Thoughts for the 4th of July

The Frailty of Human Institutions

It wasn’t that long ago (the 20th century) when Europe was consumed twice by war which resulted in the deaths of millions. The countries of Europe lined up along national/ideological lines, formed alliances and then went to war to settle their differences. Whatever the cause, including naked aggression by some states against others, the results were devastating. It is good to remember on the 4th of July that thousands of American soldiers, sailors and airmen also perished in these conflicts and many are buried in American cemeteries in Europe.

After the Second World War, tired and impoverished by war but with the help of the American Marshall Plan, Europe slowly began to rebuild itself by entering into cooperative working agreements and by creating such institutions as NATO and the European Union (EU.) Now, 70 years later, we are facing the reality of an “unwinding” of those institutions and relationships. The recent vote in Britain to leave the EU should be of concern to everyone, including Americans. Like it or not, our country has been inextricably entwined in events in Europe for the past 200 years, including its wars.

One generation does not necessarily build on the experiences of prior generations. Over time people forget. It takes years of dogged determination to build agreements and trust between nations. It can all come tumbling down quickly. This seems to be what happened in the recent “Brexit” vote to leave the European Union. People want quick solutions to their perceived problems, but most problems are complex and solutions take time.

Building a united Europe has never been easy. Every nation in the EU has a different language or culture. In the 17th century, the continent was also split along religious lines (Protestant vs. Catholic). During what was called the “Thirty Years War”, it is estimated that nearly a quarter of the people living in Central Europe (now Germany) were killed. Sadly, the history of fighting and war in Europe is much longer and more well-established than its more recent history of working together.

The “Brexit” is more than a ho-hum moment in history. It could lead to further divisions in Europe and more political instability. Human institutions are vulnerable. Americans should be concerned. Cutting ourselves off from Europe is something we couldn’t do even if we wanted to. It is always easier when going to the polls to just get mad, vote “No” and pull oneself into a self-protective cocoon. Unfortunately, that usually doesn’t solve problems. For America’s sake, let’s hope that Europe can figure out a way to keep itself together.


Rolland Kidder
Ashville, NY