The Spirit of Cooperation
The current leaders of the United States, behind their president, are playing at military, economic and geographic power struggles. Europe experienced these imperialist battles for centuries. After the last great conflagration, 80 years ago, it chose to believe in “the forces of the spirit”: rebuilding, creating new forms of cooperation, organizing solidarity, freeing spaces and exchanges, turning hateful competition into creative strength… The United States was then part of this effort, driven by Roosevelt and Truman, then by Eleanor Roosevelt, who tirelessly promoted and defended Human Rights until her death.
The Spirit of Laws
U.S. leaders aim for the unrestrained expansion of global capitalism, betting on the “trickle‑down” of wealth, which for now benefits mostly the richest. Fortunately, citizens and leaders who believe in the forces of the spirit have developed a spirit of solidarity and the ability of human groups to unite to improve collective life: social and union movements, struggles for human rights, free, independent and international justice, systems of solidarity, etc.
The Spirit of Knowledge
The forces of the spirit are open to the growth of knowledge, research, innovation, educational systems, and the development of analytical and critical thinking… Any ideological censorship hinders creativity and intellectual life.
The Civic Spirit
A society that believes in the forces of the spirit encourages citizens to participate in political and social life. Ridiculing or silencing citizen movements, community initiatives or public debates that aim to improve society and nourish democracy leads to stagnation and regression.
The Inner Spirit
The forces of the spirit develop cultures and the arts, encourage reflection and inner life, which reveal the meaning of existence. In Europe, ecumenical cooperation, recent theological reflections and the practices of believers are guiding major religions toward genuine respect for the forces of the spirit and away from rigid dogmatism.
Resistance and Resilience
The most “European” people today, through their strength in resisting oppression, their capacity for resilience in the face of misfortune, and their desire to live better and united with others, is the Ukrainian people — those who, according to Trump, “do not have the right cards,” but who possess the greatest force of hope for the future.
For “believing in the forces of the spirit” means betting on thought, creativity, resilience, commitment, freedom, democracy, peaceful cooperation, active respect for others and for the Earth. Muscle strength without the forces of the spirit creates chaos and suffering.
Michel Seyrat.
