Jean Monnet- A Red-letter Day for European Unity

Throughout Monnet’s speech he recognizes the faults that Europe had in the past, but towards the end of his speech he begins to reassure everyone that Europe will be what it once was. He goes onto say “Let us remember that the territories in which the men who have been meeting together in this chamber first saw the light of day have for centuries been in the forefront of civilisation, that the greatest thinkers and scientists were born in these lands and that the whole world owes its development to the drive and intelligence of men who were the sons of our country”(558). From this quote it is easy to develop a sense of national pride or in other word’s European pride. To me, the sense of nationalism comes off a little strong and in a way that they are better than other countries. I suppose my question would be, how does everyone else interpret this quotation? Do you think Monnet meant this in an arrogant way defending Europe, or do you think that he was just saying this in light to reassure Europeans that they were great before, so why can’t they continue to be great?