Will deliberately ignored the long history of this phrase and its importance to our notion (not his!) of Western Civilization:
I am not an Athenian or a Greek, I am a citizen of the world. ~Socrates
If I knew something that would serve my country but would harm mankind, I would never reveal it; for I am a citizen of humanity first and by necessity, and a citizen of France second, and only by accident. ~Montesquieu
Thomas Paine, speech opposing the execution of Louis XVI: "I was present at the time of the flight or abdication of Louis XVI., when he was taken and brought back. The proposal of restoring to him the supreme power struck me with amazement ; and although at that time I was not a citizen, yet as a citizen of the world, I employed all the efforts that depended on me to prevent it."
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The Israeli Jewish historian Israel Shahak points out what came to be called European anti-semitism was about as much the fault of the insular rabbis as that of the host Christian population. A modernist liberal and opportunist like George Will could care less about the actual history and would despise a truly nationalist Europe --and its stance on Israel--more than he does the European Union.
Ken,
I just googled Shahak - thanx for the tip.
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