American reacts to the EU flag

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  • Опубликовано: 5 окт 2024
  • Thank you for watching me, a humble American, react to what the EU flag means
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Комментарии • 409

  • @1ramyus
    @1ramyus 8 месяцев назад +20

    No, after Brexit EU flag still has 12 stars, and EU has 27 members.

  • @qazatqazah
    @qazatqazah 8 месяцев назад +133

    I would say that the video is mostly correct. It was a bit painful to see the EU flag upside down in the endshot, though.

    • @prunabluepepper
      @prunabluepepper 8 месяцев назад +9

      Lol ja that was funny

    • @Kiwi-Araga
      @Kiwi-Araga 8 месяцев назад +4

      Yeah, that was such a 1st grade mistake on his part. But the rest of the video it's simple, yet informative.

    • @ElecticBob
      @ElecticBob 8 месяцев назад +3

      Also, the German flag was completely wrong

    • @sairhug
      @sairhug 8 месяцев назад +4

      Re the upside down EU flag ... I would never have noticed that! I had to think for a few seconds as to how you could tell ... and then the penny dropped :) . It took me several decades to realise the UK's Union Flag had a right way up and a wrong way up, and I'm English! I guess I'm not much of a flag-noticer ... or I'm just not v. observant, one of the two.

    • @arwo1143
      @arwo1143 8 месяцев назад +3

      Fucking hell….
      I read the comment before the video and thought nothing of it, and then half way through I was like “hold up…..”

  • @what-uc
    @what-uc 8 месяцев назад +33

    Spain and Portugal joined the then-EEC in 1986, making it 12 members, which also made the flag work at that time.

  • @Xiroi87
    @Xiroi87 8 месяцев назад +26

    It wasn't mentioned that when the flag became the official emblem for the EU, there were 12 members only, so it was one star per country. Not long after that, the EU expanded to 15 members, and it was mentioned in the news that no further stars would be added, so it no longer is one star per country.

    • @dutchman7623
      @dutchman7623 8 месяцев назад +3

      Because it was the flag of the Council of Europe (always much more members than 12) this symbol was kept the same. And it's easy to use as a clock....

  • @LeSarthois
    @LeSarthois 8 месяцев назад +23

    "You might not want to link it (the stars) to the numbers of members cause it might change."
    Maybe you should look up the history of you own flag :D
    The US flag was last changed in 1960 (when Hawaii became a state). And versions with up to 56 are planned if/when Puerto Rico and other US territories become States.

  • @TheKhalamar
    @TheKhalamar 8 месяцев назад +40

    As said in the video, 12 was picked for no reason and had no meaning. Specifically, it was not related to the number of members when it was created. So there was no reason to remove a star when the UK left, and besides, we would have added more than a dozen stars since then. Much better to keep the same design over the years.

    • @arwo1143
      @arwo1143 8 месяцев назад +4

      That’s the bad part though…. It has no meaning.
      The flag representing probably the most significant achievement of international peacetime cooperation has…. No meaning and no attachment to it besides “this is our flag”.
      There is no significant historical imagery, no text, nada
      Having the blue with the geological locations of the members capitols was such an amazing idea….

    • @nedazv
      @nedazv 8 месяцев назад +4

      ​not, because countries have changed and also capitals, and some are stil in dispute (Kosovo)

    • @modmaker7617
      @modmaker7617 8 месяцев назад +4

      ​​@arwo1143
      Sometimes, no meaning is fine. The flag of Canada has no meaning but being "Canadian". The EU flag has no meaning but being "European".

    • @ejokurirulezz
      @ejokurirulezz 8 месяцев назад +2

      It is symbolism of perfection.

    • @scipioafricanus5871
      @scipioafricanus5871 8 месяцев назад +1

      @@ejokurirulezz It's symbolizing the intention to move towards an ever closer, more "perfect union".

  • @johnm8224
    @johnm8224 8 месяцев назад +16

    There's also the fact that in 1986, when this (admittedly pre-existing) flag was actually adopted as an EC / EEC / EU emblem, there happened to be 12 members... Nice coincidence!

    • @scarnoir6566
      @scarnoir6566 8 месяцев назад

      "coincidence"

    • @Jebu911
      @Jebu911 7 месяцев назад

      Yeah but it was clearly always intended to represent the amount of months in a year ;)

  • @tanner293
    @tanner293 8 месяцев назад +21

    the flag didn't change after brexit as it didn't during the years when more countries joined the union. it's true what EU flag symbolize.. never thought about it but proud of it^^ which is curios coz in some countries being proud of the national flag could almost be seen as being far right

    • @elemar5
      @elemar5 8 месяцев назад +3

      It's sad that you think this is your national flag. The EU is not a nation.

    • @tanner293
      @tanner293 8 месяцев назад +6

      @@elemar5 that's not what I said indeed, read better

    • @elemar5
      @elemar5 8 месяцев назад

      Write better.@@tanner293

    • @stannumowl
      @stannumowl 8 месяцев назад +3

      ​@@tanner293but it looks kinda like that. Btw, have similar feelings.
      I don't know why but it feels like it originally didn't symbolise anything and slowly became a symbol of all the progress we made since WWII. And I can tell that I'm proud of it

  • @heron619
    @heron619 8 месяцев назад +9

    The dislikes might be cause he titled the video the European flag and called it the European flag in the video instead of the European "Union" flag specificaly.
    There's plenty of countries in Europe that aren't part of the EU besides the UK and talking about the EU flag it like it's the flag of the whole continent as a whole might've rubbed some people the wrong way.

    • @blatterrascheln2267
      @blatterrascheln2267 8 месяцев назад

      I think it's also the underlying condescending "it's no REAL flag".. but I learned in the same video that green is supposed to mean Islam, so, now it's clear why some people are so afraid of environmental politics. 😂

    • @AMetalPotato
      @AMetalPotato 7 месяцев назад

      Yeah but as the video explains, it's not the flag of the EU, but the European flag, representing institutions including the whole continent, not just the EU.

