European Union worth living and dying for

David of Writing for (y)EU wrote a thoughtful post on the shifting media and campaign landscape: The Times They Are a-Changing (12 May 2009).



David’s references to Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg address and to Barack Obama’s presidential campaign made me think about what a European Union worth living and dying for would look like.

Lincoln said it in 1863 “government of the people, by the people, and for the people”.

Citizens elected Barack Obama President of the United States in 2008.

Abolition and emancipation.

Lincoln and Obama embody the essential difference between “We the People” of the US and the existing European Union 1.0 of heads of state or government.

“We the People” is the core of the future EU 2.0, a union worth living and dying for.


Ralf Grahn

P.S. The current European Union does not offer us much voice; the more important to use our limited vote wisely in the European elections, for a better EU.