of course not they were only concerned about saving their own bacon!

While watching the Oscars last Sunday evening I was amused to note that Al Gores movie “An Inconvenient Truth” was getting some recognition. Hardly surprising I thought as “The left wing lovies” always attach themselves to these sorts of causes whichever side of the pond that they’re on. Last year was the war in Iraq, this year is Global warming.

My particular attention was drawn to the Oscar for Melissa Etheridge and her statement that this would be the first generation to fight Global warming…. (Rapturous applause)
It reminded me of my meetings with many Americans who have a vastly over inflated opinion of themselves and their country’s achievements. Don’t get me wrong! I love the American people they are a warm friendly race but very insular.
The conversation usually starts with an American discovering that I am English (after first guessing that I am Australian) and goes on to; “English? We saved your asses in the war!” My response is usually; “Did you guys ever check your wrist watch? You were several years late?” And to give them their due they usually reply; “Yeah we were but we got there in the end.”

The plain and simple truth is that The United States of America has either been a “no show” or late to each of the previous three World Wars (Yes there were 3 of them) and very tardy to countless other minor skirmishes such as Bosnia. Contrast this to the Iraqi wars where Britain was saying “we’re going” before the U.S had even thought about it!

The same of course goes for Melissa’s statement! America has again entered the fray at least two generations late. Again? Well Bill Clinton did sign the “Montreal Protocol” back in 1991 but while Europe acted the U.S. sat on its hands. The fact is that Europe has actually seen the effects of the chemicals that human beings spill into the sea and spread into the atmosphere. Most Europeans have seen the evidence of acid rain on the ancient buildings that American tourists love so much and its effects on the green countryside Americans comment on. Therefore they acted!

I was asked once why petrol costs $10 a gallon in Britain and I had to explain that we taxed petrol at 82% to ensure that Americans could pollute at will and agonize over their $3 a gallon petrol. My observation whilst being true was not appreciated by the American who generated the enquiry. Yet consider this: Many cars in Europe get 60+ miles per gallon while it is still an exception to find an American car that gets 40 miles per gallon. In Europe the average citizen dutifully takes their bottles to the “bottle bank” for recycling or has recycling refuse collection from the local authority…. Which has been going on for the past 15 years. In European industry BCF fire extinguishers were all removed because they damaged the ozone layer but this same type of extinguisher is not due to be recalled in the United States until 2015.

Americans still to this day do not understand the reaction of the rest of the world when Dubya refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that countries that the U.S. considers primitive signed.

So welcome Melissa! Like with every major world event we welcome you (and your so called first generation) finally to civilization but you are late! Did you bring a note?