  • @tomeekun
    @tomeekun 8 месяцев назад +7

    The EU already works in several ways as a federation. The issue is the process has to be extremely delicate, slow and subtle because the moment Brussels does something a tad too quick every member will start crying "muh freedom and sovereignty". I'd say for the most part they've done an excellent job though and I think a lot of people don't even fully grasp just how much of a remarkle job the EU has done to stabilise Europe and uplift the continent from the slump that the two world wars have put us into.

    • @Jebu911
      @Jebu911 7 месяцев назад

      Eu is doing great work but it doesnt mean we cant be critical about its actions. I mean the EU is union of the most free countries on the planet of course we have the right to bitch and moan about them. Lets just not go full retard and do any brexit manuvers anymore.

  • @maxbarko8717
    @maxbarko8717 8 месяцев назад +99

    Many forget how remarkable the development of the EU is. The worst archenemies became partners and opened up half of a continent. To be able to live and work anywhere was not possible before.

    • @michaelgoetze2103
      @michaelgoetze2103 8 месяцев назад +21

      It also helped stabilise the democracies of Portugal, Spain and Greece when they came out of their dictatorships and the ex Soviet dominated countries. It is, as you said, a remarkable achievement.

    • @LMB222
      @LMB222 8 месяцев назад +18

      the fact that we haven't killed each other for half a century is indeed amazing

    • @maxbarko8717
      @maxbarko8717 8 месяцев назад +5

      @@LMB222 Even longer. Why can’t others learn from that. But also this peace is now in danger due to the shift to the right.

    • @alanpotter8680
      @alanpotter8680 8 месяцев назад

      We have our problems in Europe but they are miniscule compared to the rest of the world. The only differences of opinion we have lately, are related to illegal foreign immigration from the Middle East and Africa and the rising crime rate due to that. I know we love our freedom of movement, but right now it's best to place those borders back and protect our land, for our own sake. My EU ID card will still let me in. Just a border check away.

    • @maxbarko8717
      @maxbarko8717 8 месяцев назад +3

      @@alanpotter8680 I understand your concern. In my opinion we are also guilty of that immigration. The EU destroys local African economies with the export of our garbage (used clothes, meat, cars, etc. etc.). But also the corruption in Africa. I agree that we have to limit immigration and protect our culture but still be open to new (positive) influences.

  • @WienerVL
    @WienerVL 8 месяцев назад +12

    Will he EVER listen to a full sentence?

  • @Michaelgoestofrance
    @Michaelgoestofrance 8 месяцев назад +79

    Very interesting. As a Brit living in France (if that wasn't too obvious) I love the idea of a United States of Europe but suspect it's a long way off, if it ever happens at all.
    The flag is perfect, I'm so depressed that my ID card no longer has it on it and that my UK, pre-Brexit passport will soon be changed to one that loses the 'European Union' mention.
    You do see the flag everywhere but, as far as I can tell, it's alongside the country flag, it doesn't replace it. It's kind of a way of showing both individuality and togetherness.

    • @anthonyferris8912
      @anthonyferris8912 8 месяцев назад +2

      Why does your French ID card no longer have the EU flag on it?

    • @josephturner7569
      @josephturner7569 8 месяцев назад

      Same here.

    • @Michaelgoestofrance
      @Michaelgoestofrance 8 месяцев назад +6

      @@anthonyferris8912 It's a special card that was produced for Brits following brexit. I had to surrender my ID card with the EU flag on it given that the UK had made such a 'mistake'. Made me very sad. Still does.

    • @LeSarthois
      @LeSarthois 8 месяцев назад +2

      @@anthonyferris8912 I think it's his Brit ID card, since he doesn't mention dual nationality or being naturalized but just living there.

    • @elenasarita
      @elenasarita 8 месяцев назад +1

      I like this concept you brought, " individuality and togetherness." very much my experience in Europe

  • @Arsenic71
    @Arsenic71 8 месяцев назад +22

    To put things in perspective, I think across all of the EU, there are fewer EU flags than US flags in .

    • @VoidCosmonaut
      @VoidCosmonaut 8 месяцев назад

      Perspective of who? Dude most US States have same patern of society. Now compare it with Europe where Czechs and Spaniards are involved

    • @netkv
      @netkv 8 месяцев назад +1

      @@VoidCosmonaut indeed a spanish village !

    • @evanpereira3555
      @evanpereira3555 8 месяцев назад +3

      I think (as an European) there are also fewer national flags in any random EU city than US flag in any random US city.

    • @thespanishinquisition4078
      @thespanishinquisition4078 8 месяцев назад

      ​@@evanpereira3555Spanish here, can confirm. Americans just LOVE that flag to a frankly unhealthy degree.

  • @thespanishinquisition4078
    @thespanishinquisition4078 8 месяцев назад +3

    I love how at the start he says "well, 11 stars now after Brexit"
    Forgetting there's a hell of a lot more than 12 EU countries even post brexit. (Note, its 27 btw)

  • @MrTramborrios
    @MrTramborrios 8 месяцев назад +32

    As a result of Brexit, right now the percentage of support for remaining in the EU is around 85%/90% in most countries, never will we be so grateful to England for showing us the path we should never take

    • @adrianwaygood7156
      @adrianwaygood7156 8 месяцев назад +1

      Oh, yes, you should!

    • @alanpotter8680
      @alanpotter8680 8 месяцев назад +2

      True.

    • @101steel4
      @101steel4 8 месяцев назад

      I'm sure if there were referendums offered, you would be surprised by the results.

  • @schtreg9140
    @schtreg9140 8 месяцев назад +6

    There's one thing in which the video is wrong. Numbers do have cultural meaning and the number 12 was historically connected to unity, harmony and perfection. That's also stated on the EU website about the flag as well as the wikipedia article about the number 12.
    I don't like that the video explicitly said "it has no meaning" because it fuels the people who already senselessly shit on the EU day in day out for no other reason than xenophobia and nationalism.
    That's probably also why the video had dislikes. These people dislike everything about the EU without even watching it. It's the same people that voted for Brexit, but they exist outside of the UK as well.

  • @red.aries1444
    @red.aries1444 8 месяцев назад +2

    3:37 The eight interlocking rings not only look like a chain, they also would have looked like if the German companies of Krupp (3 Rings - Krupp produced Steel and therefore also a lot of weapons in World I+II) and Audi (4 rings) had merged together and added an eighth ring, I don't think this would have been acceptable to the other European countries...

