Letter: European? Not us

Warwick Cairns
Thursday 17 June 1999 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: Paolo Grossi (letter, 17 June) has it just about right: the British aren't, and never will be, true "Europeans" in the sense that people on the Continent are.

We have far too much in common with the world outside. From Birmingham Balti to Ragga to Hanif Kureishi and Salman Rushdie, the broader world - and particularly India, Pakistan and the West Indies (not to mention America and the Anglo-Saxon world) - is in our blood, in our national cuisine, and in our music, our culture and literature.

Who could tell you what the national dish of Portugal is, or name a famous Belgian? Who has relatives in Finland? Who reads Dutch literature? Who listens to Greek dance music? And who in this country really and truly wants to sign up for a United States of Europe? Not me.

WARWICK CAIRNS

Windsor,

Berkshire

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in