Happy Birthday, EU!

I am not a patriot, and I steer well clear of patriotic events. During the football world championship I was glad not to be in Germany when I heard of the patriotic outbursts, and the youthful Scots who would take every opportunity to state how proud they were of their country disturbed me. It does not matter, at least not to me, where you live, as it is a coincidence in most cases.

I really don't get patriotism on anything but a very local level, I do not feel attached to my country, even though I happen to live here, it does not seem to be important for my identity that I happen to be German. On the whole, I do not like countries or states much, they are so artificial. Of course you need administrative units, I know. Still. I like countries working together, I like open borders, I like the idea of a united Europe - beyond states. A part of me is proud to be in Europe, to be in a country working together with other countries like the member states of the EU do.

Of course many things are far from being ideal, many things go wrong, and there are huge problems ahead for the EU. I believe that it is a step into the right direction. Of course local concerns ought to have priority, too. And yet, on the whole, as someone whose grandparents fought the grandparents of friends I don't see how any idea that works for preventing this from happening ever again is not the best idea.

Happy Birthday, European Union.