  • @lumiukko4296
    @lumiukko4296 8 месяцев назад +23

    So basically the origin of EU flag was whatever everyone can agree on. Represents EU quite well. 😂

    • @nashtags
      @nashtags 8 месяцев назад

      it represents everything BUT the EU.

  • @slashnull
    @slashnull 8 месяцев назад +14

    At the start of the video he mentions you might see the flag flying at Heathrow Airport in London which was true in 2015 but not so much now post-Brexit. Michael Hobbes is mostly doing Podcasts these days rather than RUclips videos ("If Books Could Kill" and "Maintenance Phase"). Thanks for the reaction vid :)

  • @netkv
    @netkv 8 месяцев назад +3

    I WANT I LOVE THE BARCODE, it is the perfection of holy thought, the lines of god, the ultimate emblem on piece of fabric

  • @stevenvanhulle7242
    @stevenvanhulle7242 8 месяцев назад +2

    4:26 "Venezuela" 🤣🤣🤣

  • @BenjaminVestergaard
    @BenjaminVestergaard 8 месяцев назад +10

    12 is just a nice number... divide by 2, 3, 4, 6... which is also why it has a great symmetry.
    But yeah, can sound a bit arbitrary at first.

    • @miwoj
      @miwoj 8 месяцев назад +1

      fun fact: 12 can also be divided by 12

    • @BenjaminVestergaard
      @BenjaminVestergaard 8 месяцев назад +1

      @@miwoj and one, but is that worth to mention?
      Numbers like 12, 24 and 60 are basically the opposite of prime numbers.

    • @Foersom_
      @Foersom_ 8 месяцев назад

      "divide by" we do not like division in EU. We want unity, solidarity and harmony. And that is what 12 stars stand for. Look it up.

  • @rayjennings3637
    @rayjennings3637 8 месяцев назад +3

    I think the dislikes are because it's refered to as the European flag. It is not. It's an icon for the European Union and given the discord between the various nations within the EU it's a 'Union' in name only.

  • @lydia5232
    @lydia5232 8 месяцев назад +3

    After Brexit, which means British in exit, nothing changed with the EU flag - it remained as it was. Every European country - EU member or not - has its own national flag. But the principle is essentially the same as in the USA; each American country has its own flag (state, republic or territory...) and a common national USA flag. The only difference is that in America the USA flag hangs for the holiday, while in Europe each country has its own national holidays and then the national flag hangs instead of the EU flag.

  • @brucemc1581
    @brucemc1581 8 месяцев назад +5

    6:48 12 episodes of Fawlty Towers is the reason 😂😂😂😂

    • @bencodykirk
      @bencodykirk 8 месяцев назад

      Yes, I noticed that too! 😂

  • @angaudlinn
    @angaudlinn 8 месяцев назад +1

    And funny how you Ryan find it impractical to add a star with each new added member state... since you're living in one of those added stars of your flag yourself. :D

  • @SusanS777
    @SusanS777 8 месяцев назад +10

    As a Brit living in Northern Spain, I want to cry when I see these things. I hope one day we rejoin the EU. For now, I hope to get my Spanish nationality soon. I will never understand Brexit

    • @adrianwaygood7156
      @adrianwaygood7156 8 месяцев назад +3

      Heaven forbid we should rejoin...!

    • @mugi2595
      @mugi2595 8 месяцев назад

      Too few people understood Brexit. That's why it happened.

  • @anthonyferris8912
    @anthonyferris8912 8 месяцев назад +9

    This idea of an EU identity and “togetherness” is perhaps well over egged. Certainly in the way Americans might understand it. When I travel abroad, I’ll often come across tour groups of Europeans from different EU states and never ever have I seen the different national groups chatting and exchanging pleasantries. Unlike Americans, who immediately start chatting, telling each other what states they are from and about shared experiences. EU nationals keep to their groups and don’t interact. It’ll be a very long time, before EU nationals, spontaniously interact with each other in that way..

    • @louis-philippearnhem6959
      @louis-philippearnhem6959 8 месяцев назад +5

      True. Americans tend to be more open and outgoing in social settings, often striking up conversations with strangers and sharing personal information relatively quickly. Europeans, on the other hand, generally have a more reserved and formal social culture, and may be more hesitant to engage with people they don't know well. This difference in social behaviour can be attributed to a variety of factors, including cultural norms, language barriers, and different levels of comfort with strangers.
      Regarding the development of a sense of European identity, it is a complex and evolving process that is still in its early stages. There are 24 official languages in the EU. The EU is a relatively young organization, and it has taken time for citizens of its member states to develop a sense of shared identity beyond their national affiliations. However, there are a number of factors that are contributing to the growth of a European identity, including the free movement of people, the adoption of a common currency, and the development of pan-European institutions and cultural events.
      While it may be true that EU nationals are not yet as likely to spontaneously interact with each other as Americans might be, there is evidence that a sense of European identity is growing. For example, a 2019 Eurobarometer poll found that 62% of EU citizens felt a strong sense of belonging to the EU. Additionally, a 2020 study by the European Parliament found that 70% of respondents believe that the EU is a good thing for Europe. Greetings from Belgium, EU.

    • @anthonyferris8912
      @anthonyferris8912 8 месяцев назад

      @@louis-philippearnhem6959 As I said, it’ll be a long time…Maybe they first need to share a directly elected EU leader/president, who like with Americans, they can all bitch about.

    • @euromaestro
      @euromaestro 8 месяцев назад +4

      That hasn’t been my experience. Europeans tend to stick with people they already know. They’re not as likely to reach out to strangers as easily as Americans. That’s probably what you have been observing. I’ve definitely experienced on many occasions where Europeans interact.

    • @michaelgoetze2103
      @michaelgoetze2103 8 месяцев назад

      The EU is an experiment where countries pool resources and cooperate yet maintain their regional identities. It cannot be compared to any other political entity. Yet, if you read the You Tube comments sections many Europeans are fairly quick to band together when pitted against other countries, particularly the US.

    • @anthonyferris8912
      @anthonyferris8912 8 месяцев назад

      ​@@euromaestro
      My observations were of ‘tour groups’, not ‘people they already know’.

