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PaperclipPerfector  3d ago (text post)   13562 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of May 18, 2026

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But didn't invade. Starting a war with dozens of first world militaries would be a horrible idea for Russia they can't even handle Ukraine. The modern fighters in the EU alone would doom Russia's Ukrainian adventure. Not to mention the EU's almost two million active duty soldiers.

Does the EU have the stomach for an actual war using their own soldiers though?

Something like 90% of young Germans recently responded that they have no interest in fighting for their country.

I wonder if german youth fatalism also is influenced by knowing if they die Von de Leyen has a million migrants ready to import to keep the population high. The notion of dying so that you can be easily replaced by foreigners, and lets be real the foreigner here isn't Pierre or Johnny its Ahmed or Rajiv Von de Leyen wants to bring in, must surely make one fatalistic about your states concern for you.

Germany != EU

For a significant portion of Northern and Eastern EU Russia is an existential threat. That a bunch of German youth are mindkilled by pacifist propaganda does not mean that the EU (which has 26 other countries in addition to Germany) is not willing to go to actual war in such situation.

Germany != EU

There almost should be a feature to automatically remind people of this extremely salient point every time EU comes up for discussion.

Also, of course, it wouldn't be the EU Russians would be fighting but the NATO - even if US bows out there would still be Turkey to deal with, for instance.

We need another reminder whenever free speech comes up that UK and Germany are very much not the norm for Europe.

Aren't they? Scandinavia and France, at least, seem to have robust hate speech apparati.

No. UK is at one extreme end (particularly when it comes to libel) as is Germany in a different way.

People on The Motte like to claim that you'll go to jail or get taken in by the police for hate speech which is very much not the case in Scandinavia unless it involves persistent stalking of specific individuals or outright threats.

If Russia attacked them sure. I and doubt those 90% are in the Army now and even so when the first Russian missile hits Berlin that number will change real quick.

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