European Identity - Individual, Group and Society - HumanitarianNet

124 EUROPEAN IDENTITY. INDIVIDUAL, GROUP AND SOCIETYOn the other hand, a constructivist conception of identity could lead toan incoherent amalgam in which specific elements are diluted in a“broth” in which we all dress alike, eat the same and listen to the samemusic (tending, furthermore, to consume light/soft versions, the soletype of protest being the creation of hard/heavy versions of the former).However, in my opinion, we need to focus on the constructiviststandpoint, without lapsing into the mediocrity that results frompermanent concession to all type of economic, social, consumer-relatedand politically correct pressures.It is here where I would place an aspect that has to do with regionaland national identities as opposed to a supranational identity such as theEuropean Union o even Europe or as some plurinational states.Constructing a larger, more global identity cannot be made at the expenseof what groups, peoples, regions and nations regard as specific to theirown identity. At the same time, a reverse movement is necessary: as weintegrate into a different or larger reality, we should be able to criticiseour own values and traditions and distinguish what is essential for thepreservation of our own identity from what is superfluous and preventsus from making progress.Xabier Etxeberría´s chapter focuses on this issue.The following aspects related to the construction of an identity areto be highlighted:The richness of diversityThroughout this Seminar we have referred to the colloquy onEuropean Identity that the Council of Europe carried out in threeoccasions (between April 2001 and April 2002). At present, I wouldonly like to focus on the metaphor for Europe that was devised there:«a constantly shifting kaleidoscope» 5 . The truth is a kaleidoscope withone single lens is not very effective. A singularity imprisoned around aprism of mirrors only looks at and reflects itself. On the other hand, theeffect of the final image is likely to be often repeated. However, themore pieces we have and the more varied they are, will create a uniqueand, of course, much more dazzling effect.I believe that the metaphor of the kaleidoscope can be inspiring inrelation to the point I want to make here: the more we integrate diversityinto the construction of our own identity, the more we are capable ofwelcoming differences, the richer our reality and our life will be.5«European identity: a constantly-shifting kaleidoscope». Council of Europe. TheNotion of Identity. Coloquy: 17-18 April, 2001.