  • @euromaestro
    @euromaestro 8 месяцев назад +6

    Something Ryan doesn’t know? Say it ain’t so!

    • @enemde3025
      @enemde3025 8 месяцев назад +3

      Even though he's reacted to stuff before....he still doesn't know !!

  • @hellmalm
    @hellmalm 8 месяцев назад +1

    Like 12 as a number 12 hours in a day, 12 months in a year and so on. The EU flag is undeniably a powerful symbol these days. Proud to be a European! 🇪🇺

  • @AtotehZ
    @AtotehZ 8 месяцев назад +228

    The video is wrong. It is not the European flag, it is the European Union flag. The two are NOT the same.

    • @martijnkeisers5900
      @martijnkeisers5900 8 месяцев назад +17

      It IS look it up.

    • @hellgrn
      @hellgrn 8 месяцев назад +26

      Even the EU calls it the European Flag. (source: europa.eu)

    • @Northerner-NotADoctor
      @Northerner-NotADoctor 8 месяцев назад +20

      It's only "European" as it comes from Europe (as in sentence: "Chechenya is an European state"), yet it still isn't a flag of Europe, but a flag of European Union (the one with 12 stars).

    • @Northerner-NotADoctor
      @Northerner-NotADoctor 8 месяцев назад +1

      @@martijnkeisers5900 I mistook the one with map of stars with the one the OP was talking about, hence I reuploaded my comment, corrected.

    • @foshizzlfizzl
      @foshizzlfizzl 8 месяцев назад +1

      To all those people in the comments, who don't even know where Europe is and why it's not EU just some facts, that reminds you you are dumb.
      Europe is a continent. Turkey, Belarus, Ukraine and the Russia are also part of Europe but NOT part of EU! In fact Russia has is the biggest country of Europe. And Turkey has more citizens than Germany. Also UK is in Europe but not in the EU. So EU and Europe is not the same.

  • @cebruthius
    @cebruthius 8 месяцев назад +2

    The EU doesn't have a flag because it isn't a nation. They have a logo though.

  • @hackbyte
    @hackbyte 8 месяцев назад +7

    Nice one .... even i as a native german born in 1975 didn't actually know how the "european emblem" came around. ;)

  • @Adriction
    @Adriction 8 месяцев назад

    You DID hear about Saarland before. It was talked about in the "meet the germans roadtrip", specifically in the west part. Maybe you can recall - it was the most french of the german states ;) .

  • @kaluga95
    @kaluga95 8 месяцев назад +2

    Lg aus Wien-Österreich 🌏🇪🇺🇦🇹(1.1.1995)

  • @karinwenzel6361
    @karinwenzel6361 8 месяцев назад +8

    The Council of Europe is a humanitarian organisation (its most well-known branch being the European Court of Justice) which was founded on 5 May 1949 by 10 Northern and Western European countries (B, NL, LUX, DK, UK, IRL, F, I, N, S). Nowadays they are using their own logo, the European flag with the stars with a cursive letter "c" in the middle. The Council of Europe officially agreed to let the EU (then still the EEC) use the blue flag with the 12 stars as their official flag.
    So yes, it is (just) used as the EU flag today. Or can you image all the non-EU members of the Council of Europe officially showing that flag in their country (Russia before its expulsion in 2022, Aserbaidzan, Turkey, the UK after Brexit)?

    • @helloweener2007
      @helloweener2007 8 месяцев назад +3

      Wrong.
      The ECJ is a court of the EU.
      The European Court of Human Rights ECHR is the court of the Council of Europe which is not to be mixed with the European Council, which is also EU.
      EU: ECJ and EUCO
      CoE: ECHR
      Edit:
      And I want to add. ECJ is more than EU, it is also for the countries in the European Economic Area who are not in the EU and and withe the Trade and Cooperation Agreement also the UK.

    • @nashtags
      @nashtags 8 месяцев назад

      Wrong. ECJ is EU, ECHR is CoE.
      The CoE uses in its logo the European Flag. But the Council of Europe's flag is the European Flag without the e.
      And YES, countries outside of the EU show this flag and nobody can prevent them to do so because they're rightly member of the Council of Europe. You can see this flag in Azerbaijan, in Armenia, in Georgia and even in Switzerland.

    • @karinwenzel6361
      @karinwenzel6361 8 месяцев назад +1

      @@nashtags You're right, I used the wrong English term - I meant the European Court of Human Rights as a CoE institution. (Shame on me having visited the ECHR in Strasbourg some years ago.)
      About the flag: I wasn't talking about displaying the EU/CoE flag in tourist places together with lots of other national flags, I was talking about an official display, i.e. on government buildings. I used to live next to the Swiss border and the only time I have seen the EU flag next to the Swiss flag on government buildings was when there were some EU representatives visiting. (Might be different in some countries wanting to join the EU though, like the Ukraine.)

    • @nashtags
      @nashtags 8 месяцев назад

      @@karinwenzel6361 On official building you can have European Flag in Switzerland (remember, it's the European Flag, not the «EU Flag» ;) when EU officials are inside but on the 5th of May for example, you will find the European Flag for Europe Day of the Council of Europe. In any case, the European Flag of the Council of Europe can be used everywhere by everyone. It really shows it's the CoE flag. If it would have been the sole «EU Flag» I bet this flag would only be reserved for EU officials. ;)

  • @KayoMichiels
    @KayoMichiels 8 месяцев назад +1

    The song in the background is Veridis Quo - Daft Punk

  • @valeriedavidson2785
    @valeriedavidson2785 8 месяцев назад +1

    I do not rate David Cameron but thank god he gave us a vote over the E.U. Now that we have got Brexit, I can die happy.

  • @dksilber9500
    @dksilber9500 8 месяцев назад +3

    If you're watching a RUclips video about a flag with twelve stars, and the video lasts exact 12 minutes... 🤔🇪🇺

  • @eucitizen78
    @eucitizen78 8 месяцев назад

    Some of this was new for me too. Thank you

  • @DeviousWizard
    @DeviousWizard 8 месяцев назад +1

    Sadly most people are too dense to realize, that the like/dislike is about the video, and not about the user's opinion on the subject of the video

  • @aserta
    @aserta 8 месяцев назад

    12 is actually a pretty good number, there's a lot of symbolism behind it, but ultimately it makes a great clock background. :)) It was all about the merch.

