board77

1 The European Union
2 That people who have fought bitter wars for hundreds of years can be friends: see 1 above.
3 That European countries have willingly given up their laws, currencies and a portion of their independence with no force: see 1 above.
4 That former fascist dictatorships have become democracies: see 1 above.
5 That poor regions of Europe have been economically revitalised: see 1 above.
6 That regions within countries have gained new self respect and confidence: see 1 above.
7 That borders are diminishing in importance: see 1 above.
8 That we have a fresh set of politicians and bureaucracy so grumble about: see 1 above.
9 That we have the Eurovision Song Contest to laugh at: nothing to do with 1 above.
10 That we seem to have imported European weather.

And wot Alatar sed.

That we all share a common currency.

Well, except for the silly Brits...

Don't blame me, I'm all for it. Blame our xenophobic press owned by, er, Australians and Canadians.

Leoba wrote:

4. Baked Beans!

Hey, aren't baked beans originally American?

That may well be, elfshadow, but I've met load of Americans who have never had tins of beans quite like the UK variety before. It's special.

Tosh,

Er...um....

The European Union...

So....

it would be....

um....

sort of....

like....

um....

the Union of the many Country states of...er...

um....



that place over there...

that was

colonies of er

um.....

England, France and Spain

and

er

um....

oh and

same money....

many nationalities..

er...


So.... I was um...wondering...er.... um... I hate to ask and all....since er um that 'other' country is mordor and all....but er... where'd ya'll get the er....idea at?

It's not quite like the US Federation Ara. My guess is that the originating concept sprang fom the Zollverien (sp?) or the agreed lowering of customs duties between the various German states in the nineteenth century that lead to political union. Probably a similar thing happened in Italy. At least that was the technique or tactic chosen.
Nor do I think that a single European state was planned either at the beginning or even now, unlike the intentions of the Founding Fathers. Instead, the European founders wanted to tie the European states into an interlocking net of obligations and co-operation. The overwhelming reason were the two European wars of the twentieth centuries. I can't imagine France no longer being France or Denmark, Denmark. The European states will always remain independent nations unlike Virginia or Texas; just states with particular treaty obligations.
Not that the concept and Constitution of the United States hasn't been a beacon and shining example to the world of the positive possibilities of good-will in politics.

In no particular order...

1) The hulking old ruins
2) The Alps
3) The trains
4) The pace of living - it just seems easier, gentler, less stressed-out than the US
5) Belgrade
6) The history
7) The flowers everywhere
8) Montenegro (esp. the coast)
9) Copenhagen
10) The UK

I know there's lots more to love about Europe, but these are what came to mind and there are also lots of places I haven't been.

I realize that Serbia and Montenegro (now two separate countries!) are not part of the EU, but the thread title didn't sy "10 things I love about the EU". It said "10 things I love about Europe" and there are still a few nations on the European continent that have yet to join.

omg! Like back in the good ol' TORC days....

1) History!!! everywhere and at any time, round around the corner. heck I live in a city that was founded during the bronze age and became a city during roman times
2) the fact that I can go anywhere, work, study anywhere in EU countries
3) The wide variety of languages and culture and still live on one continent without all of that getting lost.
4) Mountains. Because we don't have them (silly country) there are no objections for me to go see them somewhere else
5) foreign food. bring on the full english breakfast and crumpets, the french cheeses, spanish wines, and greek food. Can't get enough!
6) Memories. a bit like history I guess but despite some heavy weighing memories we have come quite a far way as Europe.
7) Weather. There's always a place with good weather
8) Nature. The prettiest of nature I have seen are in Europe.
9) Friends. many friends across boarders
10) The educational system! bless the universities!

Berhael wrote:

Lali, when I'm over the baby chaos (and have a bigger house - I can't even fit a cot in my bedroom here! ) I will invite you to visit here, then you invite me over and then we can exchange travellers' tales.

I'm still waiting for you to invite me to your place, so I can congratulate you on your baby chaos in person. ;-)

Alatar wrote:

That we all share a common currency.

Well, except for the silly Brits...

And the silly Swiss?

I'll try more, one day.

democritus wrote:

I'm still waiting for you to invite me to your place, so I can congratulate you on your baby chaos in person. ;-)

As if you needed me to invite you.
I'll check my diary and let you know if I have a free Saturday... right now it all looks like endless essay and exam marking...

Berhael wrote:

democritus wrote:

I'm still waiting for you to invite me to your place, so I can congratulate you on your baby chaos in person. ;-)

As if you needed me to invite you.
I'll check my diary and let you know if I have a free Saturday... right now it all looks like endless essay and exam marking...

pfffffft.... since I apparently don't need you to invite me I'll just turn up sometime in the near future. :-P

With gifts and stuff...

I haven't travelled as much as I might wished by far, but this doesn't matter I haven't got, do have and keep having dreams about doing so. My reasons for loving Europe would be far more than 10, as the Commandments are, but I'll try to focus on the first which come into my mind (note to those who don't know -> I'm in love with anything Wales, Ireland, Scotland, UK, Czech Republic and the Scandinavian )

(in order of their appearence)
1. Czech national footie team
2. Welsh language
3. UK's accents (and I mean all of them, including those featured in WIS*)
4. Drinking & smoking age
5. The movie industry (mini series included)
6. Visit Romania
7. Monarchy and it's history
8. The legends, the stories, the incredible mix of faiths and myths
9. Pizza
10. White whine, Heidi chocolate and Finnish autumns

Well, seeing as the pound sterling is the strongest currency in the world at the mo, Britain would be stoopid to change. The get good money changes everywhere.

Apart from that, and in no particular order:

1) No exchange rates (mostly)
2) Being able to drive from England to Czech republic, with only a passport and no stamping of visas etc.
3) The eurovision song contest.
4) Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.
5) Multilingual, wahey!
6) Quirky things like Breton, Basque, Gaeilge, Scots Gaelic, Welsh etc. Every country has it's very own little used language, as well as the mainstream ones.
7) We're all friends now, despite the fact that Europe used to be full of border disputes and such and such.
8) Democratic elected governments all.
9) English Romantic music.
10) The organ in St. Pauls, Westminster, Lyons, Chartres, Poitiers, etc. etc. etc.

Oh right, Eurovision. Although you certainly know who's gonna vote for who and so on, I'm quite enjoying it as well

Well, since all those ex-Soviet Union countries got in, nobody else has had a chance to win, but they're also the ones who put in the most effort, so they deserve it.

N_E_E, what's WIS?

Come to think of it, what's white whine? Is that something like white whinge?

Jude wrote:

N_E_E, what's WIS?

Come to think of it, what's white whine? Is that something like white whinge?

I am guessing "Welsh, Irish, Scots?" And white whine is what you hear everyday here and on multiple other boards. We Westerners are for the most part quite happy to whine and bitch to our hearts' content. Well, even beyond that point. If we were content in our hearts, we would not be whining.