A Sense of European Community

Relatively speaking, the United States is a civilization baby. Only 230 years old at this writing, the U.S. is still in knee-pants compared with European cities, for example, many of which date back a thousand years or more. Compared with cities rooted in Middle Eastern antiquity, where four thousand years of history is not uncommon, the U.S. is still in diapers.

The easiest way to tell the age of a city is by the width of its streets. Ancient Jerusalem is riddled with alleyways suitable for foot traffic only. Later the Romans came along and "modernized" it by adding a classical central promenade, which could accomodate horses and carriages, as well as shops and markets.

Many European cities still retain their older area, where streets are tight and tiny Euro-cars struggle to jam their way through. These wonderful places seem carved out of brick, stone and wood, every inch ornamented.

Even in the United States, the age of the city is visible in the streets. Compare Boston or New York, jammed together in an updated version of European cacophony, with Los Angeles, which is really more of a highway than a city.

With each century of modernization, people became more physically separated from one another. We have traded speed of movement for closeness with our neighbors and with ourselves.

The quality of life in the United States is trending toward increasing separation from others, aided not only by wider streets, but also by the ability to create a whole world within our homes filled with cable TV and the Internet.

There can be benefits of this. Remember the adage, "Good fences make good neighbors?" Maybe we fight less. But maybe we give up a bit too much in the trade.

I believe that we need to rediscover some of the richness which we have lost, richness derived from closeness with people and our surroundings. We need to re-create the European concept of being together outdoors, in neighborhoods, in restaurants and in outdoor cafes.

Where are the people? Where is the conversation? Where are impassioned political debates? Where is hospitality? Where is the evening stroll in the town square?

Where are shots of Cognac over sausage and cheese? Where is fashion and design? Where are people who speak more than two languages?

Where are the feminine artistic straight men? Where are fresh hard rolls bought daily down the street with fresh vegetables and cheese? Where are really fresh tomatoes?

Where is music in public played on non-electrified instruments? Where did the accordion go? The balalaika? The bazouki? The mandolin? Castinets? Where are people spontaneously bursting into a folk dance?

Where is storytelling? Where is laughter in clubs? Where are shopkeepers who make you feel like you belong? Where is real home cooked food prepared lovingly? Where is the smell of a stew being simmered all day? Where is community?

Where are vacations long enough to restore you? Where are months by the sea? Where is non chic-chic cappuchino? Where is carving wood by hand? Where is love at first sight which lasts forever?

Where is caring for the elderly? Where is playing with children? Where is joy in simple things? Where is walking? Where is art? Where is writing? Where is dance? Where is poetry? Where is joy? Where is feeling like a king? Where is sitting on park benches? Where is sitting on the porch? Where are rich fabrics? Where are classical paintings?

Where is going to a park? Where is an old style bath house built around a mineral spring? Where is getting scrubbed with palm fronds?

Where are discussions of the exchange rate? Where is knowledge of the country next door? Where is the meaning in posessions held over generations? Where is chocolate as a delicacy? Where is dried fish and beer? Where are pickles as a staple rather than as a condiment? Where are olives? Where are toasts to your health?

Where is knowing everyone on the block?

---

Mark Meshulam offers
keyboard shortcuts,
small business articles,
web master resources, and a powerful
email reminder system, all at
www.poingo.com