Constantly we hear sneers from Europe about that "Texan cowboy" (wish they'd get the adjective right); American boorishness; our "cultural imperialism" and in general a cheap shot whenever it seems like a fun thing to do. Resentment and envy, I think, that will be paid for and soon. Previously in these pages I stole from The Spectator and article by Irwin Stelzer, a man of good manners who was taunted into incandescence by European jibes. His points, made to Europeans, were good ones. He didn't go quite far enough, though for he didn't get into their snobbery about our cultural imperialism. It is true that Hollywood puts out much trash but doesn't its work, including the swill, especially the swill, make even more money overseas than here?

A 17th-century Creole nun and poetess, Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz wrote

O who is more to blame,
He who sins for pay
Or he who pays for sin?

Nancy Reagan's "Just say no" comes to mind too.

Back to my point. Paul Johnson, a man of great learning who makes sure that we know he wears it lightly, wrote an article in the April 14th issue of, again, The Spectator, saying that he had not, yet, met this Pope. He's missed one other one of the last seven. Well, it is his page and he may drop names if he wishes.

But Johnson, harrumphing paleo-con that he is, was bemoaning what Europe was becoming, and I find his analysis quite amusing, when viewed in the light of the sniffs that we hear constantly from across the pond. Johnson allows that

Brussels-Europe combines all the worst characteristics of its components: French arrogance, Italian corruption, German tunnel-vision, Spanish bloodymindedness, Dutch obstinacy, Belgian cowardice, Austrian anti-Semitism, Portuguese evasiveness and Danish cop-outing, not to speak of the new Slav contributions, Polish irrealism, Czech confusion, Slovak evasion, all topped up by Hungarian deviousness. 'Europe' is the worst thing to happen to Europe since the two world wars it started, and the dire consequences are only just beginning to manifest themselves. What will it be like by mid-century? Is this pathetic continent heading for a species of historical hell?

Yes. As George Santayana said, "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." It seems that the Eurocrats have forgotten fin de siecle Vienna, and they sneer at us for short memories. There is an onrushing train, viz Mark Steyn, and they're strapped, like Pauline, to the tracks and all they can do is whine about us, because it's easier than managing their own problems. Sounds a little like a trust-fund brat who's not been responsible for himself in living memory complaining about a bad hair day and grumbling that it's daddy's fault while the trust fund is running out and fast and Daddy, sick of the bitching, is not going to put any more money in it.

Well, I had a nice time there in 1979 and would like to go back, and soon. Before all the men are wearing beards, under Sharia law; the women burqas; and they want a wall to fall on me.