Dear Reader,
For a while now on diablog I am picking fun, entertaining, strange, different or serious dates of celebration or commemoration.
When looking for stuff to celebrate on May 9th I stumbled over:
My immediate reaction was: wait, what?
Europe has a special day? Really?
According to Wikipedia, on May 9 Europe celebrates "peace and unity in Europe". That's a worthy cause, no question. You all should be dancing in the streets, having drinks and food, hugging each other and what not.
There hasn't been a war in the European Union since 1945.
That's 57 years of peace. If my calculator is accurate. And if we consider what happened in Yugoslavia outside of the European Union.
Considering what happened over only 31 years immediately prior to 1945, this is quite an accomplishment. And if you know your history a bit, then it is even more surprising. Sometimes Europeans fought for decades, like the Thirty Year's War. Which, according to my history teacher ended only, because there was nothing of value left, worth fighting over. Earlier the French and the English went at each other's throat for a hundred years.
So, kudos to Europeans! Two generations without a war on your territory.
Now I have a question:
Are you Europeans really celebrating this today? And if so, how?
Naturally, I am herewith excluding Glynsky from answering. We all know what he thinks about Europe. He cannot wait for the UK to get out of the EU. And he keeps dreaming of the Empire. It's not going to come back, but he just loves that dream too much.
So, all other Europeans, would you please tell?
Because I have not heard about that celebration.
If you Europeans are having parties today all over the continent, celebrating what might be the longest lasting period of peace so far, how come it does not make the news? Or am I reading the wrong papers?
Please, leave a comment and tell whether you are celebrating and how.
I'll have a drink and congratulate you guys for keeping peace for such a long time.
May it last and spread,
Engine Room
PS: Another reason to celebrate, this is post no. 1234.
2 comments:
Now that you have told me I will celebrate 'Happy Europe Day'
with a glass of wine and a loose woman.
I already have the wine but need to obtain the other part of the 'package'.
Dear Pete,
It seems only the two of us were celebrating. What a party.
ER
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