Germans wear "Lederhosen, 'drinking beer and eating sausages, are always on time, sense of humor and coolness. The French eat croissants and baguettes, berets and wear are lazy to speak another language. Italians eat pizza and pasta, speak loudly and are chaotic. Sweden is the land of Pippi Longstocking and girls blondes. The British have a Queen, love football and eating fish and chips. In Holland everybody uses wooden shoes, eat cheese and cycling in the open field with its windmills. The Spanish enjoy bullfights, eating paella and take a nap, while the Austrians living in the mountains, use a  "Tiroler Hata "and listen to Mozart.

Many languages, many voices, many attitudes, many different views, histories and cultures. What is the typical Europe? A complex formed by the contradictions and conflicts. However, thinking in Europe has a long tradition. This reveals a European conception of himself and its dependence on culture, socio-political and ethical. But how is Europe going to look like? Is it possible to unite people from different countries and stories different? Each country has its individual charm is being preserved. But an alliance of countries in need to include the containment or reduction of the compound rights and situations? Europe must not be a meeting point of different nationalities who are open to learning new languages and discover the beauty of other cultures? A meeting point where people exchange experiences and views, which benefit from each others heritage and learn to help each other grow together for something more big? The European countries should not see themselves apart from the rest. People should learn that there are more advantages than the open borders when going on vacation. They have the experience of Europe as a community and unity, not only in an economic sense. They have to see the positive effects and opportunities offered. Europe must not be only one point in the discussion of politics, but a project that is carried forward. It is not static but can be seen as a "work in progress". The only question is where to start. We all have different traditions, past and different climates and landscapes. We have different lifestyles, and all speak a different language. How do we communicate? But is it really necessary to have a common language and a common tradition? It is to be European not look beyond our own nose and experience new things?

Times have changed, havenÂ't them? People are not spending your life in another place. They take their traditions and ideals with them and mingle with other people and their attitudes. That leads to development of new common ground and new opinions. Communities today are mobile and mixed no more static. You can find Italian and Greek restaurants, in almost all parts of the world. Everyone eats and drinks French cheese French wine. Play radios world music and different languages we learn at school. We must open our minds and see that we are not missing anything in our history and our past, but we won some another story and another past. But have we built a unit or we may find a common identity if people in a country and of prejudice towards others? Take East Germany and West! Now after 17 years of conflict and unification are still big differences in thinking and behavior. We can not create the feeling a European community and force people to accept. You must develop, making it clear that tolerance and a vision on others are needed and that Europe does not destroy diversity of culture, but seeks to improve relationships. Someone once said that Europe is one phase, progress, movement and standstill, at the same time. Create possibilities and opportunities. It's a feeling and somehow like a rainbow has a wealth of different colors on one thing or as a salad in which all ingredients mix, but still keep their originality.

(resources: http://www.tobook.com)

Nadja Pollack has studied comunication sciences in Germany. Works as editor at http://www.tobook.com

Italian-American Cultural Center of Iowa

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