Author: Jochen Bender

“He is one of us.” (2/2)

Posted on by Jochen Bender
Two Bavarian musicians standing at a lake, Spotlight Europe
“He is one of us!” Why not present European TV spots in which every regional culture is introduced? (Flickr:Anna/licensed under CC BY 2.0)

In the first part the author described his experiences during his professional sports career, namely that sports has the strength to unite people. This common spirit should be transfered to Europe so that people see themselves as Europeans. The second part deals with what can be done to achieve that spirit.

Can we not initiate a series of spots for Europe? In each spot presenting a person from any of our countries with a typical regional theme in the image, joyfully stating the testimonial: …”And here in Europe – I am at home.” Or: …. “And here in Europe – I feel at home”.

We all learn at school that Europe is a unique continent of rich cultures. This is true but it´s a remote, intellectual statement. Would it not be more convincing if we would raise more awareness and emotions for this incredible historical achievement, grown over 2.000 years, amongst the 500 million? Should the EU then start a series of ads in the media in all our countries, with the following content? :

Christopher Columbus, Albert Einstein, William Shakespeare, Leonardo da Vinci, El Greco, Moliere, (and many more, each nation has contributed with geniuses)

….they are all: “one of us”. Us as Europeans.

“Let us build up the biggest family in the world.”

When, during this year, a German astronaut has been living and working in the International Space Ship for months and currently an Italian astronaut (a lady) accomplishes the same, all 500 million Europeans should be proud since both astronauts are: “he/she is one of us.”

Surrounding the globe, in addition to telling us how wonderful the World looks from space, could our European astronauts not also mention how wonderful it is to see our Europe?

(This is also a European mission and these astronauts are Europeans.)

“He is one of us” is obviously causing a feeling of family to all of us. Let us build up the biggest family in the world: 500 million Europeans. It will take much time – but it can become reality.

Finally for today:

We could invite, say 100 children from all our nations, wearing traditional, regional costumes, to stand in front or inside the European Parliament on the first day of a new term. Imagine the emotional, touching, colourful image, creating a strong emotional feeling and pride in all European countries, with all people.

It seems to me to be a promising plan that we in “MyEurope” propose the idea of the same lyrics to at last be written for the European Anthem (composer Ludwig van Beethoven) in all our languages, speaking about our great values, our common Europe so that all 500 million can sing to the same tune.

We need to foster and bring Europe forward, beyond intellectual arguments as valuable as they are.

Europe is about emotions. Europe in our hearts.

About the author:

Jochen BenderJochen Bender is a passionate European. He has lived and worked in Rio de Janeiro, London and Germany. He is a developer of tourism and hotels. He travelled on business to almost sixty countries and spent a total of seven years in developing countries. More

“He is one of us.” (1/2)

Posted on by Jochen Bender
ZSK Vorwärts Berlin, Achter, Spotlight Europe
The sports spirit unites people.(Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-31886-0006 via Wikimedia Commons/licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 DE)

Forgive me for a male title, I am speaking of both female and male, of course.

When I was a kid, I started with athletics and one day in a competition, Frankfurt – Vienna – London, organised in the German city, 60.000 spectactors were enthusiastically applauding and cheering for me, because “he is one of us”. One for the crowd.

Later I ran for Germany in Rome and 60.000 Italians were shouting for their Olympic Champion competing with me since “he is one of us”. One for the crowd.

Years later, in 1968, I had retired from sports, a continental cup was held in Stuttgart, Germany. Europe versus the Untited States.

Poland, during the cold war, was felt to be a country on the other side, on the wrong side, behind the Iron Curtain. As it happened, the last competitor for Europe, deciding on whether Europe or the Unites States would win this prestigious event, was an athlete from Poland and 60.000 German spectators were applauding and cheering for him.

He came from Poland but “he is one of us”.

A player of the defence in one of the German football clubs was being “hated” by the fans in Frankfurt, since in two previous games he had badly injured Frankfurt´s players who had to undergo surgery and could not play for many months.

“[M]ake use of this human feeling in our efforts for Europe.”

Every time this player touched the ball during a game in Frankfurt, there was an uproar of disgust by 60.000 spectators in the stadium. This went on for some years until the player left his club and joined the Frankfurt team. From this day on he was the best sportsman, gentleman like with a wonderful character, in total conviction glorified by the Frankfurt fans and the local media because now “he is one of us”.

“He is one of us” seems to create strong emotions of togetherness. As it is the case in families.

Let us think about it and make use of this human feeling in our efforts for Europe.

The regional Bavarian Television is broadcasting one minute spots between programs where you see Bavarians and migrants showing typical Bavarian themes in the background, mentioning their names, telling us their profession and then all are happily stating the testimonial : …”and here I am at home.”

