Europe & America

Posted on Mon, Aug. 11, 2003

Europe and America
We must work to repair differences that threaten our important ties
BILLY O. WIREMAN
Special to The Observer

British Prime Minister Tony Blair's inspirational plea to the American Congress to nurture American-European relationships calls to mind conversations I had this spring with European and Russian students, diplomats, journalists and business executives. They confirmed that while the Iraqi War is the most recent source of conflict, there are other issues that divide us. Examples:

• During a Prague visit with a group of Charlotte executives, I asked our guide Teriq what forces had shaped her values and who were her heroes. She responded, "Survival was the issue. There were no heroes." Did you experience any religious influence? "No, the church in the Czech Republic is not strong." I said religion was very significant in my life and that most Americans still believe in heroes. Her response: "Europeans simply do not understand this."

• A bright Czech law student, Jan, confirmed Teriq's views and said he respected "Americans for their idealism," but added that few Europeans share this "trait."

• In Berlin with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' executives Debbie Antshel and Robbie Kale, we met with students and faculty to establish Internet contact with Charlotte schools around the theme of Leadership for Global Economics. I asked a German student about America: "We resent your efforts to export Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) to Europe. This will hurt our farmers and, besides, this `Frankenfood' may be unsafe." Other students nodded in agreement.

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