After taking time to enjoy the US holiday, Thanksgiving, we appreciate the bounty that our God gives. Food yes, but every bounty. When we live according to God, and credit Him for every joy, we benefit by finding friendship even when hostility can threaten us. We all falter at times, but when we acknowledge having stumbled, we grow. The stronger and the weaker can bond.<\/p>\n
The EU, is clearly discovering that it has friendship and hostility in unexpected places. This has long been the case for the USA also. Not yet a perfectly formed federation, the EU has accused its own political elected members of far right extremism and racism. The USA, like never before, has followed in certain circles and similar practice, of lambasting its own who do not embrace policies of the left.<\/p>\n
To what extent have we permitted the EU to influence our United State’s supposedly sovereign elections? Greatly so, if we continue to observe sustained consternation (by Frau Merkel) at the way our nation intends to seek peace with Russia and seeks to heal our nation in all other necessary ways. The USA cannot be relegated to the intentions of the EU; no, we are also a producer, and have Independence from Europe. Good ties with the EU cannot be predicated on what we in the USA do or don\u2019t do with Russia.<\/p>\n
As Germany is the driver and most vocal member, of the EU, I’d like to take a rare moment to criticize Germany. But, not without expressing gratitude for what appears to be a genuine olive branch extended to our president elect Donald Trump, and the American people, in part. Let there however be no US illusions that the EU and the USA will agree on everything that comes to the present with our relations. If we look back at the tensions of the recent 4 years past or longer, between US conservatives (who had no adequate representation until now), and the German government, the EU can keep an open mind to US progress.<\/p>\n
In November, I noted that The German chancellor quickly congratulated our new US president elect, seemingly very genuinely and respectfully; and this was both a gesture and also a smart domestic political move that would hedge against Germans\u2019 own uncertainties (among the far left) who oppose conservatism. This congratulation, on the surface, was a slight sign of respect to the American people… who voted out, what would have otherwise been the alternative under a leftist Hillary administration.<\/p>\n
Most ardently, we US conservatives, oppose assaults on women’s rights to bear children, family rights, support stronger domestic economy (that so too wishes for EU prosperity by their own reforms), and support church rights and Constitutional ones. All these would have been assaulted directly as promised by Hillary\u2019s future failed policies. So, in not expressing solidarity on values basis with us, is Chancellor Merkel a participant in the evil that we oppose? Possibly. As we know, refraining from speaking out against evil, may as well be participation or advocacy for it. Speaking out against right? That is simply wrong.<\/p>\n
Frau Merkel, has not congratulated us without expressions of judgment. Which is curious, given that we are not the participants in erosion of American Constitutional rights and freedom, like our domestic opposition was and still is in the American leftist movements. Frau Merkel has said that she was “ready to work”, in her speech: indicating to me that she believes that the German population and the EU is still backing her- which to an extent they may be only half-heartedly doing so today. With the rise of liberty in America, within Germany, and within the EU, she is confronted for the first time in many years, with the real prospect of being voted out herself. This, she does not want, having campaigned as a conservative.<\/p>\n
Upon the US election victory, which marks a revolution for democracy and the interest of our nation’s people, our president received words of congratulation in the form of a letter from the EU parliament, including from EU’s honorary Mr. Tusk. Also, receiving words of support from certain leaders of Asia. The German chancellor knows that her national interests are often at odds evermore with the EU. However, the EU also runs into a collision course currently with the USA, when it comes to topics of Russia. The “old guard”, on both sides of the Atlantic, raised battle cries against Russia. This included its taking shape in the form of crippling sanctions against her. But, the “new guard”, wants peace and trade with Russia. Not with illusory ambition, rather with forthcoming attempt and optimism. It also wishes to safeguard every ideal that makes America great since its birth. So, Germany must decide to back peddle and take a less defiant stance on behalf of all of the EU, or to be defiant. <\/p>\n
Can Frau Merkel show tolerance and poise for being sidelined, where a post-Communist Russia is willing to get more done with the United States, than she has so far been willing to, with our new leadership? Does she really want a solution to eradicating ISIS in Syria, at the Russian and American capacity to do so? Or, does she want continued armed conflict there? Does she wish to depose elected leaders that we do not wish to depose? She has insisted on finding the \u201cshared ideals with the USA\u201d. This sounds like an appeal with veiled threats… indicating that there are areas where she doubts our morality. Such heir of moral superiority, will not encourage open minded cooperation, trade boosting, and instead will justify to her: new rounds of sanctions against Russia at the request of outgoing US President Obama – to be a justified course of action – which it is not. However, she is right to remind the USA that she has been the most significant voice in the EU, without too much public opposition. That has been quite a privilege, in which she can hope to garner votes from Germans who are more passive than the other German and EU citizens, who do not seek progress with America\u2019s brand of inclusive conservatism. <\/p>\n
