The European Dream Ode to Joy from Beethovens

The European Dream "Ode to Joy" from Beethoven’s 9 th Symphony Freude, schöner Götterfunken Töchter aus Elysium, Wir betreten feuertrunken, Himmlische, dein Heiligtum! Deine Zauber binden wieder Ludwig van Beethoven born Bonn, Germany: December 17, 1770 died Vienna, Austria: March 26, 1827 Was die Mode streng geteilt; Alle Menschen werden Brüder, Wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt. 1 Chris SNUGGS, ISUGA September 2005

The European Dream "Ode to Joy" - from the Ninth Symphony composed in 1823 by Ludwig Van Beethoven q the anthem not only of the European Union but also of Europe in a wider sense Beethoven set to music the "Ode to Joy" written in 1785 by Friedrich von Schiller; this poem expresses Schiller's idealistic vision of the human race becoming brothers - a vision Beethoven shared q in 1972, the Council of Europe (the same body that designed the European flag) adopted Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" theme as its own anthem - without words, in the universal language of music, this anthem expresses the ideals of freedom, peace and solidarity for which Europe stands q in 1985, it was adopted by EU heads of State and government as the official anthem of the European Union; not intended to replace the national anthems of the Member States but rather to celebrate the values they all share and their unity in diversity 2 Chris SNUGGS, ISUGA September 2005

Schizophrenic Europe? What are we? q a disunited hotch-potch of selfish, squabbling and globally-impotent nation states? q a united continent of federated states able to stand up to the USA and other emerging power blocs? q an embryonic superstate one day to be ruled from Brussels and become one of the four major economic and military powers in the world? Where are we going? 3 Chris SNUGGS, ISUGA September 2005