  • @Hailerer2602
    @Hailerer2602 8 месяцев назад +1

    Video number 1 of recomanding "Do they know it's Europe" by Jan Böhmermann and Comedians for World Peace

  • @arwo1143
    @arwo1143 8 месяцев назад +1

    I think the flag we got is really bad….
    It has no meaningful representation of any of its member states
    The flag representing probably the most significant achievement of international peacetime cooperation has…. No meaning and no attachment to it besides “this is our flag”.
    There is no significant historical imagery, no text, nada
    Having the blue with the geological locations of the members capitols was such an amazing idea….
    And the argument that no one knows geology well enough to recognize that is beyond idiotic. Our education standards are quite a bit higher than those on the other side of the Atlantic (sorry, I had to)
    And you don’t have to know all of the stars…. But EVERYONE would know which one is theirs. And that’s the fucking point of a flag.

  • @papaya8634
    @papaya8634 8 месяцев назад

    Didn't expect the Saarland to make an appearance in this kind of video lol. I was born and raised there

  • @mskatonic7240
    @mskatonic7240 8 месяцев назад +23

    I imagine Brexiteers found it and started causing trouble, hence the dislikes. That's the issue with organisations intended to ensure democracy and human rights, those who respect neither will hate them on sight.

    • @jeanbicknell7887
      @jeanbicknell7887 8 месяцев назад +3

      Democracy and the EU? Ha Ha!!

    • @Thurgosh_OG
      @Thurgosh_OG 8 месяцев назад +3

      The EU is not the ECHR - European Convention on Human Rights (formally the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms). The ECHR came about in the 1950s; the drafting of this was guided by British MP and lawyer Sir David Maxwell-Fyfe, the chair of the Assembly's Committee on Legal and Administrative Questions and was the foundation of improving Human Rights across Europe. ECHR has 46 Euro nation members.
      The EU merely states that it's 27 members are signed up to ECHR and that's the end of their involvement.

    • @martinaklee-webster1276
      @martinaklee-webster1276 8 месяцев назад +7

      ​@@jeanbicknell7887Do you even know, how the EU works? Reading your comment, I guess, you don't.

    • @Gambit771
      @Gambit771 8 месяцев назад +2

      You seem full of hate yourself.
      Explain how the undemocratic eu ensures democracy and human rights when those are pesky obstacles that the eu constantly violates.

    • @jeanbicknell7887
      @jeanbicknell7887 8 месяцев назад

      @@martinaklee-webster1276 Tell me, if you wanted to remove Uschi VDL because you are unhappy with her performance how would you and your friends and family go about it? If you cannot do that one basic thing then you need to explain to me tell me how the EU is democratic.
      Here is the result of a case between Dyson and the EC which has been made public in the last few hours which perhaps you also might comment on:
      Dyson has lost an attempt to secure €176.1m (£151.5m) from the European Union as part of a decade-long dispute over energy labels on vacuum cleaners.
      Europe’s highest court declared that the European Commission “did not commit a sufficiently serious breach of EU law” when it used faulty efficiency tests that penalised the British company’s vacuum cleaners.
      Dyson made history when it won its case in 2018 to overturn the European Commission’s unlawful energy label regime ( I repeat that, *the European Commission’s unlawful energy label regime*) *a regulation that had misled hundreds of millions of European consumers* and caused Dyson to suffer £150m in lost sales and investment, plus significant legal costs .
      That Dyson won its case in 2018 makes today’s judgement on damages perverse. As was established, the Commission *knowingly* used a label that had the effect of misleading consumers over the true performance of vacuum cleaners for years.”
      The judgment sets an unfairly high bar for manufacturers harmed by the European Union’s *illegal acts*, allowing its institutions to escape proper accountability. By refusing to compensate those harmed, it is giving a green light to others who seek to undermine lawful competition.
      The Commission knew the label was a sham, yet forced it on consumers anyway.
      So, any comment on this, yet another example of how lovingly the EU treats its inmates? The EU marks its own homework.

  • @Elfo_
    @Elfo_ 8 месяцев назад +3

    At 10:14 the colors of the german flag are wrong

  • @Ankha38
    @Ankha38 8 месяцев назад +1

    You're right, 2015 was yesterday 😭

  • @Foersom_
    @Foersom_ 8 месяцев назад +8

    The 12 stars in a circle on EU flag stands for unity, solidarity and harmony.

    • @ejokurirulezz
      @ejokurirulezz 8 месяцев назад +3

      this is the golden stars in general. not the 12. 12 stands for perfection.

    • @scarnoir6566
      @scarnoir6566 8 месяцев назад

      And the other 9 stars ?

    • @scarnoir6566
      @scarnoir6566 8 месяцев назад

      12 stands for "i can count in segsadecimal and binary using just my knuckles" @@ejokurirulezz

    • @Foersom_
      @Foersom_ 8 месяцев назад

      @@scarnoir6566 It is not one word per star, it is the 12 stars in a circle that stands for those 3 words.

  • @Austtube
    @Austtube 8 месяцев назад +1

    The Music is Daft Punk. They are French. They probably won't bother you with copyright.

  • @anthonyferris8912
    @anthonyferris8912 8 месяцев назад +3

    Duncan Sandys…Pronounced Sands, not Sandees.

  • @mariusrutkaus
    @mariusrutkaus 8 месяцев назад

    It's kind of funny that when EU was established in 1993 there were actually 12 countries that signed Maastricht treaty. So everything falls into place.

  • @pierrecampel8077
    @pierrecampel8077 8 месяцев назад +10

    Hi Ryan, the EU flag has left Britain, and can only be visible on some EU institutions, and EU companies that are still operating within the UK. In the EU however, when you come over to visit, you'll see the 12 star banner pop up everywhere. It is the first time in Human history that a country, or a block, or a federation, whatever you call it , starts with a war, then a flag, 3 capitals (Brussels, Strasbourg, and Luxembourg) then a common currency, and still wth an undefined common political project, The European dream maybe? 🥰

  • @siriuspyramid7441
    @siriuspyramid7441 8 месяцев назад

    I forgot to tell the funny Music in the background is Daft PunK Veridis Quo but you may heard of them with get Lucky but we thow them with their music and Manga music vidéos}. they don't work anymore but Ican't tell hoq much they miss me! theses two guys are a part of my good moments in my life and foreever.

