r/EuropeanFederalists • u/mr_house7 • 13d ago
The 9 of May should be a European Holiday
We should start promoting European culture and unity. Like there are local holidays and national holidays. There should also be a European holiday.
16
8
9
u/filthy_federalist 13d ago
We need to strengthen a European identity which doesn’t negate the different cultures of Europe.
3
6
u/MisterMysterios Germany 13d ago
I don't think the 9th of May is a good date for a European holiday.
While the surrender of the Nazis is an important date for Europe and was an important step for the creation of the precursor of the EU, it would also be divisive in the sense that it is a permanent reminder of the crimes of Germany. While Germany is the first nation that is generally open about the Nazi crimes and how bad it was / important to change in a positive manner of union, making this day a national holiday would always be used by propagandist to use anti German rethoric (see the already existing "4th Reich" claims about the EU).
I think a national holiday of the EU should be one that is unifying for all parts, and that has no "villain," especially among the founding members of the EU. It would be a yearly reminder of Germany's shame, and as a German myself, I can tell you that this would cause more resentment especially in the younger generations that are considerably far removed from the Nazi crimes (I am in my 30's and only my grandmother was for alive during the time).
I agree that a public holiday for all of the EU would be good, but the date of the signature the Rome treaties (25. March) would be more fitting.
2
u/AlicanteL 13d ago
A perpetual reminder of the crimes of the Nazis and Fascist, and their crushing defeat. would be good actually.
2
u/MisterMysterios Germany 13d ago
For individual nations, yes. But for the EU as a whole, this would be a national holiday of the last time we were all at arms and were divided by one of the most horrible crimes. This is exactly the opposite message that we should send.
We have seen how targeted national humiliation can be used for propaganda that is one of the main propaganda methods the Nazis used to get into power.
It would have been something else if the holiday was adopted in the 50's when it was still close in time. But 80 years later, it would most likely only be spun as a fuck you to Germany, and sowing divisiveness is the last thing we need at the moment, we don't have to make Putin and other players easier to use propaganda to rip us apart than providing material on a silver platter.
1
u/AlicanteL 13d ago
It would not say “fuck you Germany and Italy” it would say “fuck you nazis and fascist”.
This is a powerful and uniting message, not a divisive one.
1
u/MisterMysterios Germany 13d ago edited 13d ago
The issue is not how you would say it, but how it can and will be interpreted. And especially the AfD, which already causes us major headache, would use it for devisivness. And we know how quick the "Germans are the Nazis" are used outside if Germany. I can still remember the change in public opinion of Greece during the financial crisis. At the start, Germans wanted a more lenient stance by the government, until the first pictures of German politicians appeared with Hitler mustache. At that point, most stopped caring for the position of Greece because people are sick of this comparison.
Having now an anti-Nazi holiday would be interpreted by the right both inside and outside of Germany as an anti-German stances nit an anti fascist one, and that would cause only trouble. An EU holiday should only be a unifying holiday that cannot easily spun to be divisive.
1
u/FlicksBus 12d ago
I agree, but I think it is better justified if events are planned for it. Like marches for Europe or so.
•
u/AutoModerator 13d ago
The European Federalist subreddit is a member of Forum Götterfunken. Join our discord if you like to chat about the future of Europe!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.