The article discusses the importance of the European flag as a unifying symbol for young people across Europe. The author shares their personal experience of watching the Eurovision Song Contest and the disappointment they felt when their European flags were unexpectedly confiscated at the event. The European flag represents a desire to live in a Europe where freedom, peace, and cooperation are paramount, and for the author, it embodies the shared values that bind Europeans together, regardless of nationality.
The author reminisces about singing a popular song from the early 1990s with their parents, which symbolized Moldova’s aspiration for independence and its desire to be part of Europe. The lyrics of the song expressed a longing to live under a blue star, a reference to the European flag and the values it represents. The European flag is seen as a symbol of freedom and peace, and its absence at Eurovision due to the EBU’s ban was seen as a missed opportunity to foster a sense of unity and belonging among Europeans.
The author emphasizes that the European flag is not a political statement but a representation of the world that people aspire to live in. Its presence at Eurovision would have united friends from different parts of Europe, giving them a sense of kinship and belonging. The EBU’s decision to ban the flag from the event was viewed as a failure to recognize its significance as a transnational symbol that aims to minimize political infighting among nations. The author argues that it is time for the EBU to reassess its position on the European flag and embrace it as a unifying symbol that brings people together.
The author highlights the disappointment and frustration experienced by themselves and their friends from Moldova, Greece, Spain, France, and Austria when their European flags were confiscated at Eurovision. The friends had brought the flags to the event to show their support for the artists and to feel united under one flag that represented their shared values and ideals. The European flag, for them, symbolized a sense of belonging and kinship, reinforcing the notion that they are all part of the same big European family. The author stresses the importance of the European flag in promoting cohesion and integration in Europe.
The author calls on the EBU to urgently reconsider its decision to ban the European flag from Eurovision and to recognize its significance as a symbol of unity and shared values among Europeans. They believe that the flag represents a vision of a cohesive and integrated Europe, where people from different countries can come together under one symbol. The author echoes the sentiments of a song that calls for coming together for Europe, expressing a desire to stay united with European friends under the European flag. They believe that it is time for the EBU to embrace the flag as a unifying symbol that brings people together and fosters a sense of belonging and kinship across Europe.