  • @moonliteX
    @moonliteX 5 месяцев назад

    the music was one of the best songs from one of the best and widely known electronic music artists.

  • @thomasnoeske704
    @thomasnoeske704 8 месяцев назад +2

    I like the flag at 4:27 , Narnia, consonants, ???,...

    • @tripnick555
      @tripnick555 8 месяцев назад

      I came to the comments to see if anyone else had paused the video to read them. I saw Venezuela pop up quickly and thought "hold up, something ain't right!" And rewound to check them all out. My favourite is "literally wolves"!

  • @Overminder
    @Overminder 8 месяцев назад

    About time to learn that you can scroll down when a YT video is in full screen mode. So no more jumping around.

  • @Halli50
    @Halli50 8 месяцев назад

    To you 'Muricans out there: FINALLY there is something important and European that is YOUNGER that 'Murica!
    Rejoice! You are no longer the youngest kid in town, the EU is an INFANT!

  • @juanpedrogonzalez9987
    @juanpedrogonzalez9987 8 месяцев назад +1

    Who placed the names to the European Flag with capitals? Venezuela? Are you serious? Soccer? Strasbourg as a capital city?

  • @davidebacchi9030
    @davidebacchi9030 8 месяцев назад +1

    I’d have chosen for the one with the capitals

  • @anubis9151
    @anubis9151 8 месяцев назад +14

    If you want to watch something interesting about the EU, watch a few videos that started to be made about the BREXIT since about a year ago, they are super interesting imo. TLDR News has a few good videos about the consequences of it.

    • @Gambit771
      @Gambit771 8 месяцев назад

      Tldr hates Britain and is pro eu.
      He constantly makes mistakes and only pushes his bias.
      Notice his flip flop on the Rwanda scheme now the eu is doing something similar.

    • @Pandemonis
      @Pandemonis 8 месяцев назад +1

      TLDR is often badly informed on many subjects... Not a source I would recommend

    • @anubis9151
      @anubis9151 8 месяцев назад

      Yeah, but then again, that happens to everyone, so long as the general idea is solid, a few details being wrong is part of the course imo. But thanks for the info anyway, that's always good to know.@@Pandemonis

  • @euromaestro
    @euromaestro 8 месяцев назад +9

    I’m so worried about this video! Let’s hope Ryan gets this one right.

    • @linkvos8151
      @linkvos8151 8 месяцев назад +2

      ?

    • @saladspinner3200
      @saladspinner3200 8 месяцев назад +4

      @@linkvos8151 that his knowledge of Europe and the EU is still very minimal, to say the least.

    • @xDawe36
      @xDawe36 8 месяцев назад +6

      @@saladspinner3200 he's been watching various Europe-related videos for quite a while now, I'd say that he's miles ahead of the average American

  • @Syltarius
    @Syltarius 8 месяцев назад

    I thought the flag would have been invented when the now known EU was formed, cuz it had 12 member nations to that time. I did not know that flag was older and hat other "meanings"

  • @Findalfen
    @Findalfen 8 месяцев назад +2

    Also 12 is divisible by 1, 2, 3, 4 , 6 and 12, showing that while we can be divided on some topics, we always come together in the end.

  • @angaudlinn
    @angaudlinn 8 месяцев назад

    "Blue wasn't taken..." *- clearing our throats -* ;)
    /Sweden

  • @BergenDev
    @BergenDev 8 месяцев назад

    Norway was in the council of Europe and still not part of the EU? Awesome!

  • @prunabluepepper
    @prunabluepepper 8 месяцев назад +2

    And that's why we need to see downvotes so that people like Ryan can identify bad content prior to reacting to it. Maybe get the Downvote Counter Extension for Chrome.

  • @sidewalkere
    @sidewalkere 8 месяцев назад +5

    I think the United States of Europe are inevitable, long term, if the European states want to maintain any sort of relevance in the world. We should be working on that TODAY.
    Unfortunately, the nationalistic movements currently gaining traction all over europe will delay that for decades to come.
    There's still too many people who don't understand that you don't need to loose your individuality to be part of something greater, that you don't need to forget the past to embrace the future...
    Oh, well.. Maybe I live long enough to see better, brighter times of true union across the old continent...

    • @miguelvalentim9794
      @miguelvalentim9794 8 месяцев назад +2

      united states of europe is just stupid EU is all we need just needs reforms

    • @alexia2189
      @alexia2189 8 месяцев назад

      United States of Europe is a bs, because that will mean that all countries should govern under the same laws. The constitution of every country contradicts such idea. It will become a chaos, because it is always France or Germany who takes the "boss" position in the EU and the EU is all about sharing ideas and ideology and not who is the boss.

    • @theninjabird9510
      @theninjabird9510 8 месяцев назад +2

      United states of Europe is a dumb name since most European states don’t call their provinces states

    • @sidewalkere
      @sidewalkere 8 месяцев назад +2

      @@theninjabird9510 Just a way to convey the idea of an European Federation mate...
      Not literally the United States of Europe on the same moulds of the US... Should be pretty obvious to any european that *that* wouldn't work.

    • @kmeanxneth
      @kmeanxneth 8 месяцев назад +1

      there are many Europeans who don't want that

  • @AC-dn7yq
    @AC-dn7yq 8 месяцев назад

    2:31 funny, to me is the opposite: USE sounds like hope; USA sounds like problem
    ---anytime I do like your kind of houmor
    4:20 make those shirts, I bye one
    6:56 no shit
    7:33 just nine years ago...
    7:42 wow ollmoust ten years ago....................muharahahaha
    👍

  • @williamwilkes9873
    @williamwilkes9873 8 месяцев назад +1

    The UK was almost 50/50.......to stay or leave..........we'll be back, should never have split............l love being Eñglish but we have some weírd people..........obsessed with immigration..........

