Ramblings | The European Constitution? What's that?

One of the most frustrating parts of being a reporter for a weekly newspaper is watching the national reporters mess up. My duty is to report on events and issues that are local, not national, so when the Associated Press and other major news outlets ignore something, there's little I can do.

The European Constitution is a prime example. This issue is vital to our country, yet our media hasn't reported on it. Europe's new plan to unite countries, which would likely make the Euro from of currency more widespread, doesn't fit well into coverage of Houston County, so this editorial is one of the few ways I can educate people on the subject.

Of course, Europe's form of currency is not the main issue involved in The European Constitution, but that's the part that affects America most. The Euro and the American dollar have been competing since the Euro was was officially adopted in 2002, but if the European Constitution is passed, the Euro may threaten the American dollar as the most widely used currency in the world.

Is this bad for America? Some would say yes. It hinders our image as the so-called "one remaining superpower." Without a superior form of currency, our worldly influence declines.

I'm not particularly worried about this issue - if anything, I think being forced to share our influence would make the world a more stable and balanced place - but I don't represent the views of all our citizens, which is why it's important for the American media to report on this issue.

France is voting on the constitution May 29. If France votes no, the constitution idea is pretty much dead, since it has to be approved by all 25 European Union members. If France votes yes, the constitution will not be official until it's approved by a variety of other EU members, including the Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic, Denmark, and the UK.

Perhaps the American media isn't reporting on the issue because there's still a long way to go before the constitution can be passed. But why wait until the last minute to inform Americans about such an important issue? The European Constitution is complicated, and it will take a while before the majority of Americans can fully understand it. It's better to start the education early.

The national media will argue that Americans don't have any interest in affairs outside of their own country, and that's true. But just because something is true doesn't mean it's good. Ignorance is one of the biggest dangers in life, and our lack of interest in the rest of the world will not help our country's success in the future.

It's time for us to take an interest in the rest of the world, as they have in us. Some say the Roman Empire fell partly because the Romans were ignorant to the happenings outside their own region. Americans are mimicking that mistake.

How are we to keep America's economy and influence strong if we're unwilling to educate ourselves about what the rest of the world is doing? If the media won't help your education, find other sources of information. Anyone who takes such a bold, independent plan of action would be an asset to their country.