But, here, can we allow the German government to finance the US Green party? And, the leftist\u2019s recount efforts? Absolutely not. Whether Frau Merkel supported US\u2019s Hillary Clinton, or a third party candidate – in spirit or not, she is not legally permitted to influence our elections. Nor is the EU.<\/p>\n
NATO participation, at a bargain of a cost, is worth its benefits when others are ready to defend the passive. Germany and EU nations cannot be passively acceptant of USA military protection, or even demand it, at the expense of US-Russo friendship. Unless Germany\u2019s relations with us are understood as being a two way street that is inclusive of American direction, and a respect for the Christian heritage of the United States and its founding fathers is demonstrated through action and word, then as Germany has said before, “CETA will be the only strengthened trade agreement they can have”. One cannot express that the United States “should not go it alone”, but also insist on certain supposed moral imperatives that we may wish to decline. Germany cannot insist on a \u201cmy way or the highway\u201d approach, and attempt to block our trade deals where we seek trade, if it is more advantageous elsewhere than with them for us to engage elsewhere.<\/p>\n
The EU parliament’s vote of confidence as a whole, is conversely, more reassuring to the USA. My thanks to the EU president for this vote of confidence. We we will have to find out exactly what “looking forward to working together” really means pragmatically, after our president has been sworn into office. As we see certain EU member state leaders being subjugated to kangaroo court trials for their conservatism, we find this alarming and an impediment to democracy in Europe.
\nIf the EU has difficulty accepting our US revolution, then there will be a lack of cooperation. Moreover, if it loudly opposes our domestic policies and obstructs, then we are in for a fight. This is fight that should not be engaged in.<\/p>\n
What does German Federal chancellor Merkel’s cold-shoulder toward US president elect Donald Trump really mean at this stage? Not too much yet, unless the initial hard-line stance of hers becomes more of opposition in practice, and effectively pushes us away. <\/p>\n
With regard to free trade… before our US election commenced, Canada’s CETA agreement took the EU center stage, and TTIP was effectively tossed away. This occurred as interest in TTIP dissipated among some European populous. Perhaps CETA is a more lucrative and sufficient partnership, in the eyes of EU leaders; it still faces the uphill ratification processes.<\/p>\n
In any case, when it comes to trade deals, the benefit of trade negotiations re-written post Obama, should be based on a premise that the trade deals are to be crafted with the underlying purpose of liberalizing both entities… in terms of economic performance and partnership; and creating cultural ties and friendship. Without this aspect, the USA should be more advised to boost trade with other partners. This is a low-point in EU USA relations, but we hope there will be resolution as soon as January 2017.<\/p>\n
In a recent US study, most Germans would not defend NATO country partners, yet their leaders speak loudly about the defense of human rights as proponents of dignity. How do we defend human rights without military support? We can\u2019t. A positive signal however since then, has been shown by EU NATO leaders… as they perhaps feel more willing to solidify German public sentiment – now that they face the very real prospect of losing out to the US Russo strengthening of ties. Ties that can leave the EU less important, well beyond the reach of the only effective military cooperation we have seen in Syria. It is not trade alone that boosts friendship. It is also a partnering against shared physical threats, that brew around the world – problems that government\u2019s face every single day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
After taking time to enjoy the US holiday, Thanksgiving, we appreciate the bounty that our God gives. Food yes, but every bounty. When we live according to God, and credit Him for every joy, we benefit by finding friendship even …<\/span> Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1738","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.film-shorts.tv\/wpress.cfonseca160\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1738","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.film-shorts.tv\/wpress.cfonseca160\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.film-shorts.tv\/wpress.cfonseca160\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.film-shorts.tv\/wpress.cfonseca160\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.film-shorts.tv\/wpress.cfonseca160\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1738"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.film-shorts.tv\/wpress.cfonseca160\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1738\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1739,"href":"https:\/\/www.film-shorts.tv\/wpress.cfonseca160\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1738\/revisions\/1739"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.film-shorts.tv\/wpress.cfonseca160\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1738"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.film-shorts.tv\/wpress.cfonseca160\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1738"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.film-shorts.tv\/wpress.cfonseca160\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1738"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}