European Values

First of all, let’s agree that there is such a thing as European values. We live in an era of calling everything into question, in an era of philosophical relativism and political pragmatism, when truth and lie are becoming just words that can be interchanged expediently. We live in an era when those who admit having any values at all are practically considered fanatics, fundamentalists – petrified in their system, unable of evolving. Questioning and uncertainty – those are the only certainties of our times.

One can probably see this reflected in art as art has always been responsive to zeitgeist. Art, especially the Czech art, is brilliant at mocking, pulling masks down, at mimicking, belittling, ridiculing zest – patriotic, amorous or for freedom; nowadays art keeps on top of things, it is good at attacking values and breaking taboo. However, let’s not expect it to ask any difficult questions or, let alone try to find answers to them. Come on – someone might take your art tomorrow and ridicule, mimic or belittle it. This is something very typical of us, Czechs. It is the Czech literature icon Josef Švejk not William Wallace who Czech children hear at school about.

Of course, it is right to call things into question, ask questions, ask whether things could be different. Surely, we must evolve, we must go on. Questioning if something is true is one thing and it is good and it is right; however questioning the existence of the truth itself is something entirely different. If we question the truth as such, we do not need to go anywhere anymore – there is no point in going anywhere if there is no destination.

If we wager on uncertainty, we will never set foot on a bridge, we will never move forward, we will never set out. If uncertainty becomes my only certainty, then it is, paradoxically, me myself who becomes rigid, petrified, who will stay put forever. After all, theoretical sceptics are always practical conformists. They criticize everything, but do not change anything. Because if one wishes to change things, it means that one is certain, that one believes.

It is a Christian’s certainty that the world is meaningful, that it is meaningful to shape it, to improve it – because the world is worth it and we are meant to love it just like God loves it. So yes, European values do exist. We are not in limbo, we are not the first generation of Europeans, we live on tradition. Tradition is the living faith of the dead – living in conversation with the past; what would they do if they were us, how would they deal with our situations.

On the other hand, traditionalism – mirror image of the questioning relativism – is the dead faith of the living; traditionalists believe that everything needs to be done exactly the same way as before, only that way, not any other way; any change – no matter how small – would be heretic, it would mean retreating, and trampling of sacred rules and therefore it must be coming from hell.

We live in the tradition of Europe and its values. We are privileged to live in this era, unstable and uncertain, and therefore blessed – because we are asked, with urgency unseen in peacetime, what we believe in and why.