About the author:

Jochen Bender Photo Jan 2013, Spotlight EuropeJochen Bender is a passionate European. He has lived and worked in Rio de Janeiro, London and Germany. He is a developer of tourism and hotels. He travelled on business to almost sixty countries and spent a total of seven years in developing countries. More

 

Europe in Our Hearts.

Posted on by Jochen Bender
Crowd in London, Spotlight Europe
How can we foster patriotic feelings for Europe amongst 500 million? (Flickr:The CBI/licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Intellectual discussions on Europe do have their values. They are essential, there are no doubts. But bringing 500 million citizens to grow closer together can be better built with emotions. Emotionally we need to create a common feeling so that the 500 million within the European Union are all inlanders and not foreigners any more.

“When will 500 million citizens obtain a European passport?”

When will 500 million citizens obtain a European passport?
In addition to the national passport within a period of transition.
This will cause immense legal implications but the issue should not hold up what is good for Europe.

It seems to me to be a human behaviour that it needs a common problem or a common threat in order to be united. The Soviet Union in the past. Russia today? Wouldn´t it be much more desirable to be united for a common opportunity? And what a great opportunity the European Union is providing. A new fantastic horizon for all, especially for the young.

My observation is that especially many young people, well understandable, take all the wonderful achievements of the European Union for granted as they have not seen otherwise but place their focus on current matters in Brussels. The sometimes tough discussions, the poor egoistic style amongst politicians and worst of all, media, that publishes which president or chancellor is the winner of a negotiation.

Have we ever heard a journalist telling us that Europe is the winner?

We should not forget that we need to win hearts and minds of all 500 million for the European Union. Not only the elite. Students having participated in the Erasmus programs, school students who enjoyed exchanges with their peers in other countries, managers having worked within various EU countries. All these are excellent ambassadors for the European Union but they are a small minority. A most valuable minority, but still a minority.

“[W]e need to approach the national mass media and convince them to write appropriately critical […]”

Then, how can we convince the mind and heart of the other 90% of people in Europe?
Not an easy task at all. Since these people do not experience Europe by personally meeting other Europeans or through international business, we need to approach the national mass media and convince them to write appropriately critical but fair and respectful about other countries. And national politicians should refrain from taking applause for good news and exporting responsibility to Brussels for bad news. A very detrimental attitude towards our noble goals.

Media should at any time place critique on any current issues, on new laws, on political representatives of the EU but not on the noble cause of the European Union.

How can we foster patriotic feelings for Europe amongst 500 million?
Not only by reflecting on Europe´s great cultures but:
By creating awareness for the great joint achievements of Europe to be proud of.

• The current Philae space mission. Europe before America on a comet.

• By making everyone aware that the Airbus planes are a great European achievement. A perfect example: No single EU country would have been able to build such planes, competing most sucessfully with the US giant Boeing. Providing high tech jobs for over 120.000 people in Europe.
And many more.

And then…

• Should Europe not build its own Amazon or Google?

• Should we not have a common television channel in our different languages, the same programme and at the same time? A regular programme. Movies, news, entertainment et. al.

• Why don´t we employ native English speaking teachers from the U.K. or Ireland in all EU countries? The same in other languages.

• We could establish European teams in different sports competing with North America or Latin America, Asia and Africa, Australia and Oceania.

• Should we not invite well known, popular, respected European personalities giving public testimonials on the values of Europe as part of an advertising campaign?
(movie stars, sportsmen, singers, astronauts et. al.)
Example: “Nowhere in the World you can find so many great cultures within a three Hours` flight than in Europe.”

• We should install an EU exchange center. All EU nations have talent, experience and ideas which are beneficial to all members of the EU. Let us collect and exchange this most valuable asset and make it available to all.

• We should install a “European protection force.” 1.000 specialists joining from all our countries, stationed in the center of Europe, state of the art equipment, deployed in any EU region within 24 hours, fighting major fires, helping in the aftermath of earth quakes or floods. Then we can promise each single EU citizens that he, she is protected by 500 million people.

• We should install a “European protection fund”- say each country pays 1 Euro per citizen into the fund per year to compensate and to rebuild immediately damaged houses, farms and factories destroyed by a natural catastrophy. And again, we could promise each EU citizens that he, she is protected by 500 million people.

We Europeans, we all stand up for each other.
We all are good next door neighbours to each other.

About the author:

Jochen Bender Photo Jan 2013, Spotlight EuropeJochen Bender is a passionate European. He has lived and worked in Rio de Janeiro, London and Germany. He is a developer of tourism and hotels. He travelled on business to almost sixty countries and spent a total of seven years in developing countries. More