  • @sebastiaansonneville6506
    @sebastiaansonneville6506 8 месяцев назад

    Hi. Thanks for making this vid.
    I wish to give you some feedback:
    It is better (less annoying/more smooth) if you don't interupt the vid you give a reaction on on every 5 seconds. Let the vid finish some sentes and pauze tyan to make a cohorent reply a out the part we just saw.

  • @olisipocity
    @olisipocity 8 месяцев назад +1

    Who the fuck wrote Venezuela as the capital city of Portugal??? First of all it is WRONG. The city is named Lisboa (Lisbon in English). 2nd. Venezuela is a country, not a city, and to make it even stupider, Venezuela isn't even in Europe. Is in South America. Not only is in a different continent but is is in a different hemisphere. How wrong can one be?

  • @alessandroanza9924
    @alessandroanza9924 6 месяцев назад

    Remember that many people (even in EU) think that the 12 stars represent the founder members, but it is incorrect. So, people think that the EU flag lost a star. This is also because, symbolically, after brexit, many memes showed the flag with a shooting star falling down from the other 11. But it was symbolic.
    Moreover, now we have more than 27 members because we are going to welcome other new entries in our amazing family 🇪🇺 and, hopefully, this flag will be the same when we will finally become the EUF (or USE) - United States of Europe, Federation of the European Union, European Union Federation. There will be a new video about the name of the EU federations in the future. I hope to be there, even if old.
    More: the Council of Europe is a different thing than EU’s institutions. Council of Europe is the assembly of all the heads of State or prime ministers of the States in the Continent. Of course, the final goal is to make EU and the Council the same thing, but it is a distant goal actually.
    Thank you for your videos. I do love EU-USA relationship. I have a very beloved friend of mine in California. I follow you from the EU 😊

  • @Schnurception
    @Schnurception 8 месяцев назад

    Just must watch the history of the european anthem by Arte (the auto. subtitles are good)

  • @gwydno
    @gwydno 8 месяцев назад

    One important thing is that there was not such thing as "European Community", but "Communities": the EEC (Economic), ECSC (for Steel and Carbon, as hinted in the video while mentioning Saarland), and Euratom (Nuclear Energy), each of them with its own Treaties and Governance. The merger and extension these three gave light to the European Union.

  • @sortascouseace
    @sortascouseace 8 месяцев назад

    If the stars represented members there would be 27, 26 after brexit.

  • @darzdogz
    @darzdogz 8 месяцев назад

    The original video I'm guessing turned comments off due to their idiocy regarding Ireland, and our capital city "tax avoidance" 🙄

  • @emiliajojo5703
    @emiliajojo5703 8 месяцев назад

    The brits weren't invaded since centuries, that explains a lot,regarding brexit.

  • @Jila_Tana
    @Jila_Tana 8 месяцев назад +1

    Regardless.. the most beautiful flag in the World : Canadian.

  • @Mehaara
    @Mehaara 8 месяцев назад

    Michael Hobbes is the literal best. He does the podcasts "Maintenance Phase" and "If Books Could Kill" but is not very active on RUclips. 🙂

    • @Thurgosh_OG
      @Thurgosh_OG 8 месяцев назад

      But got a few relevant bits wrong in this old video, so maybe not the best.

  • @Alirion
    @Alirion 8 месяцев назад

    @Ryan The EU has 27 members, after Brexit!

  • @alissa6418
    @alissa6418 8 месяцев назад

    my parents told me that it was because of benelux that the eu formed not from those parties.

  • @Za-Rok
    @Za-Rok 6 месяцев назад

    The European Union is a concept that Napoleon Bonaparte wanted to create on his time …. And now you know

  • @Kenerix
    @Kenerix 8 месяцев назад

    Long live the EU. I'm first European and 2nd Swedish ❤

  • @Gokudo87
    @Gokudo87 8 месяцев назад +8

    I like how one of the flags almost looked like the windows logo. One guy probably procrastinated until 5 minutes before the meeting, where they had to show the proposals for the flag, so he just changed the windows logo a little.

    • @wolfjustwolf4270
      @wolfjustwolf4270 8 месяцев назад +2

      🤦

    • @Lancor84
      @Lancor84 8 месяцев назад +7

      in the 50s?

    • @Gokudo87
      @Gokudo87 8 месяцев назад

      Is this the German sense of humour I've heard of?
      Somebody sets a joke up with "Lenin, George Washington and Genghis Kahn walk into a bar together..." and you guys reply "Ackchyually those three people lived in completely different time periods."

  • @MrMarfke1984
    @MrMarfke1984 4 месяца назад

    Ha ha well this video aged great like milk in May 2024 😂
    "But an emblem? Who could object to that?"
    Eurovision song contest 2024:
    Completely regrettable: Brussels demands answers over ban on EU flags at Eurovision
    🇳🇱🇪🇺🇳🇱🇪🇺🇳🇱🇪🇺🇳🇱🇪🇺🇳🇱
    Greetings from NL

  • @warrenturner397
    @warrenturner397 8 месяцев назад +3

    I'm from Australia so I don't know the ins and outs of the EU but I wonder what the average personn (not the Politicains who recognise a Gravy Train when they see it) thinks about things like loss of National identity etc. Not being negative - just interested to know what people think. Cheers!

    • @whitecompany18
      @whitecompany18 8 месяцев назад

      I agree, isn't that guy that originally wanted to turn it all into one with one currency thought badly of these days? Yeah makes it easier for travelling out of countries to others but I think countries identities are more important. I'm old enough to remember getting French franks and spic pataters to go walk about, wasn't a problem.😆👍

    • @josephturner7569
      @josephturner7569 8 месяцев назад +19

      National identity is and will not be lost. The idea is to be part of a bigger enterprise for the benefit of all.
      Unless you are a mindless Brexiteer.

    • @markusolofzon
      @markusolofzon 8 месяцев назад +11

      The idea isn’t to replace the national identity but to create a separate identity all on its own. You are both a Swedish citizen and a citizen of the European Union.

