>Well you asked for it! Ireland and Spain have a great deal in common. Historically, the Celtic people that settled in Ireland came from a region of Spain called Galicia, ...

And their ancestors came on BattleStar Galicia

>Remember that story about a man named Zoro? He was Irish and went to Spain (did not like the British) and was an officer in the Spanish Army. He was stationed in Mexico and had an interesting history.

Then why is Tony Banderas playing him? I always thought that Zoro was just a made-up story. Mind you, they HAVE got a Welsh girl playing his squeeze.

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>When the Spanish Armada was desiccated by a storm off the shores of Cork, Ireland, many of the survivors remained in Ireland.

What - all dried up? :-)


>They became known as “Black Irish”, and are still called that.

Aye, the Irish had such an afinity to the Spaniards that these were the ones who didn't get their throats summarily cut as they straggered up the beach!

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>France and Germany have much in common. Just look at the history of wars and how the borders have changed between those two countries!

Shouldn't that be "much at odds..." then?

>I have friends from that region born in France with German names. The French and Germans have not fought for over 60 years. Most commendable!

It might have something to do with Germany being occupied by the allies since WWII, and their not being allowed to take their army outside their borders.
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>Perhaps someday Africa and even Asia will be a part of the EU! Who knows? Then Europe will once again “own the world”. Not as a colonial power or Empire but as an economic power. It is up to the EU members what it becomes.

I was just thinking about that the other day. What with baltic states joining, Turkey trying to join, etc., it's gradually creeping east. One day they'll say "Hang on. Why EU? How about EAU (Europe-Asia Union) ?

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>I understand that the EU has power to demand that anything from another country must meet specific standards before it can be sold. That seems like a good thing as collectively the EU is a large market that will be listened to as opposed to a single, small and insignificant nation. :)

There are certain benefits, such as the fact that a manufacturer offers a 1-year guarantee on its products is bunkum. Europe-wide the minimum is 2 years regardless. Not a lot of people know that.

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>Time will tell what value the EU will have to its members. Personally, I like the concept of the EU. It makes many people consider a uniform way to do specific things. Who knows, the United States may ask to become a member of the EU. After all, look at our roots! :)

Nah! Well not till after the USA, under an hispanic president, has fought with the USE over The Russian Federation's oil

Terry