    • @LeSarthois
      @LeSarthois 8 месяцев назад +4

      I never feel like the EU is trying to replace national identities. If anything one reason why the EU always takes years to get things done is that European rulings are to be adapted into local laws, and the EU approves or reject how it's done.
      If anything I think the EU is still to focused and glued into it's old European Economic Union and not enough a social body. Although harmonizing social laws between countries with vastly different systems may just be too much to bear even for the EU.
      But as far as losing identity?
      Nah mate, that's not a big concern. The EU add to my identity, it doesn't replace it. By allowing me to travel easily into other countries of the EU, I get to see and discover how other European countries lives, and I can appreciate both what makes us close and what makes each of us different.

    • @GuinevereKnight
      @GuinevereKnight 8 месяцев назад +6

      Agree with previous comment, there is no loss of identity, we are all still our own individual countries. You don't give up your identity when you enter a group, partnership or collaboration - you add and compromise with your new partners in the joint areas. So for having ups and downs it's still a community effort among neighbours trying to find common ground. It's what you do in any community with people around you, doesn't mean you move in with them...

  • @ronaldderooij1774
    @ronaldderooij1774 8 месяцев назад +4

    You hardly ever see the EU emblem/flag here in the Netherlands. I think it is on some ministries, together with the national flag and the flag saying that it is a national institution (obsolete, I know). But the EU flag was banned from the Dutch parliament a few years ago. You will see only the national flag there, which makes sense. The Dutch parliament is not a European institution. Neither are the ministries, by the way. I am truly very much in favor of more EU integration. But you have to show relevant flags.

    • @gstar1084
      @gstar1084 8 месяцев назад +5

      It's not banned in the parliament. It has never been there. A couple of years ago the Dutch parliament decided to put the Dutch flag on display, something it hadn't done before. Some parties wanted to put the EU flag next to it, but they lacked a majority.

    • @Thurgosh_OG
      @Thurgosh_OG 8 месяцев назад

      Some idiots, like the Scottish Parliament still have the EU flag flying as high as the Union Flag and Saltire, despite us not being members for some time now. I am Scottish, in case anyone thinks I'm criticising another country. SNP are just political fools heading for the extinction of their party.

    • @stannumowl
      @stannumowl 8 месяцев назад +1

      In Poland national flag is much more common but you still will see some EU flags around.
      But I think we can agree with the video that EU flag will be the most common flag for the EU. Not in any country but at all

  • @ejokurirulezz
    @ejokurirulezz 8 месяцев назад

    What is weird is why it only has 17 dislikes.

  • @connygeiger
    @connygeiger 8 месяцев назад +4

    I suspect that the comment function was turned off because too many hateful anti-EU comments were made - especially in the wake of the Brexit debate. Extreme nationalists unfortunately often tend to use insults and hate comments.

    • @jeanbicknell7887
      @jeanbicknell7887 8 месяцев назад +1

      In my experience the insults and hate have pretty much all come from pro EUers

    • @101steel4
      @101steel4 8 месяцев назад

      ​@@jeanbicknell7887Exactly. Still is

  • @gabrielesimionato1210
    @gabrielesimionato1210 8 месяцев назад

    4:27, take your time

  • @nettcologne9186
    @nettcologne9186 8 месяцев назад +13

    The EU now has 27 members, but the flag remains with its 12 stars, the founding members, even though the UK has left the EU.
    Yes, in the first few years Saarland was not part of West Germany. The first reunification took place in 1957 with the unification of the Saarland with West Germany, the second reunification took place in 1990 with the unification of East Germany and West Germany to form the Germany that it looks like today.

    • @hellgrn
      @hellgrn 8 месяцев назад +5

      The 12 stars are not related to the founding members. You can read about it on the official website of the EU when you look up the European Flag there.
      The flag remained the same since 1955, the amount of stars never changed.
      "In 1985, it was adopted by all EU leaders as the official emblem of the European Communities, later to become the European Union." (source: europa.eu), which was a year before they had 12 members.

    • @nettcologne9186
      @nettcologne9186 8 месяцев назад +1

      @@hellgrn Yes you are right. The stars represent the values of unity, solidarity and harmony between the peoples of Europe.

    • @Gambit771
      @Gambit771 8 месяцев назад

      ​@@nettcologne9186This isn't the eu flag.
      The eu needs to design its own.
      The flag was created decades before the eu was.

    • @gyderian9435
      @gyderian9435 8 месяцев назад +1

      ​@@Gambit771this really is the EU flag, the different phases of the "european project" is still pretty much the same progress. It just has evolved

    • @Gambit771
      @Gambit771 8 месяцев назад

      @@gyderian9435 Exactly why three eu needs its own and to stop stealing this one.
      Lol up the history of the 'European' flag.
      This flag was created in the 50s, almost 50 years before the eu was created.

  • @blatterrascheln2267
    @blatterrascheln2267 8 месяцев назад +1

    Green is for Islam? What? TIL why "conservatives" are so afraid of environmental politics. 😂

  • @moonliteX
    @moonliteX 5 месяцев назад

    how are hungary and turkey-ye still members if you have to have democracy?

  • @Mekkaloon
    @Mekkaloon 8 месяцев назад

    Wuzz Up ! What is all this focalisation on Europe ?

  • @christopherellis2663
    @christopherellis2663 8 месяцев назад

    Poor Americans
    Doing research on the Internet is beyond them. They are too busy talking to think. 😅

  • @laziojohnny79
    @laziojohnny79 8 месяцев назад

    He turned off the comments cause Europe is as devided as the US is.

  • @samhartford8677
    @samhartford8677 8 месяцев назад +2

    The difference with the Continentals and the UK was that even if the UK was a part of the EU, it never flew the flag. Most EU heads of state would always stand in front of their national and the EU flag. Not in the UK. There was not one EU flag sold in the UK before Brexit.
    That is, if they UK head of state wanted to stand in front another flag it would have been the Commonwealth flag to symbolise the Empire, not their demise to a mediocre state.

    • @egnazia
      @egnazia 8 месяцев назад

      Not true…just Google Tony Blair and the European flag

    • @samhartford8677
      @samhartford8677 8 месяцев назад

      @@egnazia I did, and there is no reasonable number of such images, albeit maybe during the UK presidency of the EU.

    • @egnazia
      @egnazia 8 месяцев назад

      @@samhartford8677 indeed, but it was very noticeable then

  • @AdAm-dd4jq
    @AdAm-dd4jq 8 месяцев назад

    So are you and Tyler actually twins??